Notable Neighbor

meet marshal

BY ANNA SWARTZ

Photo courtesy of Robert Stewart

The grand marshal in this year’s St. Clair Shores Memorial Day Parade, Robert Stewart, is known throughout the community as an accomplished photographer and the owner of a long-standing business, Stewart Fine Portraiture & Gallery, on Harper Avenue. Yet, many may not realize that his start as a photographer began in the United States Army.

Stewart served in the Army from 1955-1957. He spent 20 months in the Panama Canal as an Army photographer in the Public Information Of ice. “When I was a boy, I was very artistic,” Stewart says. “I was a student at the commercial art program at Cass Technical High School – my art training started there.” His experience in high school, along with the Argus 75 camera that his parents gave him for his 15th birthday, was on his resume. The Army took note, and that was the start of his photography career.

While working in the Army’s Public Information Of ice, they published a newspaper, the Buccaneer. The staff included three writers and one photographer – Stewart. “So, I photographed everything,” Stewart says. “My irst assignment was to photograph a Memorial Day Parade for Fort Kobbe. It was a great big deal. I was 19 years old. I discovered the power of the camera while I was doing that work.”

Stewart’s photos were also published other newspapers such as Army Times, Panama American and Panamanian Herald.

After Stewart completed his time in the Army, he worked at O’Connor Studio located at J.L. Hudson Company downtown, Northland and Eastland. Stewart met his wife-to-be- Mary at Eastland. The couple became co-owners of a local photography business in 1966 (the business was started by the original owner in 1942); the Stewarts became sole proprietors in 1970. Both Richard and Mary are master photographers, and Mary is a master artist, too. Richard Stewart has also earned the titles of photographic craftsman, fellow of the American Society of Photographers and honorary fellow of the American Society of Photographers. He is the irst photographer in Michigan to receive the fellow recognition. (Since then, ive others have earned the honorary fellow title.)

Son Clifford Stewart, a master photographer, and his wife Donna, a photographer, work alongside Richard and Mary. The Stewarts also have three daughters – Kristine Hass, Allison Brady and Mary Beth Willette – and 11 grandchildren.

Riding in a convertible in this year’s parade will be a different experience for Stewart, who is always the one behind the camera. “I photographed the parade from 1970 to 2000,” he says. “I put together a slide presentation, and we would go around to VFW halls to recruit them for the parade.” Stewart says he has always been visible in the community, taking pictures of countless community events. “I was always involved in everything.”

“It’s such an honor,” Stewart says of being selected as grand marshal. “It’s amazing to me.” His granddaughter Evelyn Brady, now a veteran like her grandfather, will be riding in the parade alongside him. She was trained as a combat medic, Stewart says, and served from 2018-2021.