NEW YORK, January 10 – Donald Cameron Stuart, III passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, December 25, 2012, at his home in Poughkeepsie, New York. He was 69 years old.

He was born in Tampa, Florida on August 25, 1943, the first child of Donald Cameron Stuart Jr. and Jean Clyde Preston. During his childhood he lived in Hornell, Syracuse, and South Albany, New York, and Baltimore, Maryland. After graduating from the Kent School in Connecticut in 1961, he attended Hamilton College as an English major (Class of 1965). He further earned an MA at Duke University (1966) and a Ph.D. from the University of Virginia (1975), both in English literature.

Mr. Stuart was a consummate intellectual scholar. His doctoral dissertation focused on James Joyce's Finnegan's Wake, and he maintained a passion for Joycean studies throughout his life. He maintained active scholarly curiosity for many topics, especially religion, history, and politics. In his own studies, and in the mentorship he offered others, he was committed to understanding and promoting justice and honesty.

He began his academic career at Longwood College (now University), in Farmville in 1966. He worked through the professorial ranks of the Department of English and Modern Languages and also served as the chair of that department. Prior to his 1997 retirement, Mr. Stuart also held leadership positions as a Dean of the College of Business and Economics and as the Vice President for Academic Affairs. He was instrumental in the creation of the Faculty Senate, the Learning Center (now the Center for Academic Success) and the Longwood Seminar. As a faculty member and administrator, he was known for his commitment to excellent teaching and learning.

His strong interest in religious history was part of his active engagement with the Episcopalian Church. He joined at least one church in each of the places where he lived after his retirement, including Athens (Georgia), Williamsport (Pennsylvania), Storrs (Connecticut), and Stamford (Connecticut). At the time of his passing he was attending Christ Episcopal Church in Poughkeepsie, where he had moved in 2011.

Mr. Stuart's passions included reading, genealogy, and traveling. His infamously large book collection accompanied him with each of his moves, and he was an avid researcher of the Stuart family history. His family fondly recalls vacation travels to the American Southwest, Canada, England and Scotland, Italy, and France, as well as annual camping trips in Maine. But his favorite days were quieter ones, sitting on the porch of a lake house, with a stack of books, a mug of hot tea, and classical music as accompaniment.

He is survived by a daughter, Diana (Christopher) Sinton; sons, Kevin James Stuart and Charles Cameron Stuart; three grandchildren, Emily Sinton, Eric Sinton, and Julia Sinton; sister, Martha Jewett; brother, Peter (Elizabeth) Stuart; four nieces and nephews; and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins. He is also survived by his two former wives, Martha Saenz and Sue Saunders.

A burial and memorial service will be held in upstate New York in the summer. The family requests that any donations be made to the Longwood University Foundation, Office of University Advancement, 201 High Street, Farmville, VA 23909. Please indicate that the funds are in honor of Donald Stuart. All donations will support student scholarship.

Timothy P. Doyle Funeral Home, New York, is in charge of arrangements.