Thomas "Tom" David Stewart, M.D.

He didn’t think he would make it to his 30th birthday. Diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 1953 at the age of eleven, Thomas D. Stewart died on Thursday, April 23, 2026 at the age of 84, having lived a full and active life. 

 

Tom was born on January 2, 1942, to Lynn and Irene Boman Stewart of Columbus, Indiana. Tom’s hometown remained close to his heart. A proud Hoosier, he avidly followed the progression of the city’s acclaimed architecture and Indiana legend, Larry Bird, playing for the Boston Celtics. At age 15, Tom won the Indiana State Junior Tennis championship, despite using his non-dominant hand due to a permanent injury from falling off a truck when he was 10. Ever determined, he walked to Donner Park every day in his youth and spent hours perfecting his serve. Tennis remained a central part of his life for many years. He played tennis for DePauw University where he graduated as the salutatorian in 1963.

 

Tom moved to California to attend Stanford University School of Medicine, graduating in 1968. He then moved to Boston for a four-year residency at Mass General Hospital, serving his last year as Chief Resident. Tom’s first job was at the VA Medical Center in West Roxbury, MA, treating paraplegic and quadriplegic veterans returning from Vietnam and veterans living with PTSD. Tom later joined the Beth Israel Hospital in Boston as Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard University.

 

In 1990, he moved to Connecticut to chair the Department of Psychiatry at St. Raphael’s Hospital in New Haven. Tom was appointed Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Yale School of Medicine, and Fellow of Branford College of Yale University. The greatest joy of his career was mentoring students and medical residents, many of whom stayed in contact over the years. He served as President of the Connecticut Psychiatric Society and was named Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. Tom lectured on psychiatric care and treatment throughout the United States and Asia. 

 

Tom was deeply dedicated to his family throughout his life. He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Jeanne Ledoux-Stewart; his son Branner Stewart and son-in-law Samuel McElreath; daughter Marni Bartlett and son-in-law Nigel Bartlett; daughter Lynne Levin and son-in-law Ben Levin; three awesome grandchildren, Paul Bartlett, Katie Bartlett, and Theo Fenley; sister-in-law Julie Nolan; nieces and nephews, Jen Nolan, Katie Nolan and Scott and Murphy Sheehan, Beth Chan, and Rachel Stewart; his former wife, Carroll Stewart; and Mo Kuka, caregiver of 7 years and a blessing to the family. Tom was predeceased by his older brother, Robert N. Stewart, mayor of Columbus, Indiana, from 1984 to 1996, and sister-in-law Barbara Westermeier Stewart. Tom’s family shared a private ceremony and burial at sea is planned. 

 

Messages and memories are welcomed. We'd love to hear where his students are now.