Stuart Harmon Zuck

When someone is identified as a natural leader, certain images come to mind. First thoughts are of a no-nonsense, tough-minded, dedicated and disciplined person. This description accurately fits Stuart Harmon Zuck who was indeed a born manager. He will be remembered as being highly organized, practical and realistic. He was a person who always carried a strong sense of duty with him throughout his life. Possessed with traditional “old school” morals, Stuart was an individual who clearly communicated to those around him just who he was and what he was all about. Everyone acquainted with Stuart knew him as a well-respected man who was a stable force in his community.

Stuart was born on September 25, 1927 in Evanston, Illinois. His parents were Marion and Ralph Zuck. Stuart was raised in Evanston, Illinois. Even as a youngster, Stuart learned to be objective and decisive. His faith in the principles of authority and dependability was something that he carried with him throughout his life.

As a young boy, Stuart was able to put his natural abilities to work. He was a bit like the sergeant of the family, helping to make sure that the others did what they should do and that they avoided those things they weren’t supposed to. In other words, he liked to organize and direct. Stuart was raised with two siblings. He had two older sisters; Dorothy and Virginia. Stuart had an inborn appreciation for the order in the family, allowing for the oldest members to be the most respected and to take on the most responsibility. For Stuart, this was a natural order of life, one he gladly embraced.

Stuart's matter-of-fact attitude about most things was developed during his childhood. As a young boy, Stuart enjoyed being part of teams, and organizations and groups of other kids who shared similar interests. Stuart took part in basketball. He was in scouts and in his spare time he liked marbles, baseball cards and comic books.

In school, Stuart was as close to being a model student as one could possibly imagine. He sought to achieve perfect attendance in all of his classes. He would eagerly complete his homework, and often put in extra study time when he felt it was necessary. A logical and focused thinker, Stuart was always good at following directions and meeting his schedules, whether they were set by his teachers or were self-imposed. Stuart’s personal motto could well have been, “Do it right the first time.” He graduated from Evanston Township High School in 1945. He enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite classes and teachers. One of Stuart's accomplishments in high school was being a member of the Basketball team.

Stuart’s practical work ethic carried over into his college years. His logical mind permitted him to work hard without succumbing to the usual distractions of college life. He would tackle an assignment and work through it before moving onto the next project. Stuart’s orderly nature gave way to establishing personal study habits and procedures that not only helped him stay on track but often put him ahead of schedule. When Stuart saw the need or benefit, he would willingly take on the extra assignment or even attend extra classes in order to learn more and become a better student. He earned his Bachelors in Electrical Engineering Science from the University of Illinois.

Stuart was sociable and approachable. Because he was always so straightforward in how he approached relationships, friends and family knew that what they saw was always what they got. He enjoyed the camaraderie of being with a group of friends. When Stuart was a member of a group, his interaction worked to keep the others grounded. He wasn’t afraid to confront his friends and, when necessary, he challenged them to stick to the task at hand. Those close to Stuart came to expect his high standards of performance. While growing up, one of his best friends was Bob Marquis. Later in life, he became friends with Joe Tardee, George Cote, John Marshall, Bob Corona and George Neiiendam.

An objective and conscientious individual, Stuart reveled in the security of his family. One of Stuart’s most endearing qualities was his uncanny ability to remember important dates and anniversaries, and his unending enthusiasm for organizing a celebration for his family and friends.

Stuart was ever watchful of his children. He worried about them and was deeply concerned for their development as they grew up. He maintained a firm hand in their upbringing. Stuart would give his stamp of approval to their requests, as long as he could see how they might benefit. He also had the ability to enforce the rules as needed to ensure that his children were properly raised. Stuart was blessed with three children, three daughters; Chris, Carol and Cathy. They were also blessed with four grandchildren, Dalton, Wyatt, Bradley and Bryce.

Being a hard worker who praised efficiency, Stuart was always striving to make improvements where they were necessary. He was able to analyze situations and problems, keeping everything and everyone on track. An excellent project supervisor, Stuart was a person who could quickly make decisions based on the information available. He worked cooperatively and expected the same from his colleagues. In both his personal and professional environments, Stuart upheld his standards. His primary occupations were Electrical Engineer and Business broker. He was self employed for 30 plus years. Stuart was a team player who certainly lived out the motto of “give me a job, and I will get it done.”

Stuart was an Army veteran. His sense of duty helped lead him into the military where his understanding of rank, his willingness to abide by rules and regulations and his desire to follow orders was admired by his fellow service men and women.

Stuart approached his leisure time in the same manner that he approached his life. A person who enjoyed being neat and orderly and one who understood the nature of things, he appreciated the hours he was able to devote to his various hobbies. His favorite pursuits were wine collecting, gourmet dinners and traveling. Stuart was content to enjoy his favorite pastimes alone but was also willing to share his interests with others.

Playing by the rules was a natural thing for Stuart to do in life and that carried over to his enjoyment of sports. In high school, Stuart played basketball. In his college years, Stuart continued to stay active by continuing to play basketball. Recreational sports included golfing, boating and both water and snow skiing. He also was something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching his favorite events whenever he got the opportunity. Tops on his list were football and basketball.

Being generous with his time and energy, Stuart liked to belong to a variety of groups and organizations. He was a vocal leader who enjoyed being a part of things. His desire to uphold traditions and his ability to take charge of any type of project made him a tremendous asset. Throughout his later years, Stuart was an active member of the Huntington Harbor Yacht Club, Wine Collections Club and The Amigos de Bolsa Chica Club.

A civic-minded person, Stuart was usually ready to jump in and help with community activities. He was the type of person who could masterfully organize events and projects and then see to it that they were run in an efficient and timely manner. Politically, Stuart was a member of the Republican party. During these years, Stuart applied his analytical intellect to problem solving and so was an asset on most committees.

When it came time to travel or take a vacation, Stuart used his scheduling expertise to make sure everyone and everything was ready to go. That also meant that he made certain no single person was overworked in putting the trip together. Stuart had a knack for making sure that everyone who was involved had their specific tasks and that those tasks were completed. Favorite vacations included traveling anywhere around the world.

Stuart was a lover of animals and cherished his pets. One of Stuart’s favorites was Sambo, a pomeranian. They were best friends for 16 years.

When Stuart’s retirement finally arrived in 2003, he was well prepared. He used his critical evaluation skills to make sure that every detail had been preplanned and attended to. His new life involved relocating to Huntington Beach, California. In retirement he continued to find pleasure in travel, eating gourmet food and wine and getting together with friends. In many ways, Stuart loved retirement. It provided him with the opportunity to catch up with his friends, attend functions and group outings, and tackle new interesting activities.

Stuart passed away on October 14, 2010 at Los Alamitos Hospital. He is survived by his daughters; Chris, Carol and Cathy. Services will be held at Westminster Memorial Park in the Main Chapel at 12:00 noon on Monday, October 25, 2010 with a graveside service to follow. Arrangements under the direction of Westminster Memorial Park, 14801 Beach Blvd. Westminster, CA 92683. (714) 893-2421.

All who knew him would agree that Stuart was a pillar of the community. He lived his life with his feet firmly on the ground. He had a strong work ethic, was pragmatic in his thoughts and acts, and constantly sought the means for self-improvement. He was willing to share his ideas and knowledge for the benefit of others, so that they could accomplish more in their lives. Stuart Harmon Zuck did his best to ensure that his family, friends, loved ones, co-workers, and everyone whose life he touched was given the chance to become a better person.