Sam Hall |
01-13-2007 12:58 AM |
Posted on Fri, Jan. 12, 2007
Secret Santa Larry Stewart dies at 58
By LYNN FRANEY
The Kansas City Star
Kansas City’s Secret Santa, Larry Stewart, died today.
Stewart, 58, had fought cancer of the esophagus since April. He died around 1:50 p.m. at St. Luke’s Hospital.
The Lee’s Summit man didn’t let his illness keep him from one last spending spree this Christmas season, giving away a total of $100,000 to people who responded with hugs, tears and whoops of joy.
Just before Thanksgiving, Stewart went public with his identity for the first time in 26 years as Kansas City’s mysterious Secret Santa.
His Secret Santa giving totaled more than $1.3 million, and he also supported numerous charities, from the Salvation Army to the YMCA and the ALS Foundation.
He hoped that by going public he could inspire more selfless giving by others. It could be $100 or $5, cookies for a neighbor or a favor for someone who was down.
After Stewart shared his life story, he enjoyed reading e-mails of support that came to his Secret Santa Web site. He especially liked hearing from people starting their own family tradition of giving to strangers at Christmas.
The outpouring of love and prayers overwhelmed him, he told The Star last month.
“This has just completely caught me off guard,” he said, sobbing. “It’s heartwarming. The tears that I have are tears of joy, and I just want everybody to know that I am deeply grateful.
“This was never intended to be about me. I’m just doing what the Lord is directing me to do. I’m just a pair of hands and feet. He’s using me. He’s lightened my path. … Part of my daily prayer was ‘Lord, let me be a better servant.’ I had no idea this is what he had in mind, but I’m happy. I’m so thrilled that he is able to use me in this way.”
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