Michael Margaret Stewart

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Michael Margaret Stewart
First Lady of Alaska
In role
December 1, 1986 – December 2, 1990
GovernorSteve Cowper
Preceded byVacant (1982–1986)
Succeeded byErmalee Hickel
Personal details
Born(1952-12-28)December 28, 1952
Santa Barbara College of Law

Michael Margaret Stewart, formerly Michael Cowper, (December 28, 1952 – October 22, 2015) was an American

Governor Steve Cowper. Stewart established and launched the state reading program, "Look to a Book", as First Lady.[1][2]

Biography

Early life

Michael Margaret Stewart was born in

first name for a girl, after a family friend, while her middle name came from her mother.[2] Stewart's mother died from breast cancer when she was young.[2]

The Stewart family returned to the United States and settled in

vacation home in Hope Ranch, California, an upscale suburb of Santa Barbara.[2][3]

Michael Margaret Stewart graduated from

Santa Barbara College of Law when she was 31 years old.[2] Her first marriage, to Justin Hodges, ended in divorce.[3]

First Lady of Alaska

Stewart met her second husband, Steve Cowper, at a New Year's Eve party at Nipper's Club in Montecito, California, in 1984.[3] Cowper was an Alaskan politician who was preparing for his second gubernatorial campaign, following an unsuccessful bid for Governor of Alaska in 1982.[2] Stewart and Cowper soon married and moved to Alaska.[3]

In 1986, Cowper announced his second candidacy for Governor of Alaska. He defeated incumbent Governor Bill Sheffield in the Democratic primary election on August 26, 1986.[4] Stewart gave birth to the couple's son and only child, Wade Cowper, was born on August 29, 1986, just three days after the primary.[1][3] The birth of their son attracted widespread public attention during the election campaign.[2] Cowper won the four-way general election in November 1986.[2]

Stewart focused on literacy and rural healthcare during her four years as First Lady of Alaska.

Children’s Television Workshop.[2] She also traveled throughout Alaska on behalf of the Cowper administration's Health Care Commission, which focused on educational accountability and drew-up almost fifty recommendations to alleviate economic and social problems.[2]

By the late 1980s, approximately one-third of Alaska's population was age 18 or younger, posing a demographic challenge.

teen suicide.[2]

Stewart's mother had died from breast cancer. As a preventative measure, Stewart underwent a double mastectomy about halfway through her tenure as First Lady.[2] She went public with her surgery, encouraging discussions on women's health.[2]

Stewart also served as a goodwill ambassador for the state.[2] She accompanied state gubernatorial trade missions to China, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, as well as the Soviet Union, which had opened business opportunities to Alaska during Perestroika.

Law practice and later life

In 1989, Governor Cowper announced that he would not seek re-election in the

1990 gubernatorial election. The family moved to Santa Barbara, California, shortly after Cowper left office. Michael Margaret Stewart and Steve Cowper divorced in 1991.[1][2]

Michael Margaret Stewart continued to practice law in Santa Barbara and raised her son, Wade Cowper, who also became a California lawyer for a

nonprofit.[1][2] Stewart initially worked with colleagues Jackie Misho and Anna Karczag.[3] She then partnered with Marty Cohn, specializing in family law for almost ten years, until a few months before her death in 2015.[3]

In April 2015, Stewart was given a prognosis of three to six months to live due to ovarian cancer.[1] Michael Margaret Stewart died from the disease at Serenity House, a hospice in Santa Barbara on October 22, 2015, at the age of 62.[1][3] Governor Bill Walker of Alaska ordered that all flags be lowered to half staff in Stewart's honor.[1]

References

  1. ^
    Alaska Dispatch News
    . Retrieved 2015-11-21.
  2. ^
    Alaska Dispatch News
    . Retrieved 2015-11-21.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Michael Margaret Stewart". Santa Barbara Independent. 2015-10-22. Retrieved 2015-11-21.
  4. ^ "Looking back in Fairbanks — Aug. 29". Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. 2011-08-21. Retrieved 2015-11-21.
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