Plan for the Future
Richard B Stewart, Jr. (Jan 20, 1943 – May 4, 2020) was born to humble beginnings in a rural town, in coastal Georgia. Ambitious and driven, Richard excelled at school and received a scholarship to attend the US Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where he trained to be a pilot. While at the academy Richard suffered a devastating spinal injury. He completed additional time in the reserves and eventually left the AirForce with an honorable discharge.
In the years following the academy, Richard self-financed his undergraduate degree at the University of Michigan. Having met with great undergraduate success, Richard then went on to complete his MBA at Michigan as well: a monumental achievement for a scrappy kid from rural Georgia who was often overlooked as an underdog.
Shortly thereafter, Richard met the love of his life, Susan Ruesch, and they married. They settled in New Jersey, and together had three children: Richard, Scott, and Stephanie. At the height of his career Richard held numerous senior executive roles on Wall Street.
But what truly defined Richard was his love of family. At his core he was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. He was quick to laugh even quicker to invite a newcomer into a conversation. He had an insatiable curiosity and he loved nothing more than teaching others to be as great a student of life as he was. Perhaps one of his most cherished attributes is the way he made you feel when you entered the room – he always had a welcoming smile to accompany his enormous personality. He loved to tell stories and would often regale his family and friends with tales of his extraordinary life.
Richard is survived by his loving wife, Susan, and his three adoring children: Richard (Jessica), Scott (Julie) and Stephanie (Mark). He has eight loving grandchildren: Savannah, Brianna & Ashleigh; William, Matthew & Kate; Brynn & Reese. They will miss his playfulness, loving support, advice and perhaps most of all, his booming laughter and infectious good nature. He lives on in the memories we cherish and in the stories we share about him.
After a year and a half of battling pancreatic cancer, Richard passed away on May 4th, 2020 at his home in Chatham, surrounded by his loving family.
