Stuart Tweed Brandt Stuart Tweed Brandt passed away at his home on Jan. 12, 2010, of natural causes. Mr. Brandt was born on July 23, 1939, at Aurora, the son of the late Arthur August Brandt and the late Emily Sarran Brandt.

Mr. Brandt spent much of his youth in Amityville. He joined the Armed Forces when he was 18, initially in the Navy and later in the Marines. He was stationed aboard the aircraft carrier USS Hancock and spent most of his time in the Pacific. His first love was firefighting in which he was involved in one way or another for more than 40 years. In 1954, he joined the Junior Auxiliary of the North Amityville Fire Company. During the early 1960s, he was an auxiliary at Ladder 12 Company, Manhattan.

Fascinated by the tales of his Irish immigrant coworkers, he traveled to Ireland where he continued his volunteer firefighting in Dublin. He also worked at a local hospital and thus began a career in psychiatric nursing care. In Ireland, he met his first wife, Judy, who was traveling at the time. They married later in New Zealand, where Stuart lived for 24 years. For most of his time in New Zealand, he was employed as a psychiatric nurse at Oakley Hospital. He took up photography and cofounded Firelines, a trade magazine for Auckland firefighters. He wrote much of the text, often injecting his characteristic humor, and contributed on-the-scene photos documenting major fires in and around Auckland. Additional volunteer work included a role as fire chief at the historical fire station at the Museum of Transport & Technology.

He spent his later years in New Zealand working freelance for the Criminal Intelligence Section of the Auckland Police. Mr. Brandt returned to the United States in 1990 to start a new life with his second wife, Jennifer Allan, and a much loved family. Small town sensibilities suited him and they settled in Paris. IL. He worked in agriculture and livestock. He devoted much of his volunteer time working with veterans’ organizations, principally AMVETS. Other organizations included 40 & 8 honor organization, Sad Sacks honor organization, American Legion Post 211, Kiwanis Early Risers, USS Hancock CV/CVA-19 Association, and A.M.F.B. New Zealand. His dedication and hard work quickly earned him promotion and invitations to join other organizations, which he accepted with great pride. He was also a member of the GOP and was a delegate to the GOP State Convention. Mr. Brandt loved music and he had broad music tastes that ranged from Spike Jones to Pink Floyd to Stravinsky.

“Family and friends meant everything to him,” said his sister Emily McAlister. “Besides the occasional cigar, he loved good conversation and jokes, preferably the practical kind. He will be remembered for his outgoing and unforgettable personality, quick wit and raucous laugh. He was generous, caring and loyal.”

He is survived by his son, Craig A. Brandt, of Ipswich, Mass.; two daughters, Kirsten R.E. Brandt and Israel Cruz of Greenfield, Wis., and Lydia M.C. Brandt of Bremerton, Wash. A grandson, Tristan A. Moore of Bremerton, Wash, a sister, Emily “Missy” Brandt (Jim) McAlister of Tampa, Fla. also survive him as does his nephew, Kenneth Smelcer of New York, and his former wives, Judy Evitt of Auckland, New Zealand, and Jennifer R.T. Allan Brandt of Bremerton, Wash.

He was preceded in death by his daughter, Anna C. Brandt in 1992, and by his brother, Gary Brandt in 1995.

Following cremation, there was a memorial January 22 at the Stewart and Carroll Funeral Home, interment of the cremains was in Edgar Cemetery, with military honors conducted by American Legion Post 211 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3601.