John Joel Stewart
Forever loved, never forgotten. Your kindness, laughter and love will live on in our hearts always. Rest peacefully, knowing you were deeply cherished and will be missed beyond words.
Obituary
John Joel Stewart passed away peacefully on January 15, 2026, in Texas, leaving behind a life defined by love, curiosity, and an unwavering optimism that touched everyone who knew him.
Born on September 9, 1958, in Salt Lake City, Utah, John lived with a rare enthusiasm for both people and the world around him, embracing life fully and generously until his final days.
John was, above all, a loving husband, devoted father, cherished brother, and loyal friend. His warmth, kindness, and genuine care for others were constants in his life. He possessed an infectious, upbeat spirit and an insatiable curiosity about all topics, engaging deeply with ideas, diverse cultures, and conversations wherever he went. John believed life was meant to be explored, understood, and enjoyed.
A lifelong learner, John’s academic achievements reflected both his intellect and his wide-ranging interests. He attended South High School before pursuing higher education with remarkable dedication. John earned numerous degrees from the University of Utah, including an MBA from the David Eccles School of Business, and a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering. He studied Architecture extensively and obtained a degree in Computer Programming from UC Irvine. He also belonged to international honor's societies Phi Kappa Phi, and Beta Gamma Sigma. His impressive education laid the foundation for an extraordinary global career marked by excellence and integrity.
Professionally, John served as a Vice President and General Manager of technology and engineering enterprises, earning a reputation as a respected leader with a successful track record in multinational business environments. He was an experienced senior executive who worked across a diverse range of industries, including digital media and security, engineering and construction, and software and systems development.
Throughout his extensive career, John worked for and collaborated with numerous Fortune 500 companies and led cross-cultural international teams across the United States, Asia, Latin America, Europe, and the Middle East. His leadership was characterized not only by strategic brilliance, but by humility, respect, and a genuine investment in the people with whom he worked.
Outside of his professional life, John pursued his passions with equal vigor. He loved playing jazz trumpet and bass guitar in a band with his brothers, scuba diving and golfing around the world, skiing, running, hiking, and driving sports cars.
Travel was one of John’s greatest joys—he explored the world with wonder and gratitude, always eager to experience new cultures, landscapes, and ideas.
John was a lover of art, architecture, music, movies, fine cigars, world affairs, math, science, and technology; an avid reader; and a man who found his deepest happiness spending time with his family and many close friends.
John is survived by his beloved wife, Vanessa; his cherished daughter, Raquel; his daughter’s mother, Carmen; his son-in-law, Jesse; his sisters, Eliza, Vilate, Lygia, and Natalie; his brothers, James, Joshua, and Isaiah; and his sisters-in-law, Carmela and Carmen. He was preceded in death by his mother, Elaine; his father, Walter; his sister, Carolyn; and his brothers, Noel and Doyal, all of whom he held close in his heart throughout his life.
John Joel Stewart leaves behind a legacy of love, passion, intelligence, adventure, and kindness. His life was a testament to living fully, loving deeply, and remaining endlessly curious about the world. Though his absence is profoundly felt, his spirit lives on in the hearts of all who were fortunate enough to know him. John will be remembered always—for his generosity, his wisdom, his laughter, and the light he brought into all the lives he touched.
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John's kindness, integrity, and steadfast trustworthiness are qualities I will always remember. These attributes not only left a profound impact on me but also set a meaningful example of trying to live with purpose and integrity. I am grateful for the experiences we shared and the lessons he taught me, which will continue to guide and inspire me.
John frequently emphasized the importance of living life fully and loving deeply, consistently motivating those around him to be their best selves.
My sincere condolences go out to Vanessa, Raquel, and all who were close to him during this difficult time.
I will miss our conversations.
John, my brother, no one has been a greater influence on me. You took me from a guy hiding in his room, to a man living a wide, open, spacious life, having cigars, Mexico and the world for my amusement. And you taught me well my friend! I love you as only a brother could, and I will miss you very much. Thanks again for being my life teacher!!
Love Miguel
John almost seemed less concerned with what he had done, and much more interested in what you had done. His conversation was about world events, deep philosophy, and things that didn’t necessarily center on him. Selfless to the core.
He made such a point to celebrate the many accomplishments of his siblings, by attending concerts and live performances, commissioning paintings and stain glass artwork, financially supporting the creation of a comic book, and being his brother, Isaiah’s, number one fan when it came to his music. He so loved his family and friends that their success was his success.
When I played Eliza Doolittle in a small town in Ohio, John arranged his work schedule, flew across country, and drove several miles through corn fields and unfamiliar territory just to see my live performance. And this was done before navigation devices could help direct the way. John also braved the middle of the pandemic to fly to North Carolina and drive me and my two cats across country to Utah.
If you ever needed anything, he was there to support you. If you ever needed help with anything, he was there to help you: unconditionally, and fully with love and openness.
John brightened the world with his incredible optimism and love for life. He brightened any room that he walked into. Anyone who spent time with him can attest to what an amazing conversationalist he was. And anyone that was lucky enough to travel with him, can attest to his sense of adventure and his genuine love for new places, where it was a cathedral in Paris or a hole-in-the wall diner in Ohio.
