Deceased Friars

Robert Stewart, OFM

Robert Stewart

1950 – 2001

Fr. Robert Stewart, OFM, was born in New York City on April 17, 1950. He was received into the Franciscan Order at St. Francis Friary in Brookline, Mass., in 1975 and professed his temporary vows the following year.

In 1979, he professed his solemn vows and was ordained a priest in 1980 at St. Bonaventure Church in Paterson, N.J.

After a two-year teaching internship at St. Bonaventure University, Fr. Robert began graduate work in 1982 at the Franciscan School of Theology in Berkeley, Calif. In 1990, he received a Ph.D. in spiritual theology from the Graduate Theological Union and returned to the Bonaventure faculty to serve as associate professor, gaining tenure in 1996. He taught in both the Franciscan Institute and in the Theology Department.

A respected teacher and well-known friar on the Bonaventure campus, ultimately Fr. Bob’s life was all about the five-year journey with “Brother Cancer.” The autobiographical narrative of his journey, Making Peace with Cancer, was published one week after his death.

He died Sept. 1, 2001 at St. Bonaventure after a long, brave bout with cancer. He was 51 years old, a professed friar for 25 years and a priest for 21 years.

Each of us should be called a lesser brother, a Friar Minor. Each one of us should wash the feet of the others.”

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Robert Stewart, OFM

Robert Stewart

1950 – 2001

Fr. Robert Stewart, OFM, was born in New York City on April 17, 1950. He was received into the Franciscan Order at St. Francis Friary in Brookline, Mass., in 1975 and professed his temporary vows the following year.

In 1979, he professed his solemn vows and was ordained a priest in 1980 at St. Bonaventure Church in Paterson, N.J.

After a two-year teaching internship at St. Bonaventure University, Fr. Robert began graduate work in 1982 at the Franciscan School of Theology in Berkeley, Calif. In 1990, he received a Ph.D. in spiritual theology from the Graduate Theological Union and returned to the Bonaventure faculty to serve as associate professor, gaining tenure in 1996. He taught in both the Franciscan Institute and in the Theology Department.

A respected teacher and well-known friar on the Bonaventure campus, ultimately Fr. Bob’s life was all about the five-year journey with “Brother Cancer.” The autobiographical narrative of his journey, Making Peace with Cancer, was published one week after his death.

He died Sept. 1, 2001 at St. Bonaventure after a long, brave bout with cancer. He was 51 years old, a professed friar for 25 years and a priest for 21 years.