Obituary of Stefan Meyer

Stefan Alan Meyer ?Stef? Mr. Meyer, 85, of Matthews, NC, formerly of Chappaqua, NY, and Fripp Island, SC, passed away peacefully Thursday, December 15, 2011 at Sardis Oaks in Charlotte. He was born in New York on December 7, 1926, and grew up in Forest Hills, NY, son of the late Everett Alan Meyer and Florence McCafferty Meyer. He is survived by his beloved wife of 61 years, the former Katharine Cleveland Lansing, and three daughters (and their families) who love him so: Laura Meyer Wellman and husband Ward of Charlotte, and their children Alex and Edie; Tracy Meyer and husband Dale Smith, residing in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; and Alexandra Meyer Sternstein and husband Ed of Atlanta GA, together with their children Kate and Scott. He was known and sought after for his unique characteristics and abilities: an incisive wit and intellect; a keen interest in current affairs; love of virtually every game and sport; appreciation of nature; avid reading within many genres; storytelling with a flair; a gift for song and music; a strong sense of rhythm ? and style; a gardener?s green thumb; a youthful outlook on life; and an abiding love of all things ?family?. He met his bride, Kaye, in Bermuda in 1949, where they both were working at resorts on the island. Avid tennis players ? as well as terrific dancers ? they became engaged and eventually married in 1950 in Port Washington, NY, ultimately moving to Chappaqua, where they raised three daughters. He was a dedicated father who gave the gift of time and listening to his "girls?, creating family traditions that enriched their lives and those of their extended families and friends. A U.S. Marine Corps veteran, he served in multiple locations, including Beijing toward the end of World War II. He had a career in New York City in media and advertising, holding positions such as writer and creative director in diverse settings, including The Today Show and Time Inc., as well as Life and Newsweek. But it was his avocations that brought him the greatest joy. He developed tremendous skills as a photographer, with black & white his chosen medium, and leaves a well-chronicled set of family history, nature and travel in the form of slides and prints. A true musicologist, his album collection is extensive, embracing jazz, swing and show music. He was a major film buff and knew obscure details about the lives of movie personalities from both the earlier years and more current times. Writing was a consistent outlet, and his was a widely read column for many years. Five newspapers, including The Beaufort Gazette, included ?SAM?s Corner?, which covered a particular film or actor each week. He was a Frank Sinatra and an F. Scott Fitzgerald aficionado, and he became an expert in French wines, though he never had the opportunity to visit France. Curious about the world, he was an armchair traveler who, with his wife and often with family, loved exploring far flung places such as Egypt, Cartagena, the United Kingdom, Sri Lanka, British Columbia, the American Southwest, and here in the Carolinas. He played bridge, backgammon and chess with intuitive skill, and sports were a true passion ? ice hockey, baseball and ACC basketball ranking highest. He appreciated people of all backgrounds as individuals and made a point of hearing ?the other side? of any position to ensure he fully understood perspectives. He passed on a deep love of family and curiosity about his surroundings to those who survive him, with the mantra of ?the time is now? as his legacy. A celebration of his life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 22, 2011, with a private family service in Beaufort National Cemetery in Beaufort, SC with military honors by the US Marine Corps. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Salvation Army, PO Box 31128, Charlotte, NC 28231, organizations supporting the welfare of animals or to any nonprofit of choice.