It is with great sadness that we report the passing of local game designer Stew Hogarth at age 34 on the morning of the 15th September 2015 after a lifelong battle with congenital heart disease. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and his wife Inez at this difficult time.
You are invited to join us for a celebration of his life at 13:15 on Wednesday 23rd September 2015 at St. Columba’s Roman Catholic Church, Derwent Avenue, Dundee, DD3 0BE followed by a reception at the Invercarse Hotel.
Stew was widely known and much loved within the Scottish game development community. After graduating from Abertay University in 2004, he worked for local studios Denki and Chunk before founding his own studio Smiling Bag Games to work on independent projects and game jams. However you knew Stew, we thoroughly encourage you to seek out and play his games or read his blog.
His family have requested that any donations in Stew’s name be made to The Freeman Heart & Lung Transplant Association (Registered Charity 1157894) during the memorial service, or online via JustGiving; in recognition for all the help and hope they have given Stew over the last few years. As of writing, the campaign has already raised over £2,000 to support transplant patients in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne.
You can find more news coverage of Stew’s passing online on Gamasutra and Develop.
On a final and personal note, I’d like to thank Stew for repeatedly reminding me that your health need not get in the way of being creative or making games. It doesn’t have to take over your life and “it doesn’t control you”. I only wish I could have told him the difference he has made myself.