William P. Stewart

William P. “Bill” Stewart,

Of Pittsburgh, passed away at age 88 on August 10, 2023 at home surrounded by family members who mourn his loss but will continue to celebrate and honor his life. After a lengthy illness, his wife was determined to have him home to pass in peace. And he did just that. It was the post World War II Pittsburgh that molded Bill into the man widely recognized for his character, wit and wisdom. It was a neighborhood on Pittsburgh’s North Side where one could see a totem pole of kids spilling out onto the streets and where Bill, as an eleven-year-old paperboy, would hear many different languages from households inhabited by multiple generations, where Bill returned from the service across the ocean, got a job working nights, attended college, married and started his family. This was the world Bill Stewart was born into and thrived; it led to a larger life of interests, opportunities, accomplishments, loved ones, friendships….and now cherished memories.

A respected public relations specialist and gifted writer, Bill worked for major national companies headquartered in Pittsburgh and was still pecking away at his computer as recently as a few months ago. Born to Elmer and Eugenia Stewart in the Clifton Park neighborhood of the North Side on August 29, 1934, Bill attended city schools and graduated from Perry High. Drafted, he and his red-headed first and last love of 66

years, Eileen Rooney, married before his assignment for the U.S. Army in Germany and where the first of their children, Susan, was born. Bill was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Robert Dale Stewart and his granddaughter, Molly Simpson Stewart. Surviving are his wife Eileen and all five children: Susan (Read Fritsch) of Minneapolis; Anne (Danny Weiss) of Washington, DC; Todd (Deirdre) of Pittsburgh;

Mary Margaret (Robert Maiolo) of Mill Valley, CA and Jason of Pittsburgh. And nine grandchildren, whom he adored: Iman, Maria, Eamonn, Catherine, Sam, Declan, Grace, Mairead and Nathaniel.

Bill graduated from Duquesne University and worked for Rockwell Manufacturing in Pittsburgh, then moved to Michigan to become the Public Information Officer for Ann Arbor Public Schools. Returning to his hometown, Bill worked for 20 years for the Dravo Corporation, rising to Vice President of Communications. Bill continued

working as a corporate writer for a variety of firms, and for many years, he greatly enjoyed contributing to the Pittsburgh Parking Authority as a consultant.

Bill’s passions outside his family were in sports and the arts. A lifelong Steelers fan and a season ticket holder, Bill had a leading role with the stadium authority, dubbing its restaurant: The Headwaters. He also was a rabid Notre Dame football fan and made a nearly annual pilgrimage to South Bend for a game with his sons and grandchildren. He followed his alma mater, Duquesne, and was a good friend of legendary Dukes’ basketball coach Red Manning. Bill also loved following (literally to every match and post-match celebrations) the Pittsburgh Rugby Club, where his sons played, and his son’s friends became his dear and lifelong friends.

Bill and Eileen loved to travel. They made annual trips to New York City for the theater, to Rehoboth Beach to vacation with scores of relatives and to DC, San Francisco and Minneapolis to visit their children. Bill had many interests. Among them, he loved Stephen Sondheim, Mandy Patinkin, the Clancy Brothers, Harry Belafonte and the Beatles. For years he gifted subscriptions of The New Yorker to dozens of friends and family members to share in his enjoyment of culture. Bill was involved in local politics and got involved in urban projects. One of his proudest accomplishments was seeing through the funding and construction of the World War II Memorial on Pittsburgh’s North Shore that incorporated the stories of surviving veterans that he collected himself.

All of these experiences led to his role as the consummate advisor, the thoughtful listener, and wise mentor to many. For his family, he was a source of guidance, humor, passion and wisdom. 

Friends will be received at John A. Freyvogel Sons, Inc. 4900 Centre Avenue at Devonshire Street (freyvogelfuneralhome.com) on Friday August 18, 2023 from 2-7 PM. Funeral Saturday, August 19th, Mass of Christian Burial St. Bede Church of St. Mary Magdalene Parish (Point Breeze) at 10AM. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to the food bank at St. Mary Magdelene Social Ministries located at St. James Catholic Church (c/o 509 S. Dallas Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15208) https://www.pittsburghgives.org/StJamesMinistryCenter)

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