I knew Tom Stewart.
For one day.
Most of us had an image of the man who ruled Vashon Island at his huge farm called Misty Isle. He operated an empire of thousands of employees supplying millions of dollars of edibles to countless restaurants and grocers. He had an image of a dictatorial king who usually got what he wanted but stumbled at least once when the city of Seattle refused to allow him to fly his helicopter from his farm over West Seattle to his headquarters on Delridge Way.
The Herald reflected what most citizens felt. No way Hosay.
Looking back it was probably wrong.
He was man who was not used to losing what he went after and died trying when his helicopter crashed.
He was a generous man to his friends and a major benefactor to South, our community college.He spent a huge sum every July 4th putting on a magnificent fireworks show for islanders and Tacoma citizens.
I had never met him till a few years ago I was asked to play golf with him at Rainier Golf club by his good friend Pete von Reichbauer. I have known Pete since he replaced Paul Barden as county commissioner in 1993 and stlll serves as a councilman from the Federal Way community. I was happy to meet Mr. Stewart so I agreed. Renton police judge Paul Houser was our other player in the foursome.
Rainier is a testy track for good golfers and none of us scored well but it was a pleasant summer day on one of Seattle's most attractive courses.
I had a great time and though I had long ago given up smoking anything I was intrigued by the three who had some Havana cigars I had only dreamed of. They each had a silver cigar holder which they stuck in the ground to keep their expensive stogies safe from harm while they were hitting. I rode with Tom and played the 18 holes waiting for him to ask me if I could do anything to help him get the city to permit him to fly to work. He was very polished and pleasant but never asked for anything except the check at the pro shop.
And we each made four bucks playing the two pigeons.
His untimely death might never have happened if he had not moved his company to another state to avoid inheritance taxes.
I never saw him again.
But West Seattle was lucky to have him as a friend and benefactor.
