Born at home on February 19, 1920, Stewart Maunsell was the son of Corinne McCloskey and Stewart Maunsell. He grew up surrounded by family, in an environment which encouraged roaming house to house and through the neighborhood. The Blue Raiders practiced football in the back yard and campfire cooking was encouraged. He was a graduate of New Orleans Academy and Tulane University. During World War II he served in the United States Coast Guard, beginning with patrols of the mouth of the Mississippi River in search of German U boats. He went on to spend 2 ½ years in the South Pacific on LST #168 and participated in 9 invasions there. Upon his return he married Jane Dart whom he never failed to believe was both beautiful and brilliant.
Stewart was an avid sailor, having his first boat, Siren, at age 17. He raced her along the Gulf Coast and over the years owned several more boats. Ultimately he settled on an all-girl crew, daughters Cathy and Beth, for his Dragons. He was a longtime member of the Southern Yacht Club. When not on the water, Stewart fixed any and everything around the house, played a little golf and thought a great deal about food. He was the primary breakfast chef for children and grandchildren and for that he will be vividly remembered. Raised a Catholic, Stewart and immediate family became Episcopalian and joined Trinity Church. There he was a member of the Vestry and Sunday School Superintendent. He was on the Board of Trinity Episcopal School, having been instrumental in its growing out of Miss Aiken’s School. He was a man of tremendous quiet faith who, until the very end, said his prayers nightly.
He spent his career in insurance starting out with his father as an independent agent. Eventually he served as head of the Insurance Department at DH Holmes, with which his family had long been associated. Stewart was an active participant in Mardi Gras organizations and was a member of The Boston Club, the Stratford Club and the Louisiana Club.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Jane Dart, his parents, and his beloved sister Corinne Maunsell Kahle. He is survived by his children Catherine Maunsell Posey (Mike) and Elizabeth Maunsell Smith, and was Popsie to his grandchildren Pike Howard, Sally Hughes Johnson (Duane), Maunsell Howard (Betsy), Blakemore Howard Brown (Hobby), Stewart Hughes (Megbe), Elizabeth Howard (Graham Frey) and step grandson, Keith Posey and to his great grandchildren Lindsay Jane Johnson, Mathes Hughes, William Johnson, Elizabeth Hughes, Dabney Howard, Maunsell Howard, Thomas Howard, Clara Jane Hughes, Hugh Brown and Hayward Brown, all of whom will remember him for the unconditional love he never failed to demonstrate and for the sense of family and home which he created.
Memorial visitation will be on Monday, Jan. 29, 2018 at Trinity Episcopal Church in New Orleans from 11am until service at 12pm. Burial will be on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2018 at 11am at Grace Episcopal Church in St. Francisville.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Trinity Episcopal Church, 1329 Jackson Ave., New Orleans, LA 70130 or Grace Episcopal Church, PO Box 28, St. Francisville, LA, 70775.