Buffalo News (New York), November 19, 2005, Saturday

Copyright 2005 The Buffalo News
Buffalo News (New York)

November 19, 2005 Saturday
FINAL EDITION

SECTION: LOCAL; Pg. D5

HEADLINE: James C. Stewart, served on City Council;
March 14, 1936 -- Nov. 16, 2005

DATELINE: NIAGARA FALLS

BODY:
James C. Stewart, who served one year on the City Council and ran the city's only youth hostel, died Wednesday in Sisters Hospital, Buffalo, after a brief illness. He was 69.
He was appointed to the Council in January 2004 to a one-year term, replacing Vince V. Anello, who was elected mayor. But he lost a primary that fall trying to win a full four-year term.
The Falls native, known as "Jimmy," attended local schools and earned a bachelor's degree from Niagara University.
He also did graduate work at Cornell University in labor relations and tourism, and then taught at Niagara University. He eventually became a professional negotiator.
From 1966 to 1981, he taught classes for inmates in a state narcotics treatment facility and was president of Civil Service Employees Association local in Buffalo. He drove a Metro bus for 10 years.
From 1991 to 2001, he taught English at universities in the Shanghai region of China, where he also pursued business opportunities.
He was a Democratic committeeman for 30 years and was former chairman of the Niagara County Towns Democratic Committee.
Mr. Stewart and his wife of 10 years, Ruijin Chen, operated a youth hostel on Ferry Avenue.
Other survivors include two daughters, Debra Payne of Niagara Falls and Nicol Smith of Frisco, Texas; four sons, John, Mark J. and Russell, all of Niagara Falls, and James Jr. of Wheaton, Ill.; a stepson, Harry Tong of Scarborough, Ont.; nine grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday in Zajac Funeral Home, 319 24th St. Burial will be in Niagara Falls Memorial Park Cemetery, Lewiston.