Charles Shelby Stewart (Chuck)'s Obituary
Charles Shelby Stewart (Chuck), 76, passed away on July 5, 2026, peacefully at home, surrounded by his loving family.
He was born March 26, 1950, in Nashville, Tennessee, to Shelby Jackson Stewart and Mary Elizabeth Tibbs Stewart. He was valedictorian of the last class to graduate from West End High School in Nashville and went on to earn a Bachelor degree in Philosophy at Oberlin University. He then returned to Nashville to take graduate courses at Vanderbilt University in system and information science and philosophy. He was on the fencing team at Oberlin and later at Vanderbilt, where he met his future wife, Carole Fernandez, in a storage closet for fencing equipment. They married in 1978 aboard a boat on the Cumberland River in Nashville and had two children. The family moved to the Miami, Florida, area in 1986 and made their home in Coral Gables. After retiring, he and his wife moved to High Springs, Florida, where they have lived for the past 12 years.
Chuck’s career was in computer sciences. In 1982 he built his own Heathkit microcomputer and printer and, while in Nashville, he published a microcomputer newsletter, Nashville Micro Scene. He developed a wide range of knowledge and experience in information technology (IT), including business and project management, systems development, computer languages, technical support, operations, and quality assurance. Over his career he worked for Fortune 500 corporations, small businesses, and proprietorships. For a time he had his own business, Clair De Lune Consulting, providing small computer services. He retired as an independent consultant and project manager.
He was a prolific reader. He and his wife frequently spent time reading to each other. He had an interest and expansive knowledge in a wide variety of subjects, including art, music, science, philosophy, religion, and history. He enjoyed science fiction, video games, and board games. He designed his own board game and set up a business, Mindhook Games, to market it. One of his favorite activities was hiking. His trail name was Epiphanias. In 2004-5 he hiked the Appalachian Trail, a distance of more than 2,000 miles from Georgia to Maine. It was an accomplishment for which he was particularly proud.
A generous person, Chuck was particularly willing to give of his time and efforts to help others. He participated in various volunteer organizations. He spent many hours as a SCORE volunteer mentor, providing free assistance to entrepreneurs in starting, growing, and sustaining their businesses. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of High Springs and a former member of the FUMC of Coral Gables.
Chuck was generally a person of quiet intellect. In his later years he became more social and could be delightfully engaging when his wit and charm shone through. He was unfailingly honest and fair, honorable, loving, and compassionate.
He is survived by his devoted wife of 48 years, Carole Fernandez, daughter, Rachel Stewart and her partner, Robert Johnston, son, Nicholas Stewart, sister, Carolyn North (James), brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, a niece, and nephews. He is predeceased by his parents and his brother, Mark Allen Stewart.
May those who knew him celebrate his life by holding the memory of him in their hearts. There will be a private burial at Prairie Creek Conservation Cemetery. For those who wish to express their sympathy by making a donation in his memory, the family suggests that donations be made to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, the First United Methodist Church of High Springs, or the Society for Science.
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