John Stewart Mortimer

Stew was born on June 18th, 1956 to parents John Henry Mortimer and Harriet Douglas Watson. He grew up on the east coast before eventually settling down in Tucson, Arizona in 1984.

Stew worked as a music teacher and children’s entertainer. His musical act (Mr. Stew and the Dino Drummers) performed all around the city, most notably at the grand opening of the famous “Dinosaur McDonalds” on Tanque Verde. This event was an especially precious memory for his son, Jullian.

Later in life, Stew began to spend his summers in Prague, where he continued to teach at a music school and discovered a love of playing the marimba. His bands toured all around Europe, and Stew frequently spoke of these adventures as some of the best times of his life.

His last years saw him at home most days. A diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis meant that he could no longer play the drums, and eventually he lost the ability to play the marimba, too.

But he filled his time with new interests. He enjoyed writing, researching world history, watching documentaries, and listening to talk radio.

This period of his life is perhaps best defined by his generosity. As he began to grow older, Stew loved to take care of those around him. He always championed the importance of helping as many people as possible.

Stew is survived by his son, two sisters, and the myriad members of his found family.