Caribbean Heritage

THE WEEKLY GLEANER | MAY 17 - MAY 23, 2021 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | NEWS 40 - JUNE 16, 2021 Sophia Findlay/Gleaner Writer TORONTO: P OPULAR RESTAURATEUR, Robert St Aubyn Stewart, passed away at his home on Friday, April 23, in Toronto. He was 66 years old. He was born August 16, 1954 in Mavis Bank, St Andrew, Jamaica, and was the sixth of 13 siblings to his parents, Mordecai and Blanche Stewart. He came to Canada in 1978 and worked as a welder at Liberty Furniture but always held the dream of starting his own business. After opening the doors of Jamaica House Restaurant with a business partner in November 1989, he successfully operated the west end food establishment, known for its authentic Jamaican cuisine, that serves patrons from an increasingly wide cross section of the Greater Toronto Area. The 30-year-long-running eatery has been in the same location since its inception, and in an earlier interview with The Gleaner , Stewart joked that he was the prime minister of Jamaica House Restaurant. He continued with the business, alongside his son Marlon, even after he lost a leg. His char i table communi ty involvement includes providing three years of free lunches to 14 students in grades 9 and 10 of the Westview Re- engagement Programme. He also sponsored local children sports team in North York, as well as sponsorship of over 46 children/youth in football and netball teams from the Jamaican community. Noteworthy Jamaica- based beneficiaries are Ardenne High School and the South St Andrew Police Club. The pleasant and spirited Stewart never forgot his custom- ers and would host a much-anticipated an- nual Jamaica House Restaurant anniversary party each November, to show his appreciation and bolster his fundraising efforts. In some quarters, he was affectionately called‘Jockey Robbie’ because of his love for the races. He leaves children Jermaine Stewart, Marlon Stewart, and Robert Stewart Jr. He was brother to Daphne, Allan, Dorret, Raymond, Monica, Barry, Mike and Ricky. A funeral service was held Saturday, May 15, 2021 at the Glendale Funeral Home, followed by interment at Glenview Memorial Gardens. Due to COVID restriction, a Zoom link was provided. Robert ‘Jockey Robbie’ Stewart passes Robert Stewart. CONTRIBUTED