Obituary of Frank G. Stewart

Frank Gardner Stewart, age 74, passed away peacefully on December 11, 2025, at the Community Hospice Center in Merrimack, New Hampshire, with his family by his side.

Born on August 23, 1951, Frank was the son of the late Richard Stewart, a Boston Harbor tugboat captain, and the late Dorothy (MacKinnon) Stewart. A love of the sea, boating, and open water was woven into his DNA. Frank was a true steward of New England’s maritime past and could speak with authority on almost any topic regarding the region’s history.

Frank earned his BS degree in Environmental Science from UMASS Amherst in 1970. After working with Sasaki Associates, he returned to UMASS to follow his passion for design, earning a Master’s degree in Landscape Architecture in 1978. Frank dedicated 30 years of his professional life to VHB Engineering. Upon retirement, he served as a deckhand and educator for the Gundalow Company in Portsmouth, NH, where he shared his maritime knowledge with a new generation.

A man of diverse passions, Frank was an avid historian, sailor, artist, musician, and hiker. In his youth, he was a Sea Scout and a member of the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC). He successfully summited 24 of the 48 "four-thousand footers" in the White Mountains, always kicking off his hiking season with a trek through Tuckerman Ravine on Mt. Washington. As a member of the Boston Harbor Sailing Club, he spent countless summer evenings navigating the islands he knew so well with friends and family

Frank’s greatest joy was sharing these passions with his children, Heather and Ken, while raising them in Melrose, MA. He taught them to swim, sail, and cross-country ski, fostering a deep respect for the outdoors. The family enjoyed trips to visit relatives in Oregon, Nevada, and New Mexico, and spent idyllic summers on Lake Contoocook, Lake Winnipesaukee with the Stewart clan, and Great East Lake with the Roman/Murray family. 

The last 11 years brought a new light to Frank’s life with the birth of his first grandchild. Since then, he enjoyed many visits and milestones with all five of his grandchildren, becoming a doting and proud presence in their lives.

In recent years, Frank’s creative spirit flourished. He played the mandolin with the Scottish Music Club of Concord, NH, serving on their Board of Directors from 2023 to 2025. He lent his voice to the UNH Marine Docent Sea Chantey Singers and was an active member of the Hudson Senior Center, where he studied watercolor painting and Tai Chi, eventually becoming an assistant instructor. For the past five years, his annual September pilgrimage to Star Island for watercolor painting combined his love of the sea and art into a perfect retreat among friends.

Frank is survived by his daughter, Heather Gerstel and her husband Kevin of Westford, MA; his son, Ken Stewart and his partner Deirdre Doyle of Woburn, MA; and his co-grandparent, Cheryl Stewart of Woburn, MA. He was the proud grandfather of Bria, Finn, Kailee, Aila, and Saoirse. He also leaves behind his brother Rick Stewart and his wife Kathy of Wells, ME; his sister Cindy Barrett of Reno, NV; his brother Doug Stewart and his wife Sharon of Gilford, NH; and a large, loving extended family of aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews. He was devoted to his family and was deeply loved in return.

The family extends their deepest gratitude to the medical professionals at Southern New Hampshire Medical Center and the staff at Home Health and Hospice Care for the knowledge, grace and encouragement shown to Frank in his final days.

Visiting hours will be held Saturday, January 3, in the Burns Funeral Home, 354 Boston Rd., (Rt. 3A), Billerica from 10:00 to 11:30, followed by a service at 11:30 AM. Relatives and friends invited.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Frank’s memory may be made to PBS, an organization that reflects his lifelong love of learning and history.