R. Stewart McKnight (Stew), 82, of Hamilton, NY, passed away Monday, April 5, 2010 at the NYS Veterans Home, Oxford, NY.
Stew was born on May 24, 1927 in Philadelphia, PA. He served in the Navy in the Pacific during WWII. He was a graduate of Penn State University where he received a B.A. in Commerce and Finance. A long term resident of the Cleveland, Ohio area, he had a 30 year career with Broadview Savings, retiring as Vice President of Branch Operations.
Stew lived a generous and inspiring life, volunteering time to his favorite causes, including Lakewood and Cleveland Metro YMCA’s, Old Brooklyn Kiwanis & Development Corp., Playhouse Square Foundation, Lakewood Presbyterian Church and Cuyahoga County Master Gardeners. He was an avid sportsman, continuing to run races, play tennis, bicycle and ski into his later years. After moving to Hamilton in 2005, he was a member of St. Thomas Episcopal Church Choir, