Barbara Norton Stewart of San Rafael, California passed away Sunday, October 24, 2010.  She was 88 years old.  Barbara was born September 20, 1922 in Los Angeles to Rolla and Lylac Norton.

As a child, Barbara studied Spanish and Mexican folkloric dance.  She attended South Pasadena High School where she was known as a fantastic dance partner and a good friend to many.  She attended UCLA and then interrupted her studies to join the war effort during World War II.  She worked at the Caltech wind tunnel facility in Pasadena and then moved to Washington, D.C. where she worked for the Pentagon as a secretary.  After the war she returned to her studies at the University of California, Berkeley with her brother Craig.  During the war she corresponded with William Lyman Stewart III.  They were engaged upon his return from the war and married in 1948 in San Marino.

The couple moved to Menlo Park while her husband attended Stanford University.  Barbara gave birth to a daughter, Julia, at this time.  Later, while Bill was attending the Harvard School of Business, their second daughter, Margy was born.  The family moved to Portland, Oregon where Bill worked for the Union Oil Company, and Barbara gave birth to Polly, their third daughter.  Five years later, while the family had settled down in Marin County, twin daughters Sally Lee and Lucy Nell were born.

In the following years Barbara accompanied her husband and children on ocean sailing trips including visits to the Hawaiian and Tahitian Islands.  Barbara continued her practice of Mexican folkloric dance, performing 'La Hota' and her Spanish footwork, not only at her children's schools but at her grandchildren's schools.  As a resident of the International House and promoter of the United Nations during the 1940s, Barbara discovered her lifelong interest in raising multi-cultural awareness.

Barbara's beloved husband of almost 32 years passed away at the age of 53, after which Barbara began to explore what turned out to be an unquenchable desire to travel.  She traveled to hundreds of nations all over the world.  She often said, "Every inch of the earth is beautiful."  During this time she also housed international students attending Dominican University where she served as a board member.  She served on the board for the former World College West.  She was a longtime supporter of the Institute of Noetic Sciences and traveled with them to the Soviet Union. 

Barbara was a member of the California League of Voters and supported many environmental organizations including the Sierra Club, Mangrove Action, and many more.  Barbara enjoyed the companionship of her Jack Russell terriers for many years.  She traveled on safaris observing all kinds of wildlife, from tortoises to gorillas, and served as a board member of Wildlife Safari in Oregon.  She supported the arts in Marin County for many years as a dedicated board member of the Marin Civic Ballet, Downtown Artworks, Odissi Vilas, Sacred Dance of India, and Young Imaginations.  She took enormous delight in her reunions with her extended family throughout the entirety of her life.  She was a creative and inspiring mother.  She studied yoga, qi-gong, and attended Nia dance classes up to the very end of her life.  She loved dining out at fine restaurants and attending lectures and at the end of her life she especially enjoyed hearing piano bar performances.

In addition to her husband Bill, Barbara is predeceased by her brother Gary (SPHS '55).  Barbara is survived by her brother Craig Norton (SPHS '42), her daughters and spouses, Julia and Bill Wayne, Margy Stewart, Polly and Matthew Stone, Sally and Leif Christian, and Lucy Nell Stewart; her grandchildren, Phoebe Wayne and Peter Musselman, Jennie and Ian Wayne, Caleb, Hayden, and Adalaide Stone, Adrian Bennett, and one great-grandchild, Jasper Musselman.

Marin Independent Journal, November 2, 2010