still think of you often. i will forever be grateful for having known you. rest in power. 

Hey Stuart Downs.  Nothing will ever seem quite right without you on the planet to keep me grounded in friendship. Forever, you are my dear friend forever. I can never write the right words here & I know you don't care. Whatever this world is, it was made for you.  The Gentleman King.  I love it what someone said here -- Job well done.  Yes, indeed.

Stuart was the best person I ever met.  I loved him.  He was my best friend.  My music collection is his.  He was my Best friend.

We are lucky to have even one true friend, and Stuart was that to me. I didn't understand half of what he said but no matter, just listening to him was one of the great joys of life. What I did understand was his deep compassion and his inspirational creativity.

What a great legacy he leaves us all.I like to think of him now tooling around an infinite countryside in a beat up old station wagon,on the quest for more "WAX!!!."

Dear Kiki,

Moring's message has me crying, so I apologize for any typos because I'm having trouble seeing the screen.  Freshman year, Stuart approached me outside Venable (accompanied by Andy Weir and/or Bert Horton, Bill Gay, Chris Moring, and maybe others of our merry band), and told me that they were taking over Sigma Nu, and they wanted me to join them.  Having destroyed many brain cells over the years, there are few individual events that remain in my memory, but that invitation is one I'll never forget.

I haven't seen or communicated with you and Stuart in a million years, but his passing is a huge shock.  I can hear his voice and see his smile.  You are in my thoughts and prayers.

Curtis Coleburn

Kiki and Elliott,
My heart goes out to you both and I hope to see you soon. My memories of time spent with Stuart or long phone calls at all hours of the day and night will be forever cherished. Please know that Mella and I are keeping you both in our prayers.

Ah, Stuart, you dear, funny, sensitive, record fiend and "small museum curator" . I'm so sad to hear that you have moved on. Some of my own favorite memories of you include how you were always bringing over another playful record to add to our son Jay's thus unparalleled little kid record collection, and who consequently loved to be up in his room playing his records. (He still has a big record collection) But also of lunching together with you and Kiki at the greasy Hilltop(?) Diner in Orange; of seeing the vernacular culture of the South through your excited eyes; of laughing and laughing together with you and Kik. I miss all that, and truly hope to catch up with you again, Kiki. Sending much love across the rims and grooves of time and space.

My condolences Jackie. I haven't seen you in a few decades and didn't know your husband, though from these comments he seemed to have been a warm and kind man which is as good an epitaph as you can get.  I go out to Deerfield often, so if I can do any physical thing that needs doing for you  I would be glad to help.

Stuart, come back. You borrowed those records and never returned them. Amazing the lengths you'll go to in welshing on a debt. First you left JMU without me and now this. To think you called me your buddy (and vice versa). Despite all this and our ongoing arguments over Dylan's Self Portrait (I get the last word - it's lousy), this life will never be the same without you my dearest of friends. Until we meet again, flipping through that great celestial cut-outs bin in the sky, save some vinyl for me.

Many wonderful memories of times with Stuart at Hampden-Sydney, followed by great get togethers in the Orange County countryside with him and Kiki. My sincere condolences and best regards to the family. We shall celebrate his special spirit when we gather in his honour! Love, Hunt

I only met Stuart once.  He came to my office with his lovely wife Jacqueline and his son Elliott.  A charming family!  I was impressed with Stuart's desire to make sure things were handled correctly, fairly and with appreciation.  He was not a guy that you easily forget, even if you only met him once.  Please accept my sympathy for your loss and warm wishes for your future!

Stuart was a very kind and beautiful soul...

Thank you, Stuart, for choosing to go to HSC and marrying that wonderful girl from Staunton.  Please say hello to Bert.  All my love to Kiki and Elliott.  Forever friends.

While we were colleagues at JMU I always enjoyed interacting with Stuart on a professional and personal basis, he as the director of the art gallery, me as the law enforcement administrator with mutual responsibility for protection and preservation of the objects d'art..  Stuart and I always had the same goal in mind for protection of the displayed materials; likewise, I appreciated his support in that regard.  Our continuing interaction was based on a growing friendship.  We recently struck up that relationship again after going our separate ways in retirement.  I sought him out for his advice in the display of my photo art.  We were to get together soon to have his critique.  Now, that will never be.  Whenever we talked by phone or in person, we always did so for extended time, bouncing ideas and stories off each other.  I will truly miss him, especially his off beat manner of dress with miss matched ties and plaids, his dark trench coat and Converse sneakers.  I told Stuart he reminded me of "Professor" Erwin Corey.  He enjoyed that and took it as a compliment.  And I meant it that way.  I will miss him.

