Los Angeles
County
Biographies
DEAN
EDWARDS STEWART
Dean
Edwards Stewart is a man who has lived with music all his life and has brought
music to countless others as a teacher and as a performer. A graduate of the New England Conservatory of
Music in Boston, Mr. Stewart has been giving private lessons in Alhambra since
1926, and still teaches piano and organ part time.
Born
in Sioux City, Iowa, on October 13, 1893, Mr. Stewart is the son of Edwards
Sullivan Stewart, who was born in northwestern Pennsylvania of Scottish descent
and who was a farmer in Iowa in later life, and Antha
Genevra (Dean) Stewart, also born in
Pennsylvania. One of Mr. Stewart’s
brothers, Earl I. Stewart, is retired and lives in Lancaster, California.
Dean
Stewart attended Everett School in his home town and is a graduate of Sioux
City High School there. At the age of
eighteen he conducted the Sioux City Symphony.
Graduating from the New England Conservatory with a Bachelor of Arts
degree in 1918, Mr. Stewart then took up residence in Mission, Texas, teaching
music in the public schools as well as having his own dance orchestra. While living in Texas Mr. Stewart belonged to
the Rotary Club, Odd Fellows, Elks Club, the Masons, and the Aztec Club. During that time, also, Mr. Stewart was
married to the former Miss Nathalie Allen on December 25, 1919, in Sioux City,
Iowa. Mrs. Stewart passed away on
December 12, 1950. During their years
together she taught piano along with her husband and bore him three
children. She was also active in the
First Methodist Church in Alhambra, of which Mr. Stewart is still a member, and
was a member of its choir.
In
1924 Mr. Stewart came to Hollywood, California, and has resided in Alhambra
since 1926 where he took temporary charge of the valley branch of the Los
Angeles Conservatory of Music. Prior to
World War II Alhambra sponsored many musical activities, among them the
Alhambra Concert Orchestra, a Danish orchestra, and a Czechoslovakian
orchestra. Mr. Stewart played with both
of the latter. Many musical undertakings
were fostered by Frank Van Gundy, who was musical director of the First
Methodist Church. The Christmas Choir
Festival was
staged
by the Ministerial Association and the Alhambra Playground; Mr. Stewart also
helped produce “HMS Pinafore,” “The Mikado” and a minstrel show before the
War. After World War II Alhambra’s chief
musical group was the Alhambra Civic Chorus under Leslie Broad which was
sponsored by the Post Advocate and the Alhambra Playground Association. Mr. Stewart reported musical activities for
the Post Advocate between 1926 and 1936; he also wrote program notices. While living in Alhambra Mr. Stewart has played
the drums, organ, and piano in theaters, churches, and dance orchestras
countless times. In addition to giving
private lessons he has also held various jobs in industry, such as
bookkeeping. Mr. Stewart played tympani
in Monrovia, and played four years with the Boston Symphony and four years with
the Boston Opera.
A
charter member, Mr. Stewart has been associated with the Alhambra Musicians
Club since 1931 and is now serving as president of that organization. He also plays in the orchestra at Bethany
Church in Alhambra, and sings in the choir of Marengo Methodist Church.
Mr.
Stewart’s children, who are all Alhambra High School graduates, are Allen Dean
Stewart, who lives in Hawaii and has one daughter; Mrs. Jeanne S. Kranz, who lives in San Bruno, California, and has three sons; and Charles Hamilton Stewart, who lives in Japan,
is a pilot for Japanese Air Lines, and has three daughters.
In
1958, on May 30, Mr. Stewart married the former Mrs. Frances Stanton.
Mr.
Stewart loves the out-of-doors and enjoys golf, tennis, and hunting.
Transcribed by
V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
Historical Volume & Reference Works Including Alhambra, Monterey Park,
Rosemead, San Gabriel & Temple City, by Robert P. Studer,
Pages 598-600, Historical Publ., Los Angeles, California. 1962.
© 2013 V. Gerald Iaquinta.
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BIOGRAPHIES