I, ORIGINALLY MET STUART WHEN HE CHOSE TO RENT AT THE BARCLAY IN
MARCH OF 2013...WE FORMED A FRIENDSHIP THAT BECAME A RELATIONSHIP
BORDERING ON SON AND FATHER...WE MET NOT OFTEN ENOUGH, AND SPOKE OF FAMILY AND PHILOSOPHY....CONFIDING IN EACH OF US. I WILL MISS HIM. LENNY

What can I add that could possibly address my and my wife Donna’s affection for Stuart!
We met when he was consulting for my business, then 2 others, but it quickly went from biz to a great friendship and and almost family like.
Every month was either Dinner at the Capital Grill or Lunch at Taboo, of which he teased me about my old hangout in 70’s and 80’s.
We were to talk on that Sunday evening. No answer and wrote that Monday morning and asked “Hows your Mum are you OK?” I have kept that message.
Tuesday I was getting my license plates when I got the terrible news.
I sat in my car for a period and brought tears to me.
R.I.P. my dear friend

Dear Uncle Stuart (I know you said I could stop calling you Uncle but it never felt right not to do so)

I have been trying to think about what to write for the past month and every time I start crying and freeze. I am still overcome with so much sadness and anger. I am so upset to have lost you - I was blessed and fortunate enough to have you in my life as my godfather, my mentor and a member of my family. I am so angry you were taken away from us - there is now a void where you should be and I am still trying to come to terms with this. To say this is unfair is an understatement.

You were an incredible person and seeing all the memories and photos posted from your past further proves how important you were to everyone and their lives. You were there for all the ups and downs and remained a constant support.

When I was much younger and we visited you in Long Island I remember arguing with Morgan to sit in the front seat of your old school convertible (I think it was a fiat) as to me it was the coolest car I had ever seen. On the same visit you showed me my first episode of Top Gear which was the start of my education and appreciation for cars. A few years ago you sent me a book from your collection about Cricket and said we would one day go to Lord’s together - I am looking forward to the day I make it to a match and can understand the basics thanks to you. We went to some fabulous restaurants in London and I am so glad to have those fond memories to look back on. I have asked for a few books from your large collection for all the things I was hoping to learn with you - it’s not the same but at least using your books makes me feel like you are there and teaching me. I was also looking forward to you showing me how to drink Aquavit this summer as we planned at my 21st but maybe for our livers sake we dodged a bullet!

It always made me really happy to know that you kept any postcard I sent you on your fridge. I know due to the distance we weren’t able to see each other as much as we would have liked but sending you cards made it feel like you were apart of all my journeys. The last time we spoke was my birthday and I am sorry we did not speak for longer. We were trying to speak more over the coming weeks and kept missing each other. I am so sorry. I know you would say we can’t live life saying “what if” or “if I had known” but I am sure like everyone else, I would do anything to have one last conversation.

Your passing is a reminder that time is precious and every moment counts. We need to make the most of our time and our loved ones. I promise you I will do this. I also promise to go to Paris as we planned a decade ago to learn more about wine and from the last time we saw each other in person to not to get into the habit of smoking cigars (was only ever on special occasions). 

I miss you and love you so much. You are incredibly missed and the world didn’t deserve to lose you. Rest in peace Uncle Stuart - I am toasting a glass of champagne to you in the beautiful coupe glasses you gave me.

As you would sign your emails, XO to you too

Alexa

"To know that even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. 
This is to have succeeded." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

To our beloved friend, Stuart. 
One of the most successful men I have ever met. 

Stuart became a piece of my life in the 1980's through the First Wednesday of the Month Club.  Not surprisingly, Stuart was our Chairman. 

The "FWOMC" met for 10+ years and was the petri dish for some very special relationships. It apparently was noteworthy enough to merit a NY Times article in March 1997.

While the article opened and closed with quotes from our Chairman, I'm drawn to another Stuart quote in the text's center:  "I can play for just one day even though I have to be a grown-up tomorrow".

In the video of Stuart's toast at his goddaughter's 18th birthday, he closes with the importance of forging relationships.  I added exerpts fro the NYT article in the "Stories" section because to me it shines as proof of Stuart's ability to forge relationships.  

I hold fast my relationship with Stuart.  He's a strong leader, a good friend, and a lot of fun.  

Prost.

I have managed only a small poem about our quirky friend, his love of the sea and the surreal nature of, well, everything.