Stuart was an amazingly warm and cool guy. I don't think I ever saw him not smiling. I'm sorry I didn't get to spend more time with him, hanging out and talking about music and art.
Peace.

Kiki and Elliott... it's difficult to put into words what Stuart has meant to me throughout the years since our time together at JMU and beyond.  I grieve with you.  I'm shaking my head in disbelief.  He was truly an influential person in my life. Please know that Anita and I have you in our thoughts.

Hello Jacqueline and Elliott.  I grew up in Chantilly, VA and knew the Down's Family most of my life. Stuart was older than me, but I knew him because of Down's Store.  Please know that I was saddened to hear of the passing of your husband and father.  Know that I am praying for you at this difficult time.  May the Lord grant you peace.

My deepest sympathy to Stuart's family.  I have been away from JMU for some time now but will always remember with fondness working with Stuart.

Hello Kiki and Elliott. I have been running into Stuart at the Martin's in Staunton quite a few times in the past year, and we had fun reminiscing about the "old days" when I took his museum administration course and helped to hang shows in the Sawhill Gallery. I am very sorry for all of our loss and will always remember Stuart with a smile. Sincerely, Julie Drinkard Fox

Kiki:
My heart is broken for you. Thank you for the honor of being introduced to your husband two weeks ago. I more than appreciated his kind words to me, and regret our paths had not crossed sooner. I know you and your family will miss him greatly. My promise to you that I am here for you remains, even moreso now. You know where to find me and I hope to see you on Monday night. My prayers and love are with you and yours. May God hold you close during this time of great sorrow.

Donna, Brightview, AL

Kiki: I am so sorry for the loss of your husband.  I am praying for peace for you and your family in the coming weeks.
Debbie, Brightview BP

I'm so incredibly sorry to hear about Stuart's death. He was clearly so very loved and I send my condolences to his family, friends and all who miss him. I took his image and text class at JMU and it completely changed the way I worked and the way I thought about what I wanted to create. I often reference that class in personal statements for various fellowship and grant applications and when I talk about my work in general because it was so defining. He was a truly remarkable professor and I was lucky to have taken his class.

My deepest sympathies go out to Stuart's family and closest friends. He was an inspiring mentor, a sincere and kindly spirit, and one of the greatest creative conversationalists I've ever known. Rest in Peace, Stuart.

I first met Stuart in 1985, while working at JMU, and I immediately appreciated his warmth and sense of fun. I can still hear his voice. As years passed, I went on to work at other places in the area,  and it was always good to run into him, most recently at the Staunton-Augusta YMCA. He proudly told me about his son's art career. Hard to believe he is gone. My deepest sympathies to his family and friends. Stuart was a jewel. We are all better for having known him.

Kiki and Elliott.  Tess and I are thinking about you.  And you know I will be thinking about Stuart everytime I walk into a country store or a record shop or an art museum or a poetry reading.  We hope to see you soon and remember the good times by sharing a few laughs and honoring his memory with a toast.  

God rest ye merry gentlmen!  Kevin and Tess

My condolensces for your loss. Stuart was one of my favorite professors at JMU, and he also co-taught my favorite class, Open Studio. I remember speaking to him shortly before I graduated, and he offered up his time to talk with me about my future and Cher. He helped me grow as a poet and artist and to examine all my artistic choides. His presence will be missed by all who had the very good fortune to know him.

I miss Stuart. Our communication over the years since I left JMU was brief and sporadic but it meant a lot to me. He was an incredibly generous and gracious instructor, mentor and friend. He treated his students with respect, while he challenged us, and he was unfailingly supportive of our endeavors. Above all, he was kind. I adored his Open Studio class. It changed the way I looked at art and writing and collaboration. He treated me as a peer. He treated us all as peers. From Stuart, I learned what it means to be an artist – it means you have to acknowledge the art of others, you have to praise it, and you have to do this genuinely, with love for both the art and the artist and without ego. I don't always meet that criteria, but I strive to meet it, and I try to share that message with my students and model for them, as he modeled for me – so sweetly, so effortlessly – what it means to be a lover of words and ephemera, of noise and of silence, and of all the things that may not seem beautiful at first, but with time and patience, are undeniably beautiful. I'm so sad he's gone, but I'm glad so many people miss him. I hope that makes sense.

