Tracey Lynn McShane was born on August 6, 1967, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Unlike many spouses of prominent public figures, McShane is not involved in the entertainment industry. She is a longtime animal advocate, former veterinary technician, and author. Over the years, she has also become the founder of Moomah the Magazine and serves as vice president of the Portrait Project.
Tracey McShane met comedian Jon Stewart in 1996 on a blind date arranged by a mutual friend—a first for both of them. At the time, Tracey had recently ended a seven-year relationship and was not at her happiest. Reflecting on that moment, she shared with her roommate that she wished she were as funny as Jon Stewart, not knowing she would one day marry him. Their connection blossomed into a lasting relationship, culminating in engagement in 1999.
Jon Stewart proposed in a creative and personalized way—through a crossword puzzle crafted by Will Shortz, editor of The New York Times crossword section. Each clue held special meaning for the couple. They announced their engagement on July 30, 1999, and were married in November 2000.
The couple has two children: Nathan Thomas Stewart, born in 2004, and Maggie Rose Stewart, born in 2006.
Raising children brought unexpected realities for Tracey and Jon. Tracey candidly admits that their vision of parenting quickly changed after their children were born. While they once imagined an idealized version of parenthood filled with clear do’s and don’ts, the day-to-day experience turned out to be far more complex. She expressed her appreciation for the inventors of smartphone baby apps and children's cartoon DVDs, which proved helpful during early parenthood.
The Stewarts reside in the Tribeca neighborhood of Lower Manhattan, New York City. In 2005, they purchased a 6,000-square-foot duplex penthouse. Later, in 2013, the couple acquired a 12-acre farm property in Middletown, New Jersey, named Bufflehead Farm. The property now serves as a sanctuary for rescued and abused animals. Both Tracey and Jon are strong advocates for animal welfare—Tracey follows a vegan lifestyle, and Jon transitioned to a vegetarian diet in 2015 for ethical reasons.
