David A. Stewart

1932 - 2025

David A. Stewart, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, went to be with the Lord on October 17, 2025, at the age of 93. He was born on September 25, 1932, in Santa Barbara, CA, and lived a life marked by faith, devotion, and a remarkable pursuit of knowledge and excellence.

David is survived by his devoted wife of 70 years, Faith Z. Stewart; his two children, Jim Stewart and Shari Gambello; six grandchildren; and fourteen great-grandchildren, all of whom brought immense joy and pride to his life.

A proud Korean War Veteran and a man of extraordinary intellect and integrity, David dedicated 64 years of his career to NASA, where he served as a senior research scientist and inventor at Ames Research Center. He was known for co-inventing Gap Fillers (a flexible, adjustable refractory filler for filling gaps between ceramic tiles forming the heat shield of a space shuttle vehicle), developing a thermal protection system for the wings of the space shuttle vehicles, and co-inventing TUFROC (a lightweight and reusable heat shield technology). His groundbreaking work and innovations contributed greatly to the advancement of the United States space program starting on the Apollo.

Over the course of his distinguished career, he received numerous honors, including the Government Invention of the Year award in 2011, NASA ICB Award for TUFROC and the Commercial Invention of the Year Award; all recognizing his ingenuity and lasting impact on aerospace science and technology. His work at NASA also resulted in patents for "Leading Edge Heat Shield for Wings of Spacecrafts" and "Surface Catalysis and Characterization," among others.

Beyond his many professional achievements, David will be remembered for his steadfast faith, gentle spirit, and the deep love he had for his family. He never missed one of his children's or grandchildren's sporting events or performances, always cheering them on with pride and joy. A devoted husband, father, and grandfather, David's family was the heart of his life, and he consistently placed them above all else.

David A. Stewart's legacy will continue to live on in the hearts of those he loved and in the countless innovations that reach beyond the stars.