John Clarence Stewart

John C. “Jack” Stewart passed away peacefully in his sleep on the evening of June 12, 2026, at the age of 90. If there is one thing Jack proved during his nine decades on Earth, it's that life is meant to be lived fully, enthusiastically, and with a good story always waiting around the corner.

Born in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1936 to Jack and Kathleen Stewart, Jack grew up with a sense of adventure that would stay with him for the rest of his life. He graduated from Westport High School in 1954, where he participated in Navy ROTC. When Uncle Sam came calling, Jack made what he considered the obvious choice: he joined the Navy instead of being drafted, largely because it meant he could skip boot camp. It was a practical decision that launched an extraordinary chapter of his life.

During his Navy service, Jack traveled the world aboard the USS Safeguard and became a hard-hat diver, a role that suited his fearless spirit and love of adventure. In 1957, he also became a Mason, beginning a lifelong commitment to fellowship and service.

After receiving an honorable discharge, Jack settled in San Francisco, where he held a variety of jobs and collected experiences the way some people collect souvenirs. While working in public relations for MarineWorld Africa USA, he met the love of his life, Diane. They married and spent the next 57 years building a life filled with family, friends, and laughter.

In those years, Jack developed a passion for photography and spent countless hours with Diane and fellow diving enthusiasts in the Flipper Dippers diving club. Together they explored the world above and below the waterline.

Jack's favorite role, however, was being a dad. He was the proud father of Heather and Kina and fully embraced "girl dad" duties long before the phrase existed. He matched Halloween costumes with his daughters, drove countless carpools, coached softball teams, photographed band performances, and showed up for every chapter of their lives with enthusiasm, encouragement, and probably a camera in hand.

Professionally, Jack was a true jack-of-all-trades. Over the years he worked for NASA, held various sales positions, and moved his family to Santa Clarita in 1981 where he built a successful career as a loan broker. But retirement, as Jack saw it, was simply an opportunity to start something new.

After discovering cowboy action shooting through the Single Action Shooting Society, Jack embraced his inner cowboy and became Kansas City Jack. This simple hobby pushed him towards what may have been his most unexpected career: actor. If you watched television in the early 2000s, chances are you spotted him somewhere. He appeared on shows including ER, Glee, and Home Improvement. Along the way, he worked as Ernest Borgnine's stand-in and even served as Sean Connery's hand double, proof that life can take you to some surprising places if you're willing to say yes.

In his later years, Jack slowed down just enough to volunteer with Friends of Hart Park and at Tesoro Ranch and to spend more time with the people who mattered most.

Jack is survived by his beloved wife of 57 years, Diane; his daughters, Heather and Kina; and countless friends.

A sailor, diver, photographer, salesman, cowboy, actor, husband, father, and friend, Jack never seemed content to live just one life. Fortunately for all of us, he lived several.