Albert R. Stuart

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF. - Albert Rhett Stuart died Oct. 11, 2009, from an aortic dissection at Kaiser Hospital in San Francisco.
He was born Sept. 18, 1931, in Newport News. Rhett reveled in memories growing up at 6300 Huntington Avenue on the riverbanks of the beautiful and wide James River, which he loved. As a child, he enjoyed spending summer and holidays with relatives in Winchester. His family attended St. Paul's Episcopal Church in downtown Newport News. Like his mother, Rhett was a natural musician and played songs by ear on piano. In his 20s he moved to New York City to become a Broadway singer/actor. He lived there through the decade of the fifties, studying voice and immersing himself in Broadway's heyday of musical theatre.
Rhett interned as an NBC page and loved sharing tales of the stars that came before his desk. In 1961, he came west and played a Zook brother across from his real brother, Arthur King, in a production of Plain and Fancy at the Pasadena Playhouse, before following the coast up to San Francisco. In the early 70's Rhett began to direct his love of rhythm and voice into poetry. He often said he loved nothing more than a blank page and he wrote on a daily basis. Musicality and joy of word play influenced his work, which he read at dozens of San Francisco venues, riffing on reminiscences and daily life. Years of training as a singer and at the National Academy of Broadcasting came through in the mesmerizing smoothness of his lovely, baritone voice. As an artist and person, Rhett was a mentor and an inspiration to many. He made connections throughout the art community of San Francisco. He attended writing workshops at Central City Hospitality House and the Tenderloin Reflection and Education Center, where he also sat on the Board of Directors.
Rhett was a great believer in treating oneself with kindness, just as we would others we care about. Deeply spiritual and philosophical, Rhett helped establish the Tenderloin Self-Help center and was one of the original peer counselors who went to Esalen for training in reflective-listening. In 1989 his book Man OffBeat was published by Freedom Voices, and reprinted in 1990 and '94.
This past decade, Rhett enjoyed creating colorful sketches while continuing to write and play music. He generously shared his work with family and friends.
Rhett is survived by three cherished brothers and their families, William and wife, Pat, Gray and Peggy, and King, formerly married to Toni; nieces and nephews, Susan, Jane, Alice, Tricia, Megan, Danny, Reid, Robbie, Billy, Hal and other extended family.
Rhett was preceded in death by his parents, longtime residents of Newport News, William C. Stuart Jr. and Susan Reid Williams Stuart.
He will be greatly missed by all who had the pleasure to know him. A celebration of his life and art is being planned and will be announced on his memoriam website at FreedomVoices.org. View and post condolences on our online guestbook at dailypress.com/guestbooks.