He Loved the Night

rabbits
rabbits everywhere
my legs won’t flex or straighten

stingrays sweep and swirl
stirring up ocean excrement
sun falls and stains the shifting sands

hard to imagine he’s gone
in his pink sun hat
who’s to judge
a bunny, a dove, an eagle

water teeming, crowded with life
blues tans yellows greens
no reds nor oranges

my legs can bend again
long ago rabbits on the green - he hated them

I kneel perfectly on the beach
my feet tucked under my bottom
by light of the moon and stars

hatchling Golden Thread turtles
graze my knees
tunnel to the sea

My first proper encounter with Stuart came 2-3 days after our arrival at Christ Church in October 1977. Leaving Hall after dinner, I fell into company with Stuart who pronounced that not only was the food just served unfit for human consumption, but would not again be consumed by him. Stuart was as good as his word, never ate another ordinary meal in College, and subsequently organized his eating around supplies of fillet steak kept unusually in those days in a personal fridge in his room, and developed what was to be a long-standing relationship with a small, but excellent French bistrot within convenient walking distance of the House. On the way back for a drink in his room that evening, I recognized the piece that Stuart was humming to himself - one of his favourite Beethoven compositions, the cavatina from the opus 130 string quartet. The shared enthusiasm for Beethoven - and Handel - kicked off the first of many, many, long conversations wih Stuart, covering every conceivable topic - all of which Stuart, amazingly, would have views about, which he would assert and defend with facility and conviction - and a great deal of friendly teasing of his opponents.
I saw less of him after he graduated and established himself in the States, but it was one of those rare and remarkable friendships where it didn't matter how many years had elapsed since the previous meeting, it was always the case that we picked up the threads of the last conversation as if it had been the day before. Largely because of Stuart's remarkably retentive memory, and his genuine and warm interest in the personalities and thinking, preferences and foibles of his friends, he had that great ability to rekindle a friendship within moments of re-encounter. 
I had assumed that our friendship would continue for many more years, and will feel Stuart's loss deeply. RIP, old and dear friend.

I didn’t know Stuart very well or for very long time, but instinctively liked him on sight. He came over as kind, absolutely genuine and highly intelligent!
At my 70th birthday party we sat him next to a friend who had been a top Times financial and later general correspondent. Her comment to me later was that she had never talked to anyone who knew so much about any given subject but had come over as such a nice unassuming person. She is not a person easily impressed!
Every year our first Christmas card was from Stuart. I just can’t express how much we will miss him.
Goodbye and God bless.

Stuart was that rarest of men, deeply humble, impossibly funny and sincerely caring. I was unimaginably fortunate to have reconnected with him after more than a decade, (perhaps longer than that,) only days before his untimely passing. We spent hours on the phone catching up and still had only barely scratched the surface. And, as with such authentic friends as he, it felt as if we had never missed a beat.
I cannot help but feel that it was just like Stuart to make sure to say goodbye before leaving this life. How grateful I will always be for that one last visit. RIP my dear friend... until we meet again. 

To say that Stuart is irreplaceable doesn't even come close to how we all feel right now; his passing leaves a void that will never be filled.

Stuart and I first met virtually through business in 1997 when I was working for a marketing communications company and he was brought in as a financial consultant for a large project. Of course the first thing that struck me was that accent, as our communication at the time was via telephone and email. Then the "snail mail" as he would call it began ... the cards and postcards, magazine and newspaper clippings, tidbits of interest that Stuart was so adept at sending to his friends and loved ones - and yes, those envelopes with so much tape that it was nearly impossible to insert a letter opener.

Our friendship had its fair share of ups and downs over the years, but we always believed that a true friend is someone you keep. And Stuart was the truest of friends, a gentleman and a scholar, delightfully irreverent, generous, entertaining, thoughtful, punctual and a man of his word.

I've never met a straight man who knew more about women's fashion than Stuart; he would often tell me stories of accompanying his parents as a youth on buying trips and couture collection shows to Paris and Milan. He enjoyed shopping and had an impeccable eye for detail, form and good taste.

I began visiting Stuart when he moved to Palm Beach in 2008, and we explored South Beach, Vero Beach, Boca Raton and Delray Beach - with favorite restaurants in each locale. It was always a delight to dine with Stuart; he was the best dinner-date ever - a statement to which I am sure everyone here agrees.

It still seems unfathomable that Stuart departed so abruptly and unexpectedly. My heart mourns, and I send my deepest condolences to the Aarons-Leon family and all those that remember and love Stuart so well.

