Businessman and benefactor;

Born: July 9, 1926; Died: September 9, 2012.

Lindsay Stewart, who has died aged 86, was an astute businessman and generous benefactor who used his considerable expertise to aid a panoply of organisations.

He supported Edinburgh's Napier University for more than 20 years and an impressive lecture theatre bears his name. He had a long and distinguished record with the Royal College of Surgeons and in his own field was honoured for his services to export.

A chartered accountant who spent his entire career with health product firm Ethicon, beyond his professional commitments and philanthropy he was a keen sportsman and president of the Scottish Golf Union.

Educated at George Heriot's in Edinburgh, he left school in 1944. He volunteered for the Royal Navy on his 18th birthday and spent four years in the Fleet Air Arm.

He went on to become an accountant, qualifying in 1951 and joining Ethicon. He started in the company's finance department and rose to become managing director in 1972. From then, through the 1970s and 1980s, he led the company through a period of substantial business expansion.

At the core of its success was a strong export business which he personally contributed to through his extensive overseas travel. In 1976 his commitment was recognised by the Queen in her birthday honours list when he received an OBE for services to export. The company, now part of Johnson & Johnson, also won a series of Queen's Awards for Export during his time as managing director.

Colin S Morgan OBE, managing director of Johnson & Johnson Medical Ltd UK, said: "His expertise, insights and wise counsel were much valued during his time with the company and even more so, put to excellent use with the various organisations he supported during his retirement."

After 17 years at the helm of Ethicon he retired in 1988 but by then he was also heavily involved in supporting education, having joined the governing body of what was then Napier College of Science & Technology in 1985.

He made a major contribution to the institution during its transition from college to polytechnic to university. He chaired the staff affairs committee for many years and, as chairman of the University Court in 1996 and 1997, also chaired the finance and general purpose committee and the chairman's committee.

He was a director of Napier University Ventures from 1989 and an enormously enthusiastic treasurer of the Development Trust.

He contributed to the redevelopment of the Craiglockhart Campus, giving a substantial donation to the business school, resulting in the eponymous egg-shaped, titanium-clad lecture theatre that faces towards Edinburgh Castle.

Always exceptionally proud of his association with the university, it expressed its appreciation in return by conferring on him an honorary Doctor of the University award in 1998. He was also the recipient of a clutch of other honours, including the Royal College of Surgeon's most prestigious accolade, The Companionship of the college.

He had significant involvement with surgery throughout his career at Ethicon and was active in the Royal College of Surgeons in Edinburgh (RCSEd) for more than 30 years, making a major contribution to the growth of its international network through the formation and development of the Ethicon Foundation, which has enabled hundreds of young surgeons from RCSEd to travel to surgical centres internationally.

Describing him as a true friend of the college and a committed philanthropist, RCSEd president David Tolley said he was an exceptional man whose support had been outstanding: "He made an immense impact through his fundraising efforts as treasurer of the Funding the Future Appeal, helping to steer the college towards its goal to increase support for surgical research.

"The college has also benefited from his support of the surgical skills development programme, reflecting his vision in fostering developments in surgery and inspiring future generations of surgeons."

Mr Stewart, an honorary Fellow, became one of only a handful of people in the college's 500-year-old history to receive the Companionship. Reserved for those who have served the college in a distinctive and exceptional role, it was awarded in 2005 as part of the institution's quincentenary celebrations.

Other honours included Honorary Fellowships from The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.

He was also a member of the Court of Patrons of The Royal College of Surgeons in England, a member of the Design Council in Scotland and chairman of the board of governors of his old school, George Heriot's, to which he made a generous donation to support the building of a new Centre for Sport and Exercise.

Although a proud Herioter and honorary vice-president of Heriot's Rugby Club, he was perhaps more widely known in Scottish sports circles for his contribution to the Scottish Golf Union (SGU), where he enjoyed success in various roles and played an import part in the organisation's financial management.

He had been the SGU's chairman of selectors, non-playing captain of the Scottish Youths team and served as president from 1991-92.

He was honorary president of the Lothian's Golf Association, having been president in 1978-80, served on committees for the Royal and Ancient and the European Golf Association and was a life member of the Merchants of Edinburgh which he joined in 1954.

Known as a great motivator, who threw himself into everything 100%, he was also a fine ambassador for every venture he took on.

Predeceased by his wife Edith and daughter Kathleen, he is survived by his sister Anne.