Obituary: Robert Kidder Stewart
Robert “Bob” Kidder Stewart, 85, Remembered as a Conservationist, Adventurer and Family Man
CUMBERLAND Foreside, Maine – Robert “Bob” Kidder Stewart, a long‑time resident of Cumberland County and a noted steward of Maine’s natural resources, died peacefully on July 21, 2026, at the age of 85. He passed surrounded by his family in a quiet home in Foreside.
Stewart was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on October 12, 1940, to Charles and Louise Stewart. He grew up in Weston, Massachusetts, with an older brother, Tim, and an older sister, Mary. After attending Noble and Greenough School, he matriculated to Brown University where, during his junior year, he spent a semester in Alaska studying the wilderness. It was in those rugged months that a lifelong love of nature and exploration took root.
In 1964, while still at Brown, he met Janet Louise Johnson, a Wellesley College student. The two married on June 27, 1964, and together built a life that would span nearly sixty years. After a brief stint as a stockbroker in Rhode Island, the Stewarts settled in Maine where Bob joined the family blueberry and canning operation. He became a respected leader within the company, earning the trust of employees and helping the business thrive.
An adventurer at heart, Stewart pursued nearly every possible outdoor pursuit. He rowed Maine’s coast, kayaked in both Maine and Canada, cycled across Spain and Portugal, trekked mountains from Maine to Scotland, and logged thousands of miles on foot. He earned a hot‑air balloon license, flew small aircraft, and ran a historic schooner, the Sylvina W. Beal, offering cruises along the Maine shoreline.
Beyond the physical, Stewart was a prolific writer. He published poems, short stories, and a children’s book, and was known for his sharp wit and engaging conversations.
Conservation was the defining passion of his later years. In 2005, he donated 485 acres of land to the Mahoosuc Land Trust, including the three summits of Puzzle Mountain and five miles of the Grafton Loop Trail. The area became the Stewart Family Preserve at Puzzle Mountain, securing a treasured stretch of the Appalachian Trail for future hikers. He also donated Little Mowat Island and secured conservation easements on several other islands in the Bay of Fundy. His final wish before he died was to donate and protect one of his remaining islands for the benefit of future generations.
Stewart’s generosity extended beyond Maine. In Kerala, India, he helped establish a school for a community that had not previously had one. After his wife’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis, the couple spent many walks along Pratt’s Brook in Yarmouth, where he later donated natural sitting stones for others to rest.
A celebration of his life will be held Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at the Portland Country Club. Friends, family, and all who knew him are invited to attend.
He is survived by his children, Robert Stewart Jr. and Jennifer Stewart Guay; their spouses, Jamie Geier and Norman Guay; and his grandchildren, Kaitlyn Guay, Charlie Stewart, Logan Guay, and Zachary Stewart. Bob was a devoted papa who enjoyed watching his grandchildren’s hockey games, rock‑climbing contests, and countless everyday moments.
Condolences and memories may be shared online at http://www.jonesrichandbarnes.com.
