Dr. John Stedman Stewart, a renowned engineer and cherished faculty member of North Carolina State University’s Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, passed away on Nov. 2, 2024, in Lake Charles, Louisiana, following a brief decline from dementia. He was 77.
Born on Feb. 24, 1947, in Pinehurst, North Carolina, Stewart grew up in Carthage, where he often reminisced about his childhood and the memories he made with friends. He was the son of the late Walter Eugene Stewart and Carrie Estelle Kelly Stewart. A member of Union Pines High School’s inaugural graduating class in 1965, Stewart went on to earn both his bachelor’s (1969) and doctoral degrees (1972) in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from NC State University.
Stewart’s career spanned four decades, including the establishment of his own engineering consulting firm and two other companies focused on noise and vibration reduction, an area in which he became globally recognized. His innovations, which ranged from quieting home tools to mitigating industrial noise, garnered numerous patents and enhanced daily life for countless people worldwide. One of his most significant contributions was a cutting tool used in the manufacturing of Corian countertops, a product that revolutionized the industry.
In addition to his entrepreneurial endeavors, Stewart served as a faculty member at NC State University for over 20 years. A dedicated mentor to many graduate students, he took pride in seeing his mentees advance in their own careers. He was an active researcher and published work in several prestigious journals, presenting at international conferences. Stewart’s research contributions included the founding of the USDA-funded Wood Machining and Tooling Research Program, a project that gained national recognition when it was featured in U.S. News & World Report in 1994. In 2017, his impact on the field was celebrated with his induction into NC State’s Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Alumni Hall of Fame.
Stewart was known for his dynamic personality and zest for life, qualities that endeared him to colleagues, friends, and family alike. He was a devoted husband to his wife, Susan, and a playful father to his daughters, Jessie, Annie, and Allie. An avid traveler, Stewart often visited Germany and Sweden to connect with colleagues and friends. His love for NC State extended beyond academia; he was a loyal Wolfpack fan, attending games with his daughters and friends in Raleigh.
Stewart’s interests were as varied as his personality. He enjoyed golf, particularly at Pinehurst, beach trips, and classic cars, especially his prized 1946 Ford. Animals were also a significant part of his life, and he and his wife amassed a farm full of pets over the years.
He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Susan Sarah Garrett Stewart, and his daughters: Dr. Jessica Kelly Stewart of Santa Monica, California, Andrea Ruth Stewart Jones of Greensboro, North Carolina, and Dr. Allison Garrett Stewart Mulligan of Sulphur, Louisiana. He is also survived by two grandchildren, his horse, Sassy Stewart, and three dogs.
A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 17, at Carthage United Methodist Church, followed by a graveside service at Cross Hill Cemetery. Friends and family are invited to a gathering afterward at The Tater Barn in Pinehurst to celebrate Stewart’s life with shared memories and Budweisers, as he would have wanted.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to The Dr. Franklin D. Hart Scholarship Endowment Fund at NC State University or to the Boys and Girls Club of North Carolina.