As I think back on my time with Stuart, it seems that dinner is what we did most. Five hour dinners … followed by cocktails.

He was a singularly intelligent, sympathetic, convivial and entertaining dinner companion.

in between exchanging barbs with his favorite waiter — or debating with me the relative merits of the wine list — Stuart patiently and humorously imparted his impressively wide range of wisdom and knowledge. Always with a smile. Never pedantic or braggadocious.

On the handful of subjects I knew better than Stuart, he was genuinely interested in hearing me out. Although, he couldn’t resist the occasional needle, such as — Me: “In my humble opinion …”  Stuart: “What? What? What was that word? I thought there was a word in there that I hadn’t heard you use before … I believe it began with an “h.”

Our dinners were fun. I can’t think of a single person who’s sense of humor I enjoyed more, nor of anybody who seemed to understand mine better.

For weeks after our dinners, Stuart would follow-up with emails linking to the topics of our discussions.

When I started writing adaptations of Shakespeare plays, Stuart searched his library for 10 or 15 books of analysis on Shakespeare, which he boxed up and mailed to me.

Stuart was the best companion and the best friend.

The Aarons family has my deepest sympathies for the loss of a unique gentleman.

The loss of Stuart has left a large hole in my heart, as I imagine to be likewise for those who were blessed to have him be part of their lives. Not only do I wish I could have thanked him for being the greatest of friends to my father and later our entire family, but for being one of my most important mentors. His interest in me as a student of History and his encouragement in my pursuit of the law has shaped me in more ways than words could do justice. As I come to the close of my final year, I'm sad that I won't be able to celebrate with him in the traditional sense but I know he'll be smiling down at me. I don't believe that the hole that Stuart's loss has created could ever be filled, but I have reached satisfaction in knowing this because he was one of life's greatest treasures and unfortunately, gone way too soon. We were all so lucky to have experienced the joy, laughter and love that he provided - it's something I shall cherish forever.

I met Stuart in 1985 while working on opening the first Davidoff store in NYC, he was our banker and we all know he loved a good cigar. I worked with him and later for him and our friendship stayed strong. I moved to the Bay Area and soon after Stuart moved to San Francisco. I used to tease him that he moved because he missed me too much. 
I will miss his voice, our long political "discussions", his birthday cards (without fail), the newspaper articles he sent on a regular basis, his sense of humor, his laugh and so much more. Most of all, I miss my best friend and will cherish the memories of him for the rest of my life.

My deepest and sincerest condolences to the Aarons - Leon family. May his memory be a blessing to you all.

I met Stuart on our first day up at Oxford in 1977. The starting basis of our friendship was the entirely mutual decision NOT to share the digs we had been assigned - that probably would have been catastrophic. We dined and debated throughout our time at the House before locking ourselves away together for the final months to prepare for our exams. He knew how to work hard when it was truly unavoidable. I think I still have his notes on medieval peasantry - he was less than enthusiastic about the peasants as I recall - buried in my files.

I have one private and illustrative memory to share:
One summer night in the South of France I insisted that he join me on a long swim around the buoys guarding the approaches to the beach area in Cannes. He completed this with reasonable good grace and then spent our recovery time on the breakwater explaining to me how misinformed I was, as a product of a traditional C of E education, as to the historical figure of Jesus viewed from an educated Jewish perspective. I have always liked people who could make me think.

I chose him as my daughter’s godfather. We were debating politics and nutrition up until the day he died. I will miss him very much.

My deepest condolences to the Aarons’ family.
I met Stuart several years ago in NY through my client and friend Israel Weinstock.
We became friends, met numerous times at business events, or met for meals. Dinner was best, since we both enjoyed our wine, Stuart mostly more than me!!!
I remember we always laughed...
We were supposed to meet this year in Florida, Stuart having moved there and my wife and I spending a few months nearby.... but that event never took place. I was in tears when I heard of his loss from Barbara, and I will always miss Stuart’s laugh!!! That will always remain my memory with a big smile.
Best
Ron

The year is 1989 and I arrive in NYC at the age of 20 to spend a year living and working with my father, Harry. Little did I know what I was letting myself in for. His two best friends were Stuart and Euan (Harvie Watt) - 'The Three Amigos'. I don’t think I can remember a Sunday Brunch when we weren’t altogether. Euan (who lived directly above Harry, poor thing) and Stuart (who seemed to live next door) would arrive at noon for (several) jugs of Bloody Marys and then we would jump into a cab to one of the best brunch places in town. We were always the last to leave and I remember my face hurting from the laughter. Really some of the happiest memories of my life were with The Three Amigos. RIP dear Stuart, you are very much missed. PS: I love all the photos. Always a smile on his face and always a glass (or two) in his hand!

