Stewart Manee Ledbetter, 76, of Vero Beach and Manchester, Vt., died Nov. 5 with his family by his side, following a three-year battle with cancer.Stewart was born in 1932, the younger son of John and Gladys Ledbetter of Scarsdale, N.Y. He was educated at Rollins College and Stanford University where he also earned an MBA. He was a member of Stanford’s 1953 NCAA national championship golf team. After marrying his wife, Sheila, and a stint in the military, he began working at First National City Bank, where he was made vice-president by the time he was 35. In 1971, Stewart moved his family to Vermont where he bought a real estate firm in Manchester, and started a home construction company. In 1977 Stewart was named Commissioner of the state Banking and Insurance Department in Montpelier. He also chaired several boards and commissions, including the Vermont Housing Finance Agency, State Housing Authority, and Rutland Regional Medical Center.In 1980, Stewart entered Vermont’s Republican primary for the U.S. Senate. He beat five opponents, but in the November general election fell just short. It was the nation’s tightest Senate race of the year.Stewart returned to Manchester and managed an investment brokerage firm for almost 15 years. He and Sheila made their retirement home in Vero Beach, where he was a member of the Community Church of Vero Beach, The Moorings, and Hawk’s Nest Golf Club.He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Sheila, two sons, Stewart, Jr. of Burlington, Vt., and John and his wife, Heather, of Franklin, Mass.;a brother, Jack, and his wife, Rita, of Village of Golf; and sisters-in-law Susan Vancil of Vero Beach and Julie Bennett of Delray Beach.Funeral services will be held Tuesday, Nov. 10 at 3:30 pm in the Chapel at the Community Church of Vero Beach, 1901 23rd Street. Arrangements by Thomas Lowther Funeral Home, Vero Beach. Online condolences may be left at www.lowtherfuneralhome.com. There will be no calling hours. A private burial is planned at the family plot in Greenwich, Conn.