Soar with the angels, dear precious brother. I can’t wait for the day when I will see you again. All my love, Natalie
Te adelantaste John pero nos volveremos a ver en otra dimensión. Un abrazo fraternal!
His energy, curiosity, kindness, sense of fairness, and trust are qualities I will always cherish and carry with me as an example of how to live a good life. I also take with me fond memories and lessons he shared—sometimes even inadvertently—during the many travels in which we coincided.
My deepest condolences to his loved ones. I can only imagine how deeply he will be missed.
John's death has been incredibly hard on me, as I lost my own father when I was 21 and the world was profoundly lonelier afterwards.
I'll be honest and state that I didn't feel particularly close to John over the years. There were plenty of times that I could have initiated conversation or quality time with him and I never took advantage of those opportunities.
However, when I arrived in Texas a few days ago and sat by his bedside holding his hand, that distance between us disappeared. I knew time was short but I wanted to understand him; to make up for those hours that we'd never spent together.
I held his hand, looked into those eyes, and whispered that it was going to be ok. I wanted his suffering to end; his pain to disappear.
Hours turned into days as John's strength and stubbornness showed its face and he refused to surrender. Though these were some of John's defining characteristics, the time came to say our goodbyes.
I wanted to look him in the eyes and say my words. He eventually opened them and Raquel and I were at his side, holding his hands. As he turned to look at us, and with tears in our eyes, I told him that I needed him to know how thankful I was that he'd raised such an amazing daughter; for imparting to her wisdom, kindness, a moral compass, humor, perseverance, and a beautiful soul. I thanked him for who he was and for his life. Though speech was impossible for him in that hour, he held my hand and repeatedly squeezed, a silent moment shared between us.
I watched John take his last quiet breath, and then he was gone. This man-this really good man-was gone, moving on to whatever is next.
To all of you who spent years making memories with him-I'm so sorry that you lost such a dear friend. There may be friends in the future, but each soul is unique and John cannot be replaced.
To his wife-This is incredibly heartbreaking and I have no words for the pain that you're experiencing right now. When loneliness and sorrow seem overwhelming, just take a moment to watch the sunset or the birds fly and know that John is watching them from wherever he is.
To his amazing daughter; his little girl; his legacy; my wife, Raquel-I'm so so so sorry, my love. My heart is torn in two for the pain you're feeling right now. I would gladly give all that I have to bring your Dad back for just one moment more; to grant you the briefest of embraces with him; for one glance from him that reassures you that everything is going to be ok and you're not alone. I am here always and forever.
To John, I will never stop working to be worthy of your daughter. There is no man that will ever be good enough for a Father's daughter, but I hope to close that distance just a bit.
The world is quieter without John Stewart, but maybe we can make it louder by remembering the wisdom he offered, the laughs he gave, and the love he shared.
Amiga mia, desearía estar cerca hoy para acompañarte. Te quiero.
John had a rare gift: he made people feel seen and important. Whether you knew him for a lifetime or just a moment, he had a way of drawing you in with his warmth, kindness, positivity, and that unmistakable upbeat spirit. John genuinely cared about people — their stories, their ideas, their dreams. Conversations with John were never small; they were long, deep, thoughtful and full of wonder.
John was deeply educated and endlessly inquisitive, always eager to learn something new or discover a different perspective. Travel wasn’t just a passion for John — it was an expression of who he was. He loved experiencing new places, cultures, and ideas because he loved life itself. To John, life was meant to be lived fully and generously.
Above all else, John was a true friend. He was a loving husband, a devoted father and uncle, a cherished brother, and a loyal friend to both those closest to him and the many people he met throughout the world. His love for family and friends was steady and profound. He showed up — with encouragement, a smile, and unwavering support. He was the kind of brother you could count on, the kind who made things feel better simply by being there.
Some of my favorite memories with John are filled with music, laughter, and adventure. We played together in a jazz-rock band in Salt Lake City and later in Los Angeles, chasing funky grooves, late nights, and the pure joy of creating something exhilarating together, which we did with four of my albums. Music with John was never just about notes — it was about exhilaration, freedom, and having an awesome time.
For decades, I spent many incredible evenings in his various Los Angeles pads overlooking the Pacific Ocean, where the sunsets were golden, the cocktails were strong, the finest cigars burned slow, and the conversations stretched long into the night — and morning.
Then there were our adventurous travels to London, Scotland, Paris, New Orleans, Mexico — sun, sea, ancient castles, vibrant cities, late nights, wild stories, laughter, and that unmistakable sense that life was meant to be explored to the absolute fullest. Those moments weren’t just fun; they were 100% pure John — alive, exciting, generous, vital, and shamelessly in the moment.
John made my life richer. He encouraged me to visit Hong Kong and Tokyo, challenged me to think bigger, stay hopeful, work hard, aim high, never give up, and remain steadfast even when life was hard. He reminded me that optimism is not naïve — it is courageous. That kindness is not weakness — it is strength.
John’s legacy is not measured in years, but in moments — moments of joy, wisdom, compassion, and connection. His spirit lives on in everyone whose life he touched.
John was deeply loved and will be profoundly missed. I am eternally grateful for the joy he brought into this world, for the light he shared so freely, and for the love that will continue to guide me.
Rest peacefully, my brother. Your journey continues forever — in our hearts and in future travels. Soar with the angels.
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