ALPHA RHO BROTHER HENRY ALLEN STEWART (Spring 1999) ENTERS OMEGA CHAPTER OF ALPHA PHI ALPHA
Brother Henry Allen Stewart -- one of the chief architects of the Alpha Rho Chapter Alumni Association's ascension -- passed unexpectedly earlier this week at his home in Washington, DC. At only 43 years old, Brother Stewart's loss is reverberating strongly through many decades of Alpha Rho Men, with many reminiscing about his active role as a mentor, sponsor, connector, leader and consummate friend throughout his membership in the alumni association ranks.
Brother Stewart was initiated into Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. by way of the 38th Chapter, Alpha Rho, seated at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia. He was #13 on the Intrepid 25, crossing in Spring 1999. He graduated from Morehouse College in 1999 with a BA Degree in Economics and Political Science, and while there he was a member of the Student Senate, Pre-Alumni Council, Morehouse Business Association, and the Martin Luther King, Jr. International Chapel Choir.
Pictured above: Alpha Rho Brothers George B. Walker, Kevin Jamal Salter (with wife Romeldia Salter) and Stewart at the dedication ceremony for the Alpha Rho 90th Anniversary Memorial Obelisk at Morehouse College, on October 27, 2015.
A Life Member of the Fraternity, Brother Stewart had previously served the national organization as the Assistant Executive Director for Marketing and Publications and Editor of The Sphinx Magazine. Most significantly, he was one of only four living Alpha Rho Chapter Brothers entrusted with the "Riddle Of The Obelisk," a catalog of the contents and location of the time capsule placed inside of the 90th Anniversary Memorial Obelisk on the Morehouse College campus. At the time of his passing he held membership in the Omicron Lambda Alpha Chapter where he once served as President and Vice President.
Brother Stewart can be described professionally as a creative, innovative, award-winning senior communications executive with expansive management experience executing integrated campaigns, leading multidisciplinary teams, and creating results driven products. He maintained a proven track record creating and implementing cutting edge marketing and public relations strategies in fast-paced, entrepreneurial, and high energy environments. He was consistent in his ability to generate measurable growth, profitability, brand recognition and equity, and he engendered audience engagement for diverse organizations and industry sectors.
Pictured above: Alpha Phi Alpha Men at the National Press Club in Washington, DC.
Most recently, Brother Stewart served as the Integrated Communications Strategy Director for the American Association for Retired People (AARP) in Washington, DC where he was responsible for developing, managing and executing communications strategies that raise awareness and promote engagement around key AARP initiatives. He was responsible for leading the development of a strategic approach to health communications, overseeing the execution of the strategy and measuring results. His particular role focused on AARP’s work and resources on health issues, such as Medicare, Medicaid, brain health, wellness and prevention. He also managed a cross-enterprise team of content creators, channel managers, subject-matter experts and others who contribute to the strategy and execution.
Prior to AARP, he served as Principal Executive with Emerson Street Strategy Group, a Senior Vice President with Weber Shadwick, as Deputy Executive Director for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's Campaign for High School Equity, and Senior Liaison for the National Education Association (NEA). Earlier in his career he held leadership positions with Handprint Group/H. Stewart & Associates, the National Council of Negro Women, Government of the District of Columbia/Executive Office of The Mayor, John Kerry for President, Washington Linkage Group, and the United States House of Representatives.
Pictured above: The younger generation of Alpha Rho Men at the annual "Summer Smoker" in August, 2014.
In addition to his professional career, Brother Stewart followed his father's footsteps and into the ministry of God -- oftentimes sharing the pulpit on Sunday mornings in Washington, DC.
A native Washingtonian, Brother Stewart's immediate family of survivors include his father Rev. Dr. E. Allen Stewart, his stepmother Angelica Stewart, his sister Edwina Dowdie and brother-in-law Sean Dowdie, his stepbrother Jocara Knight, Sr., and sister-in-law Teara Knight. He is pre-deceased by his mother Edith Stewart.
Pictured above: Brother Henry Allen Stewart ... also known as 'the party starter." An Alpha Rho Giant who will be missed by all.
