IN MEMORIAM
Stuart Daniel Aarons (November 9, 1958 – March 7, 2021)
Union Club member Stuart Daniel Aarons passed away on the 7th of March 2021 in Palm Beach, Florida, where he had been living for the past several years. Stuart Aarons was elected to membership in 1994 and was a Union Club member for 27 years. A man of great charm, wit, and intelligence, Stuart will be missed by his many friends on both sides of the Atlantic.
Born on the 9th of November 1958 in London, England to Fay and the late Charles Aarons, Stuart graduated from the University College School (London) in 1977. Stuart won a place at Christ Church, Oxford to study Modern History. From the outset, he relished his tutorials, honing his debating skills and displaying, as one amused tutor drily noted, a remarkable ability to make the most of limited information. In recognition of his keen intellect, he was awarded an Exhibition at the end of his first year and went on to graduate in 1980 with a strong second and a lifelong devotion to the college. Naturally outgoing and gregarious, Stuart made many friends at Oxford who shared his love of good food, good wine, and good conversation, often into the wee hours of the night.
Shortly thereafter, he set out for “fame and fortune” by joining the executive training program at Chemical Bank in New York City. By this point, he was gaining friends and acquaintances fast and furiously, both British and American. His career took him to the Boston Private Bank, Bankers Trust, and then a series of more entrepreneurial stabs where he became an M&A advisor to different gaming and biopharma situations. First, in San Francisco, then back to New York City, and then, Palm Beach. When in New York, Stuart found the love of his life, Barbara Close, and they were married from 2003 to 2008, during which time he was occasionally spotted mowing their East Hampton garden while smoking a fine cigar.
Stuart loved history, classical music (Beethoven most of all), great wines and cuisine. Sunday mornings were devoted to watching his favorite UK soccer team, Tottenham Hotspurs, on television; no phone calls could disturb him then. He was equally fond of Formula I races and James Bond movies.
Stuart joined the Union Club in 1994, and, having grown allergic to the gym and squash courts, found himself more at home in one of the big leather chairs of the Club’s Library with a glass of port in hand. At other times, he loved to entertain at one of the corner tables in either the East Room or Main Dining Room. Often, he would sneak into the Club’s wine cellars for a “look”. Most of all, Stuart was proud of his long-standing membership in the “mother of clubs”, for which he will be greatly missed.