There have been so many times when I have missed talking to you over the years & I am deeply saddened that I have lost the opportunity to do this.  I cannot express how much having you as a mentor and professor has shaped me.  I am sending light and love out to your family and to everyone else who is missing you.  Thank you for the gift of your heart and the pure poetry that you shared with the world.

Dear Kiki,

Our deepest sympathies are with you and Elliot.  I've lost a good friend.

Robert (Stuart), with Misa

Kiki & Eliot, I am so sorry to hear about Stuart. I have many fond memories of our record show trips back in the '70s & '80s. And, Kiki's great meals when I stayed over on the way to shows in NOVA. Can't believe it. Will play some special Doo-Wop for Stuart and the family.

I am very saddened to learn of Stuart's death.  I hadn't had contact with him for many years but remember him fondly from our many years working together in the School of Art and Art History.  I always looked forward to seeing Stuart again. Now it will be in memory and spirit.  A truly creative, thoughtful, caring individual.  One of a kind.  Stuart, we will miss you.  Bob Bersson

My deepest sympathy to Staurt's famiy - He was one of my favorite professors and a mentor to me at JMU.

Stuart!!!! I just got the news buddy...and frankly, I am more than a little bummed. You will be missed, but you made a huge impact on the lives of so many, and I deeply value your contributions to the School of Art and Art History, and more importantly, your friendship. My prayers are with Kiki and Eliot. Today I will reread your book of poetry in tribute, and think again about the many discussions we shared (especially those about Arthur Dove). A life well lived is worth celebrating. Well done my friend.

While I only fluttered around the perimeter of Stuart's world at JMU, many of my friends there spoke earnestly and often of what a cool cat he was. These same classmates are now sharing what a significant and continuing influence he was on their artistry, careers, and lives. Thank you, Stuart.

Stuart was a wonderful inspiration to us, his students, at JMU.  In honor of him, I have just uploaded a (circa 1992) JMU Today story about his class "Open Studio" here:  Here is the "Open Studio" story from JMU Today (circa 1992) here: http://youtu.be/7sTlnCLQU9I

Please excuse this poor attempt at a poem:

Sad news arrives strangely
Not by paper, letter, phone
but by shared digital link

Sending love and praying for peace Kiki & Elliott

So sorry to hear this news. Stuart was a great source of encouragement for me and many others he mentored at JMU. He had a tremendous impact on his students and the school during his time there. Deepest condolences to his family.

My heartfelt condolences to Stuart's family. I have fond memories of him from my days as a student at JMU. He will be missed by many.

A talented professor who encouraged countless of us students to challenge ourselves and the world around us. But more than that he was a kind and caring human who genuinely cared. Grateful to have been one of his students.

Stuart was a great mentor and teacher to so many. He was a kind man with a gentle soul and with an amazing mind and gift for curating/collecting. My deepest sympathy goes out to his family.

My condolences to Stuart's family.  He was one of my favorite teachers at JMU.  He will be missed by all who had the fortune to meet him.

Stuart Downs was one of the most important mentors I have ever had, and I'm in shock after just finding out that he is dead. He was a tremendously kind and generous man who expanded the horizon of the many lucky students and people who crossed his path. Stuart's forward-looking multimedia/interdisciplinary Open Studio class at JMU rewired my imagination and genuinely helped make me the person I am today. He took a chance on admitting a Sociology major (me) into his art class, and he took a lot of heat from the JMU administration (which he had a healthy contempt for) after my class project (a prank that attempted to change the school mascot into a three-eyed pig with antlers) caused a major stir on campus, regional news media, and, eventually, CNN. He taught me to embrace life with humor and intellect, and was the first to insist that it was possible to merge my creative work and scholarly work into a coherent whole. Everyone who took his Open Studio class still remembers it with fondness. We stayed in (irregular) touch over the past two-plus decades, exchanging lengthy phone calls every 1-2 years (he loathed email). Stuart would leave long rambling, and hilarious voicemails about his love of the KLF, Cher, and, most recently, Katy Perry--among other things. I was planning on calling him over Thanksgiving break to return a message he left for me a couple weeks ago, and I feel horribly guilty for not calling back sooner. You will be missed, Stuart.

My condolences to his family. He was one of my favorite teachers at JMU.

I am so sorry to learn of Stuart's passing. He was a brilliant man and a kind soul.

AVIS DE DÉCÈS

Stuart Clifton Downs

11 novembre 1950 – 23 novembre 2013

Reynolds Hamrick Funeral Homes & Crematory

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