His birthday is on the 13th of April. He would have become 75, had he lived another year.
I am writing to remember and celebrate this magical mystery friend, who I got to know better in the later months and days of his life.
Who was Stuart Voder? Where did he come from? Where did he go, after passing from this world? So much will not truly be known about him. But a few things that I know about him, I would like to celebrate with you.
Stuart was a very private man. He did have friends and colleagues, but had chosen to spend most of his days and nights in his own company. Perhaps in the quietude of his company he could let his artistic soul design and express his gifts. Stuart allowed himself to become a great stone mason. He had a way to communicate with stones. You can see this by the way he built the round stone house that he lived in.
He was a great craftsman. This was a reason I approached him to seek help for various art and craft projects. He did always rise up to help me, even though at times he did so grudgingly. That is why I consider him a friend, even in passing, a friend remains a friend.
I want to appreciate Stuart for a great support he offered me towards my studies in Holistic Science. It was in November 2021, when I drove him to Aberdeen infirmary for a scan for his cancer that he learned about my studies. He stepped forward and commissioned me to make a work of art for him. The theme of this series of stained glass / mosaic work is ‘A Window of Love.’ I told him the window could be for himself, or someone else. He chose the window to be for himself. We had a number of consultations. The image you see here below is what emerged. This piece is called Harmony. For me it shows the essence of Stuart’s life and gifts. It is delicate, and strong at the same time. The flowers, the wind, the mountain and stones surrounding the pond are all reflections of his qualities.

Stuart died on the 18th of August 2022. I trust he had a good death surrounded by the caring community here in Findhorn. I salute him for his life, his light, his gifts and colours. Journeying with him through his path of illness and death, with Ineke and myself very close by, had been a great gift to me and an honour to treasure.

Harmony – Stuart’s ‘A Window of Love’