Stuart recalled for devotion to Schenectady church and community

SCHENECTADY - Sandy Stuart recalled that whenever she and her husband Van I.W. Stuart went to visit other churches or he was the guest preacher, they would frequently be the last ones to leave after service.

"He would just talk to people, he would encourage people, and that's something that's been reiterated over with the text messages, emails, cards and calls," she said Friday while reflecting on her husband's life. "His message to people was just 'you can do this,' and if there is anything that I can do to help you, I will be more than willing to do that."

A scientist who relocated to the Capital Region to work at General Electric, Stuart also held several chemical patents. He worked at GE for about eight years beginning in 1992.

Stuart served from 1998 to 2008 as pastor at Friendship Baptist Church on Union Street in Schenectady, his wife said.

She said Stuart suffered a heart attack on June 11 in Raleigh, N.C., where the couple had moved to from Clifton Park about 3 years ago.

He would have celebrated his 63th birthday next month.

Born and raised in Houston, Stuart attended Morehouse College in Atlanta as an undergrad and then later Columbia University, where he earned his doctorate in chemistry, said his wife.

She recounted how he much he absolutely loved working with kids during Schenectady Inner City Ministry's (SICM) summer lunch program and teaching chemistry at Schenectady County Community College.

"He was just a kind, loving, spirit, and he would do anything to help anyone," Sandy Stuart said.

The couple, who met at a church in Houston and were married 27 years, have three adult children.

The Rev. Phil Grigsby, SICM's executive director, said Stuart, a charismatic man, dedicated himself to his church and the community.

"He had a good way of motivating people to serve, both with the church and with us," said Grigsby, noting Stuart was the director of a program for youngsters aimed at teaching them about gardening in parks."He was very passionate about the church and being involved in the community."

Marva Isaacs, president of the Hamilton Hill Neighborhood Association, chuckled Friday as she recalled Stuart's infectious laugh.

"When he laughed, everybody had to start laughing," said Isaacs who got to know Stuart through his work in the community.

She said Stuart never let on that he was ill, when he called her in April, as he periodically would, to check up on her.

"He's a beautiful person," added Isaacs, noting that he would often stand up with her when the two spoke at City Council meetings.

Sandy Stuart said her husband was selfless to the end.

"Even during the time when he was sick, he would push himself to go and do things for other people with disregard for how he was feeling at the time," she said. "So many people said he encouraged them to move forward and do what they needed to do to be successful in life."