In Memoriam: Bruce B. Stewart

Bruce B. Stewart, Sidwell Friends School’s eighth head of school, died on January 26, 2025. He was 85 years old. Head of School Bryan Garman sent this tribute to the community on January 27.

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Dear Friends,

It is with tremendous sadness that I share that Bruce Stewart, who served Sidwell Friends as head of school from 1998 to 2009, has passed away in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where he retired to be close to his daughter, Kathleen Stewart Hunt, son-in-law, Peter, and three beloved grandsons. He is also survived by stepdaughters Marney and Lindsay.

A graduate of Guilford College and the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, where he earned a Master’s degree, Bruce succeeded long-time Sidwell Friends head of school Earl Harrison. He arrived in Washington after a highly successful tenure as head at Abington Friends School.

Known for his engaging and gregarious nature, Bruce was one of the kindest and most thoughtful people I have known. Determined to let his life speak to Quaker values, he strengthened our school’s commitment to diversity, introducing structures and programs that earned the National Association of Independent Schools’ (NAIS) Leading Edge Award in Equity and Justice. In addition, he demonstrated remarkable leadership in environmental stewardship, orchestrating a capital campaign that enabled the School to build the first LEED Platinum middle school in the United States. The School honored Bruce’s tireless work by naming the building for him and his late wife, Andra Jurist, who was also a brave and beloved presence in the Sidwell Friends community.

The influence of Bruce’s visionary leadership can be seen and felt throughout our campus. Under his guidance, the strategic plan and capital campaign that supported it enabled the construction of the Pearson Athletic Center, the Robert L. Smith Meeting Room, and the Lower School Gym, as well as the renovation of Zartman House, the Kogod Arts Center, and the Lower School Groome Building. Bruce demonstrated an unwavering commitment to growing the School’s endowment, securing gifts that supported financial aid, faculty salaries, and the popular Venture Grant, Faculty/Staff Education Grant, and Faculty Enrichment Travel Grant professional development programs. 

Bruce possessed remarkable courage, moral clarity, and compassion; he moved and motivated us with both his words and deeds. A gifted teacher, he mentored countless students, faculty, Quaker educators, and heads of school throughout the country. He served on the board of directors of the Friends Council on Education, the Association of Independent Schools of Greater Washington, NAIS, and School Year Abroad, where he advocated eloquently for global education. He continued a service-oriented career in retirement by lending his considerable talent to various non-profit boards, including that of Chattanooga's Ed Johnson Memorial, which advocates for racial justice. This cause became central to Bruce’s life when, after the 1960s lunch counter sit-ins at F. W. Woolworth and Company, he played a prominent role in integrating public schools in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Please hold the family in the Light and reflect on the enduring legacy Bruce has left us. He was an extraordinary human being, a truly gracious man with a capacious heart, engaging intellect, generous spirit, and genuine sense of humility. I have never had a better teacher or more loyal friend, and I cannot thank him enough for his mentorship. Those of us who had the honor of knowing and working with Bruce Stewart share deep gratitude for his presence in our lives. We will miss him dearly.

If you would like to remember Bruce with a donation, please consider supporting The Bruce B. Stewart Fund for Faculty Support. This endowed fund was established in August 2001 by an appreciative anonymous parent to support faculty salaries, education, and development. 

Please use the form below to make a gift with your credit card. You can also pledge to support the School at a future date or in installments. To learn about other ways to give to the School, please contact Tara Arras at arrast@sidwell.edu or call 202.537.8126 with any questions.

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