Lance Ray Stewart, 72, passed away on March 19th of acute respiratory distress syndrome, a complication of surgery, in Las Vegas, Nevada, with his family around him. Lance was born in Sterling, Colorado to Ray Philip and Frieda Eudora Smith Stewart. He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point and was an army ranger. He served two tours of duty in Vietnam Nam, one as an adviser to the Army of the Republic of Viet Nam. He was awarded the Combat Infantryman's Badge and the Bronze Star. For many years he worked at Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory in Niskayuna, New York, as manager of security and facilities engineering. He was manager of facilities engineering at the GE Research and Development Center and director of facilities at Glens Falls Hospital. Throughout his life, Lance continued the physical fitness focus that he started in they Army. He ran the Boston Marathon, completed the Roger's Rangers cross country ski race down the 32 mile length of Lake George, ran many 5 and 10K races, bicycle races and cross country ski races. He also showed his determination, grit and excellent physical fitness as he completed the Pike's Peak Half Marathon running up the hiking trail of the 14,000 foot mountain near Colorado Springs Colorado, showing the same ice blue cyanosis bar over his upper lip as the other early finishers. After moving to Bullhead City, Arizona, he was a physical fitness instructor teaching weight training, cycle spinning classes and leading hikes. Lance was predeceased by his parents and his two brothers, Thomas Hal Stewart and Douglas Eugene Stewart. He is also survived by his sons, Peter Smith Stewart (Ayoko) of Lafayette, California, Paul Walter Stewart (Steven Phillips) of Oswego, NY, Phillip Ray Stewart (Staci) of Hinsdale, Illinois and three grandchildren, Emma, Abigail and Elle of Hinsdale, Illinois. He is also survived by his sisters, Teresa Lynn Figueredo and Elizabeth Ann Seeger, both of Colorado Springs; and his ex-wives, Anne Knodel Stewart of Oswego, NY and Susan Yates Stewart of Galway, NY. Lance was a longtime member of Zion Lutheran Church in Schenectady. There will be no calling hours. He had asked that his ashes be scattered in the Adirondack Mountains.

Published in The Daily Gazette on Mar. 29, 2015.