Tracey Lynn Stewart, née McShane, is an American former veterinary technician, graphic designer, and animal rights advocate. She is widely known as the wife of comedian, author, political commentator, and television host, Jon Stewart. Tracey attended California College of Arts and Crafts and Drexel University before starting her professional career as a graphic designer. However, after her husband became the host of ‘The Daily Show’, she decided to pursue her passion for animals and went back to school to get a degree in veterinary science. Tracey is actively involved in various animal protection organizations, including Farm Sanctuary, and has even purchased a farm in New Jersey to provide a safe haven for rescued farm animals. She is also an accomplished author, having published the non-fiction book ‘Do Unto Animals: A Friendly Guide to How Animals Live, and How We Can Make Their Lives Better’ in 2015.
Quick Facts
- Age: 56 Years
- Family: Spouse/Ex-: Jon Stewart (m. 2000), children: Maggie Rose Stewart, Nathan Thomas Stewart
- American Women
- U.S. State: Pennsylvania
- City: Philadelphia
- Education: California College of Arts and Crafts
Childhood & Early Life
Tracey was born on August 6, 1967, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the United States of America. In the mid-1990s, she attended California College of Arts and Crafts. She later enrolled in Drexel University for a class in graphic designing. According to some sources, she also took a class in business at Drexel. Upon the completion of her course, she began working as a graphics designer. After Stewart became the new host of Comedy Central’s ‘The Daily Show’, Tracey resumed her education in an effort to become a veterinarian. She had previously worked in various capacities in numerous places but none gave her the sense of satisfaction she was seeking.
Career
Tracey worked as a graphic designer for a considerable period. In the subsequent years, she also did several other jobs. After receiving her degree in veterinary science, she worked at the Bronx Zoo before founding ‘Moomah the Magazine.’ Initially, it was founded as Moomah Café, a hub for families in lower Manhattan. Its front portion was a café while its back portion was turned into a children’s enrichment centre. The hub was eventually shut down but its spirit continues to persevere in the form of ‘Moomah the Magazine.’
In the recent years, Tracey and her family have become affiliated with Farm Sanctuary. In order to show their appreciation for Tracey and Stewart’s support, Farm Sanctuary has named two rescued sheep after them. The family has purchased a $4 million farm in New Jersey, which houses many rescued farm animals.
On October 20, 2015, Tracey published her children’s book, ‘Do Unto Animals: A Friendly Guide to How Animals Live, and How We Can Make Their Lives Better,’ through Artisan. The book contains over 300 colour illustrations by artist Lisel Ashlock and has received good reviews from the critics. All the proceeds from this book are going to Farm Sanctuary.
Controversies & Scandals
Tracey McShane was arrested on March 10, 2005, for driving with a suspended license and had to spend nearly five hours in a police station. According to Matt Labov, Stewart’s spokesperson, the incident occurred in Central Park around 11 a.m. She was not driving above the speed limit but the authorities found out that she possessed a suspended license. She was even unaware of the fact that she had paid a ticket in the previous week.
However, it seems that her check did not go through and the authorities took possession of her car. Furthermore, they put handcuffs around her wrists and drove her to Central Booking. In their statement, the authorities revealed that she was fingerprinted and had a smile on her face while her pictures were taken during the prep walk.
Relationship with Jon Stewart
Considered to be the contemporary Mark Twain, Jon Stewart (born Jonathan Stuart Leibowitz) is a news satirist, who humorously criticizes personality-driven media shows, especially those in US. ‘The Daily Show’, under his leadership, has won 22 Primetime Emmys. He has served as the host of the 78th and 80th Academy Awards and has published several books, including ‘America (The Book): A Citizen’s Guide to Democracy Inaction’ (2004) and ‘Earth (The Book): A Visitor’s Guide to the Human Race’ (2010).
Tracey and Jon met on a blind date, after a production assistant on Stewart’s film ‘Wishful Thinking’ (1997) set them up together. In 1999, Jon asked her to marry him through a personalised crossword puzzle that he devised with the help of Will Shortz, who serves as the crossword editor at the ‘New York Times.’ Their wedding ceremony was conducted in November 2000. The couple petitioned to legally change both of their surnames to “Stewart” on June 19, 2001.
Tracey encountered several issues while she was trying to get pregnant and eventually opted for in-vitro fertilization. Their son, Nathan Thomas Stewart, was born on July 3, 2004. About two years later, on February 5, 2006, the couple welcomed their second child, a daughter, whom they named Maggie Rose Stewart. Tracey is a vegan.