Stuart McMaster, the husband of local playwright Beth McMaster, passed away quietly at his home on Tuesday, March 13th at the age of 85.
Born in Welland, Stuart grew up in Perth and attended Teachers’ College in Ottawa. He began his teaching career at the Rockcliffe Airport School in Ottawa, where he met his wife-to-be Beth.
They married in 1956 and moved back to Beth’s home town of Peterborough, where they would raise their three children.
Stuart continued his teaching career at various schools in the Peterborough area from 1959 until his retirement in 1989.
An avid gardener, Stuart transformed the McMaster’s country home into a place of beauty, where it was enjoyed as a stop on the Art Gallery Garden Tour, by local artists who came to paint, and more.
Stuart was also an artist himself, working in oils and acrylics, and he created props and sets for the Peterborough Theatre Guild, of which his wife Beth was a member and playwright, and other local theatre companies.
Recently, Stuart created the visuals for The Legendary Icon Series at Showplace Performance Centre, written and narrated by Beth. The popular presentation of history, trivia, imagery and music profiled entertainers such as Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra, Noel Coward, Judy Garland, Johnny Mercer, and more.
Stuart has been cremated and will be buried in the spring at Hillside Cemetery in Lakefield.
Friends are invited to celebrate Stuart’s life at a reception in the Nexicom Studio at Showplace Performance Centre, which will be held on Wednesday, March 21st from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Stuart is survived by his wife, his sister, his three children, and his five grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested people donate to their favourite charity.
