Lasting Memories

Carol Stewart Hyde
June 16, 1960-April 2, 2014
Palo Alto, California

Carol Stewart Hyde, 53, died of a tragic fall while hiking with her family in Sedona, Ariz., on April 2. Despite the heroic efforts of witnesses, first responders and the trauma unit at Flagstaff Medical Center, where she had been transported by ambulance, Carol succumbed to her extensive injuries several hours after the accident occurred.

Born and raised in Palo Alto, Carol graduated from Cubberley High School in 1978 and from U.C. Santa Barbara in 1983. After working for Kidder, Peabody & Co. in Palo Alto in 1984-1985 (where she met her husband), she moved to New York and worked as a graduate career counselor at Pace University from 1987-1990. Married in 1987, Carol moved back to Palo Alto with her husband in 1990 and spent 10 years working as the office manager at Crate & Barrel before becoming a full-time mother.

First and foremost, Carol treasured her time with her family. She was a compassionate and devoted mother and wife who loved to travel and who spent long hours researching and planning family vacations to Europe and to some of her favorite regions in the U.S., including Utah and the deserts of southern California and the Southwest. She spent considerable time researching her and others' ancestry which she found fascinating. Research on her mother's family led to a memorable family trip to Norway in 2010. Carol inherited her mother's artistic/creative traits and would dive into projects such as banner making for her daughter's sports teams, employing her calligraphy skills in preparing invitations (usually for others), or making her daughter's costumes for Halloween. Carol loved hiking, camping and the outdoors, in general. She was an accomplished runner, as well, having twice completed the New York City Marathon. Locally, Carol was active in Palo Alto's Emergency Preparedness efforts. She was an avid fan of Stanford football and of the San Jose Sharks. Her goal was always to arrive at the games before the gates opened so as to maximize family time at these events. Carol was a giving and compassionate friend, whose warmth and thoughtfulness will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved her. She was always offering to help others and would do whatever possible to make those around her feel valued and appreciated. Her humility, kindness, generous spirit, and smile will not be forgotten.

Carol is survived by her husband, Larry, her daughter, Melanie (13), her father, Leland Stewart, all of Palo Alto; her sister, Louise Stewart (and her husband Craig Mally), her niece, Alison, and her nephew, Jason, all of Santa Barbara, Calif. Carol was preceded in death by her mother, Mary Stewart.