Stewart, Robert Ferris

Service Highlights

  • Born and raised in St. Marys, Ontario.
  • Worked for many years at the St. Marys Cement Plant.
  • Began volunteering in St. Marys minor hockey in 1951.
  • Head coach of the St. Marys Lincolns from 1967 through 1971,
  • Inducted as a Builder into the St. Marys Sports Wall of Fame (2024).
  • Community recognition: Honored through Branch 236’s Veteran Banner Program

A Life and Service Remembered

Robert Ferris Stewart dedicated much of his life to the young athletes of St. Marys, not through personal spotlight, but through decades of steady volunteer service behind the bench, on the ice, and in the community. At this time, his service records are not publicly available, so the exact details of his service have not yet been confirmed.

Beginning in 1951, Stewart became one of the driving forces in local hockey development. While working at the St. Marys Cement Plant, he devoted countless hours to coaching, mentoring, and organizing teams across multiple age groups. His influence stretched from house league programs to elite youth hockey, helping shape generations of players during some of the town’s most successful hockey years.

Stewart’s leadership with the St. Marys Cement Midget All Stars and later the St. Marys Lincolns helped elevate local hockey while also reinforcing the values of teamwork, discipline, and community pride. He was known not only for success on the ice, but for his willingness to keep giving year after year, sometimes coaching two teams in a single season.

When he retired from both the Cement Plant and coaching in 1982, it was not because his passion had faded, but because he wanted younger volunteers to have the same chance to contribute. His legacy remained deeply woven into St. Marys hockey, and his 2024 induction into the St. Marys Sports Wall of Fame recognized a lifetime spent building opportunity for others.

Major Contributions and Community Legacy

  • Volunteer coach in St. Marys Minor Hockey beginning in 1951
  • Leadership of the St. Marys Cement Midget All Stars across multiple championship eras
  • Manager and later head coach of the St. Marys Lincolns
  • Development of youth hockey programs in St. Marys for over three decades
  • Lifelong contribution as a community builder and mentor

Learn More

Town of St. Marys Sports Wall of Fame
https://www.townofstmarys.com/recreation-community-culture/pyramid-recreation-centre/sports-wall-of-fame/