Honoured by his Family and Friends
Michael Alexis-Bruce Stewart – 1981 – 2012
Michael Alexis-Bruce Stewart was born December 21, 1981 in Timmins, Ontario.
An active child with a magnetic smile, his childhood focus was on drawing cartoons.
By the age of 12, Michael’s work in black and white was inspired, masterful, and remarkably detailed.
His adolescence brought the dawning of his love of music. He spent hours teaching himself to read music, learning to play the guitar and listening to Nirvana, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Primus, Pearl Jam and more. He perused guitar magazines until they crumbled in his hands.
In high school, Michael connected with other musicians, jamming and dedicating himself to becoming a bass player, listening and adopting the skills of renowned guitarists past and present.
It was when Mikey moved to North Bay to attend a Graphics program at Canadore College that he felt he had found a home. With a young, vibrant musical community, North Bay appealed to Michael as a place he could hone his talent, live the life style he chose for himself and be appreciated by like-minded people. Michael also loved the Nipissing waterfront, walking and skateboarding for miles.
At the time of his tragic death at the age of 30, Michael was teaching himself classical guitar, playing a 5 string bass in three different bands, intending to complete his college education in graphic arts and wanting to learn several different languages.
Michael was an intelligent, humourous, independent thinker who read the likes of Chomsky and who inspired those around him with intelligent, thoughtful discussions on all manner of topics.
It was, however, Michael’s deep and abiding love that set him apart from others. He accepted and protected the weak, the downtrodden, the forgotten people in society. His empathy and openness to all who asked made him a beloved figure at home and in North Bay. The following poem was written by his mother at the time of his death to capture his spirit:
Look into my eyes – find kindness
Look into my heart – find love
Look into my head – find knowledge of the ages
Look into my soul – find the music that reverberates through the dimensions.
Look at my hair – it ripples of generations
Look at my face – a cherub of Reuben’s kind
Look at my hands – the tools of creation reaching out with electric heat.
Look at my name – the angel who sits on the right hand of God.
Look at my body – dust to dust, ashes to ashes
Look at my life – and remember me
remember me
remember me.
Brenda Elizabeth Stewart, an adoring mother; September, 2012
