James Edward Stewart (Jim) was born in Bowman ND in 1945 to Jean James Stewart and
Malcolm Stewart. Jim lived a long and full life, marked by events that touched the lives of others.
He attended the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks from 1962 to graduation in 1968. Jim started skydiving while at the University of North Dakota. During the Blizzard of 1966 at a blizzard party he met Peggy Will. In May of 1969, they were married in Rochester New York where Peggy was working at the University of Rochester. In June of 1970, they left Rochester, spent the summer exploring the Rocky Mountains from Mt Assiniboine on the British Columbia/ Alberta border in Canada south to New Mexico. This experience solidified their love of camping and environmental activism. After spending the 1970-71 school year back at the University of North Dakota pursuing teaching degrees, they moved to Albuquerque New Mexico where Jim began his teaching career. In 1973, while Peggy was pregnant with their first child, Sara Rain, Jim assisted with an airlift of food and supplies to the besieged Oglala Lakota Indian Tribe and the American Indian Movement members at Wounded Knee, South Dakota. There is a book about that conflict “Airlift to Wounded Knee” by Bill Zimmerman, one of the participants.
Before moving to New Mexico, Jim had a short stint in the Air Force, where he learned to fly. Jim was happy to find some kindred skydivers in New Mexico where he not only flew jumpers but also made over 1000 jumps. Along with friend and sometimes business partner, Jack Anderson, he also taught skydiving. Many weekends were spent at the drop zone, packing chutes in the dust, logging dives, and telling stories.
While teaching 5th grade at Sandia Prep in Albuquerque, Jim ran a summer program for middle and high school students, Wilderness Experiences for Young People, introducing students to the wonders of backpacking, exploring the Gila and Pecos Wildernesses in New Mexico as well as the Grand Canyon. Jim was passionate about the outdoors and active in conservation groups in New Mexico. Jim and Peggy welcomed their son Andrew in 1977, just as he was leaving on one of these trips!
In 1980, Jim went back to school to pursue a PhD in physics at the University of New Mexico. In
1987, with PhD in hand, Jim and the family moved to Ferndale, Washington, so Jim could take a teaching position at Western Washington University in Bellingham. He taught there for 24 years, focusing on physics and science education. He loved teaching. He loved inspiring other teachers to teach science, initially through his summer program – Operation Physics. Later, Jim was responsible for bringing a $12 million NSF grant to WWU which funded the North Cascade Olympic Science Partnership program. He was instrumental in developing all aspects of the program, especially the development of the curriculum for future elementary teachers and classroom teachers. He especially loved experimenting with liquid nitrogen and collapsing containers from soda cans to 55 gallon drums in the pursuit of teaching science! He was passionate about science education and a mentor to many students who have become teachers.
In 1999, Jim was awarded a Fulbright scholarship for a sabbatical to work with science teachers in Esquel, Patagonia, Argentina for several months. Along with teaching, Jim and Peggy also had time to explore Patagonia and its parks.
Outside of teaching, Jim continued to fly, first in a Taylorcraft and later in a Cessna 170, in partnership with fellow WWU professor, Ken Howell. Jim and Peggy especially enjoyed flying to Stehekin, WA with their bicycles and camping gear. They would camp and ride into town for cinnamon rolls. Son Andrew obtained his pilots license during this time. A highlight for Jim and
Andrew was flying to Alaska in the Cessna 170.
Jim also enjoyed hiking, sea-kayaking, and bicycling. He participated in the Seattle to Portland
(STP) bike ride 2 years in a row after having lung cancer and surgery in 2005. Daughter Sara rode with him one year.
Jim was a full professor when he retired from WWU in 2011. He and Peggy continued to explore the West with their pop-up camper, spending time in the red rock areas of the Southwest. In 2015, Jim, Peggy and Sara had a once-in-a-lifetime trip down the Grand Canyon in dories (wooden boats inspired by Powell’s expedition) with a company called OARS.
In 2020, Jim was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease/ Lewy body dementia. He died on February 10, 2025 at Whatcom Hospice House from complications from a fall, a fractured femur and double pneumonia. He had celebrated his 80th birthday with family 2 weeks before.
Jim is survived by his wife of nearly 56 years, Peggy, his daughter Sara, son Andrew, daughter-in- law Kaori and grandson Keegan, sister Susan (Jeff), brother Michael (Yuko), and brother Hall, extended family, and many friends.
We are so grateful to the staff and volunteers at Whatcom Hospice House for the compassion, care and comfort that Jim and our family received while he was there.
A celebration of Jim’s life will be held later.
