1984 – Palm Springs & Escondido, California
Brownie Stewart’s first involvement in civic activities was as a founding member of th Volunteer Army Canteen Service and of the U.S.O. in the Los Angeles area. Following World War II, she lived in Minneapolis, raising her daughter and son and volunteering with two hospitals, the United Way, and cultural groups. She was a member of the Women’s Board of both the Minneapolis Museum of Art and the Walker Museum of Modern Art and was a volunteer with the Minneapolis Symphony and the Guthrie Theatre. She also worked with the Young President’s Organization. During this time, she studied architecture and designed and built several very important houses in Minneapolis and was a well-known hostess. Mrs. Stewart moved to Palm Springs in 1967 and was a member of the Women’s Board of the Desert Museum, Eisenhower Medical Center, Desert Hospital and the Palm Springs chapter of the Los Angeles Ballet. She served two terms as chair of the Palm Springs chapter of the Northwood National Women’s Board, wa chair of the National Women’s Board Executive Committee meeting in 1984 and served on the Northwood University Achievement in the Arts Committee in New York. She and her late husband, Ralph Bear, co-chaired Northwood’s auction benefit in Palm Springs. A scholarship at the University was established by the couple. (Deceased, 2003)
