I met Stewart at the free clinic he funded in The Dominican Republic. Dr. Diaz treated my sunburn. I had forgotten my purse. Jon said, "When you get home, donate $20.00 to your local animal shelter."
Stewart writes under a pen name in honor of his best friend Dr. James M. Brooks, who published the alternative medicine newsletter letter until his death in 1995. He asked Stewart to continue the letter. One can get a free subscription The site contains a treasure of over 100 natural alternatives to drugs & scalpels.
Stewart has always walked to the beat of a different drummer, has had many careers, all very successful. He has shared his wealth many times. In 1983 he donated his Palm Beach mansion, appraised at 1.45 million dollars, to a local school. The school couldn't afford the upkeep and wanted the money. They quickly sold it to Roy Talmo, the President of First American Bank for one million cash. They did have to pay off a 300k mortgage.
He has raised thousands for The American Heart Assn. through his always packed financial lectures. He has shared his stock tips with subscribers...all for free. In 1988 his computer company, PC Systems, donated over $200,000.00 in computer stuff to colleges.... all with no strings attached. He is the primary supporter of The Critters Need Help Foundation which donates thousands of dollars each month to animl shelters.
He and his wife formed The Chopin Societe in 1981. Membership was free. The Societe never accepted any donations. His concerts were all sellouts. Even so, if one honestly could not afford the modest cost, all they did was call the box office and say, I am a guest of the Chopin Societe."
When he learned that many of the residents of Century Village in Deerfield Beach, FL had no transportation to attend the concerts at Omni hall he invited the entire membership of their Music Appreciation Society to be guests at his home for Brunch With Chopin. He sent two Greyhound busses. On a bright Sunday morning in January 1982 over 100 old Jews arrived. All enjoyed great Kosher food and a concert just for them.After his concerts , at The Pointsienna Playhouse in Palm Beach, he invited all 850 attendees to his home for a post concert reception. He was the first ever who invited total strangers into his grand home. Once he showed me a tape of a concert. From the stage he said, with pride, What fun is wealth if one just sits and counts money? Why not share it with those who love classical piano? Some of the Palm Beach blue bloods seemed offended by such atypical behavior.
He resented the cream of the crop of young pianists at Carnegie Hall which was reviewed by The New York Times.
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In October 1981 the Fasons scheduled a concert at Carnegie Hall in New York City.
A few weeks prior Stewart went to NYC to look over the stage because he
would be the Master of Ceremonies. While wandering around the city enjoying the street musicians he
came across a pretty little girl playing the violin. He was enchanted but had to catch a plane back to Palm beach.
On the way to the airport he realized he didn't even know her name.
The following day he placed an add in The Village Voice newspaper offering a $1,000.00 reward to anyone who could find her based on the description. Larry Craft, the arts editor of the Daily News got wind of it and placed a full page story on page 2 the following day titled, "Who is this mystery Violinist?" The News found her the next day. Stewart flew to NYC to be reunited with Kerry McDermott. Do a Google search on her. Hundreds of hits as the street violinist is now famous. The next day the story took up the entire front page, and page two, of the largest newspaper in the country and went around the world. Fason called the publicity scheme "Fiddlescam" for he already knew the violinist's name. The following day Stewart appeared with David Hartmann on Good Morning America before 30 million viewers as well CNN and as interviews on the BBC and many other medias. I have seen the VHS tape. The concert was a sellout. The reviews were great. Stewart has always walked to the beat of a different drummer. When he and his wife decided to become patrons of young pianists they formed The Chopin Societe, a non profit charitable trust. Stewart realized that most people don't know a sonata from a schertzo and found classical piano concerts boring. His "Different Drummer" surfaced. He became an expert on the lives and times of Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, etc. Prior to a piece being played he gave a brief vignette. e.g. The next piece will be Franz Lizst's Mephisto Waltz; a very dramatic and difficult piece. The stage lights are lowered...only a candle sheds light on the piano. The audience hears......
"Give me your soul and I give you back your youth, so sayeth Mephistophiles, the Devil in disguise, to
an aging Dr. Faust, an old scientist seeking the meaning of life. When offered such,
Faust acquiesced and signed a contract with the Devil, and, like magic, he was young, rich and handsome.
The scene is, The Dance at the Village Inn. Faust and the Devil enter into the merrymaking.
The Devil grasps a violin and begins playing. His music so intoxicates the merrymakers that, two by two, they dance into the Spring night to make love.
Soon, Margurite, the Innkeepers Daughter, throws herself into the arms of Faust and they too dance into the night to make love.
You will hear the lovliest seduction scene ever put to music . . . but, in the end,
the Devil knows he will win . . . . listen closely, I'm sure you will hear him laughing!"
Now when the piece is played the hair stands up on the back of the listener's necks for now, with their mind's eye, the see all the drama clearly. The Fason's presented many concerts on the Gold Coast of Florida. His tale-telling concept packed every concert while other unknown artists could hardly fill a telephone booth with people. They spent many wonderful hours at The Julliard School and The Manhattan School of Music in NYC as well as The Curtis Conservatory in Philadelphia auditioning the finest pianist in America. They would fly those chosen to their mansion in Palm Beach as Artist in Residence. Stewart sent a video of his home, and a concert, to President Regan. The note from Nancy Regan's secretary in self explanatory. Remember that President and Nancy Regan began to attend concerts which were broadcast on TV. No famous pianists, just very talented kids and a few tales. When his wife was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 1982 he researched alternative treatments. He found what they believed was responsible, or instrumental, for Jana's miraculous recovery. He quickly recruited 5,000 volunteers. A 90 day supply of the supplement was FREE although he requested $10.00 to help defray expenses. This was optional. Within six months his office walls were covered with reports of apparant miracles. Stewart then funded a double blind study at Florida Atlantic University. There is more data on this formula HERE Stewart has nothing to do with the sale of any nutritional product. I saw many letters from The American Heart Assn. and other charities praising him for his fund raising lectures. Stewart has the dubious honor of being the only person who got 1,200 people thrown out of the five star Breakers Hotel in Palm Beach. The grand ballroom was packed. The hotel was upset because their partons couldn't find a parking place. They trumped up a phony charge that the Fire Mershall demanded the room be vacated. Fason refused! Two Gorillas literally carried him off the stage, mike in hand, an hour into his two hour lecture! As he was being thrown out he grinned and commented into the mike, I have never been thrown out of a better place!" Stewart is the eternal optomist. He always sees the glass as half full. Even his two years in prison for Tax Evasion didn't daunt him. He sees it as a fascinating experience and will write a book. Lock him in a room full of horse manure and he will begin to look for a pony. In 1979 he was invited to teach an upper division course in investing. Look closely at the letter and you will see he donated his salary back to the college. Mr. Fason acts as an unpaid advisor to Critters. Since 1996 he has published a free alternative medicine newsletter on the internet. His great knowledge, enthusiasm and highly warped sense of humor keep his thousands of readers informed on alternatives to drugs and scalpels and frequently delighting in the antics of those in The Cattery. His cat, Gramalkyn Katchamouskie, will seek the Presidency in 2008. Don't laugh. His platform will gain support from millions. Don't be surprised if you see Gramalkyn for President tee shirts spring up all over the country. The cat's campaign slogan is, This country is going to the dogs and we cats gonna take it back!"
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Cost him $1,000 to find her. 
Home filled with brilliant pianists. 
His cat will be here in 2008 
The search for a cure. 
One of 20 letters of praise. 
Taught at Columbia College. 
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