Extreme Stuart

"Extreme Stuart"

"Ann, I know he's 'Hollywood', but I'm a little busy right now..."

With the gorgeous Wheaton Girls (and some old lady on the left)

"' Hey, Tom, when you call me "Stu", you take the "art" out of my name'"


I'm sure all of you know that in October 2005, Stuart and Douglas were part of the "Home Team", a group of Medfield builders who came together to build a house for the Johnson Family in 4 days, 2 hours - and broadcast on ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition".

Douglas first learned of the project from a former client, Mike Sullivan, Medfield's Town Administrator (and owner of Whitla Brothers' most contemporary house). While Douglas immediately wanted in - Will Johnson, the boy afflicted with SMA, is just the same age as our Stuart and we know the family - he wasn't sure how easily he could convince Stuart to donate lots of hours, lots of work, lots of money and supplies, and lose lots of sleep. Afterall, Whitla Brothers was straight out with too much work (as usual), Stuart didn't know the family, didn't know the other builders, didn't live in Medfield... but Douglas also knew a big heart of gold beat in his brother's chest. He knew Stuart would want in if he could just get him to the first meeting. So, like any conniving little brother, he lied. He called Stuart one September morning and casually told him they were both needed at a meeting for a possible new job in Medfield. He ignored all of Stuart's follow up questions. So, unsuspecting Stuart wandered into the first meeting and Douglas locked the door. Of course, the rest is history - Stuart wholeheartedly signed onto the project.

Stuart and Douglas were in charge of interior finish, until the exterior guy faltered and they had to take that on, too. So, Stuart was assigned the inside, Douglas assigned the outside (I know... "and what were the other guys doing?"). In the intensity of that project, what Douglas remembers most is the brotherly bond of support he felt with Stuart. Instead of sleeping in preparation for the interior work, Stuart stayed by Douglas' side all night while the exterior was being completed - and when problems arose, Stuart fixed them. When laying the patio presented a huge challenge, and Douglas was sleep deprived, it was Stuart who came to his aid, and together, they solved the problem. The next day and night, when the interior was going full force and Stuart became short-staffed, it was Douglas who rounded up the additional help Stuart needed.

They worked together for 18 years, they owned a boat together for 14 years. They were brothers for 47 years and best friends for, I don't know, maybe 37 (I hear they hated each other as kids, but I don't believe it). One was always "yin" to the other's "yang", whether it be in the rush to build a house in 4 days, prepare the boat each May for a season of sailing, or thrill a client with the house of their dreams.

We miss you so much, Stuart.