John Neel Stewart OBITUARY

John Neel Stewart Jr., “Zip” of Orlando, FL, died peacefully, February 18, 2022 at the age of 84. John was born September 29, 1937 in Winston-Salem, NC. and spent his early childhood years in Mooresville, NC before moving to Orlando. John graduated from Edgewater High School and attended Florida State University where he was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity. Upon graduation from FSU he joined the Navy. He returned to school later in life and received his MBA from Rollins College.

After his time in the Navy John returned to Orlando where he married the love of his life Patricia “Patsy” Pottinger Stewart. He worked for Martin Marietta, GE, and the State of Florida, where he served for more than 30 years in many different capacities.

John was a long time Seminole Booster and season ticket holder. He and Patsy would attend home games regularly, where he would reunite with his SAE brothers. When they were not traveling to Tallahassee they took trips to Costa Rica, Scotland, and Banff among other places. John had a shellfish lease in Brevard county where he grew clams and oysters. His legacy will be the Beach House they purchased in New Smyrna Beach in 1998. This was his “happy place.” John is preceded in death by his sister Helen Stewart Kennedy. He is survived by his wife of almost 59 years Patricia “Patsy” Pottinger Stewart, his three children; Shannon Stewart Muniz (Mario), Sally Stewart Blake (Joel) and John “Shawn” Neel Stewart III (Liz) and nine grandchildren. A small service for immediate family only will be held April 23, 2022, in New Smyrna Beach, FL.