As others have mentioned before, there are far too many stories to share all on one page, a number of which are far better suited for sharing face-to-face with the proper imbibement providing the appropriate context and ambiance. Stuart and I met in San Francisco in the '90s when I was brought in to help him manage the chaos that had consumed Playnet Technologies. Upon our first meeting, one of us (I don't recall which) let fly a quote from a Monty Python sketch and the laughter that ensued could only be that of people who knew Python intimately enough to have instantly played out the entire sketch inside one's head. Stuart looked straight at me and said: "We are going to get on just fine. This project is hell (he used a more colorful metaphor) but we'll have some fun. " The next twenty some-odd years consisted of many working sessions that sometimes involved more wine than work, dinners at each others homes, dinners out, wine, cigars, magazine clippings, wine, business trips, introductions to new friends, wine, cocktails, a wedding, LOTS of laughing, and finally...more wine. Stuart was a man of sophistication and yet we often laughed as children do at the silliest of things. Any girlfriend I ever introduced to him, instantly adored him. The world is a little dimmer without his humor and that infectious laugh of his.

“Come and have a drink.” Those were more or less the first words Stuart said to me in our first term at Oxford. And so began more than 40 years of friendship and laughter over shared passions particularly football, cricket, music, films (Westerns!) and good food and wine. He was such a generous and caring man. So many stories to tell. I shall miss you Sir.

Stuart is such a light in so many people's life. Amazing giver of fun, love and life. He will be missed by so many.......if one of us says his name every day he will remain with us.

Stuart was a close friend for too short a time, as I first met him two and a half years ago at a dinner given by mutual friends; all of us residents of the Barclay. It was so easy to like and respect Stuart at that first get together, and we became friends immediately. My respect and appreciation of Stuart grew every day.
Stuart was the kindest person I met, and always so considerate of everyone. We shared a passion of history and world events and soon realized that during the work period of my life, we had mutual acquaintances. Stuart also had a deep interest and knowledge for great cheeses (e.g., Epoisses) and French baguettes which we shared. I treasure the books he gave me on cheeses, wines, and baguettes. I regret that I got to know him for such a short time.
I will miss you Stuart.

I met Stuart years ago at a house party in Wiltshire and we fell right into step. He had a wonderful sense of humor and was the friend you should never be seated next to on a serious occasion. I’m smiling as I write this, remembering those occasions.
Raising a glass and sending Stuart’s family and friends my condolences and my very best regards. Stuart will certainly be missed.
Rest In Peace you marvelous old so & so.

"I'm not trying to be facetious, really I'm not,"
"mad I tell you, mad, the world's gone mad,"
"but at end of the day, who am I to complain?"

I have so many but let me start with one of the earliest. The first time I had the honour of enjoying Sunday lunch with him and his parents at their house in N. London, his father was in his usual chair reading the Sunday Telegraph. We discussed football rather quickly over some initial drinks. Lunch was soon served, the very fine fayre of smoked salmon, roast beef, Dom Perignon and some delicious red wine. Consumed with great alacrity by those present, I was still able to keep up with the conversation after lunch. The end of a very enjoyable time came with the immortal words from Stuart's father to Stuart--"your friend, he can come again". 

I met Stuart when we were contemporaries at University and we stayed friends from then onwards. I will share a few stories but I remember when we were young, probably in our early 30s, talking about what we'd want our epitaphs to read. Stuart wanted
"I ordered a large cognac 20 minutes ago. I hope wherever I'm going, the service is better". I hope so too. RIP Stuart

I was fortunate enough to meet Stuart through one of my businesses as our investment banker. Through a series of conversations at cocktail hour in California which was late in Palm Beach, we developed a friendship. It turned out we both had corporate experience working in real estate and finance. In this particular case it was Sandy Wyle. Stuart‘s company was one of our Investment partners when I first started in the real estate development business in Newport Beach. As we developed our professional and personal friendship I became acutely aware of Stuart’s intelligent, kindness and outstanding sense of humor. I even offered to fly to Palm Beach to buy Stuart dinner and a special bottle of French Burgundy.

Losing Stuart it’s like losing a piece of your body. You know it is gone, but you can still feel it.

Rest peacefully my friend.

Best, Jeff Potter ( California)