Alban Stewart

Alban (Ban) Stewart passed away January 31, 2012at his home in Tallahassee. Ban was born in Madison, Wisconsin on July 5, 1915, and moved to Tallahassee in November 1916 when his father Alban Stewart, II became a professor at Florida State College for Women. Many people thought of Ban as being “old Tallahassee”, but he never classified himself that way because he was not born here. After graduating from Leon High School in 1932, he enrolled in the University of Florida where he graduated in 1936 with a Bachelor of Science and major in Biological Sciences. In 1938 he received his Masters Degree in Forestry from Yale University, and until June 1943 was employed by the Florida Forest and Park Service, the predecessor of the Florida State Division of Forestry, where he managed the Blackwater River Forest in West Florida. In June of 1943, Ban entered the Army and was stationed at Eglin Field as part of the 610 Army Air Forces Base Unit of the United States Army. After receiving an honorable discharge in December 1945, Ban continued his employment with the Florida Forest Service until 1947 when he and his wife, Mary Nan, returned to Tallahassee. From 1947 until 1962, Ban owned and operated Stewart’s Nursery, one of the first landscape nurseries in the Tallahassee area. After being in the coin operated laundry, vending and retail liquor businesses, he retired in 1979. Ban was a true outdoorsman and was an avid hunter and fisherman. He loved to spend time at St. Teresa with his family and friends. In the later years of his life, Ban continued his passion of growing camellias and other plant stock. Ban was an Eagle Scout, member of The Cotillion Club of Tallahassee, The Colonels Club, the Exchange Club of Tallahassee, and Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity. Ban was predeceased by his parents Alban Stewart II and Ethel C. Stewart and his wife of sixty-six years, Mary Nan Stewart. He is survived by his daughters, Nan Stewart and Clark Sumner Stewart, his son Alban Stewart, Jr. (Diane), his granddaughter Mary Stewart Richerson, all of Tallahassee, grandsons Alban Stewart, III (Allison) of Union Springs, Alabama, and James Sibley Richerson, Jr. (Lezlee), and great granddaughter Harlan Jane Richerson, all of Tallahassee. Ban is also survived by many nieces and nephews and his loyal friend and honorary grandson, Doyle Carlton Enfinger, III. The family would like to thank Helen Sherer of Big Bend Hospice for her gentle kindness and unforgiving care. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Big Bend Hospice, 1723 Mahan Center Blvd., Tallahassee, FL 32308; St. John’s Episcopal Church, 211 North Monroe Street, Tallahassee, FL 32301; or the local Boy Scouts of America, 2032 Thomasville Road, Tallahassee, FL 32308. Friends are cordially invited to visit with the family at the Stewart home on Mahan Drive, Sunday, February 5 from 3:00 PM until 5:00 PM. A service at graveside will be held at 11:00 AM, Monday, February 6, 2012 at Oakland Cemetery in Tallahassee.

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Alban Stewart

July 5, 1915 - January 31, 2012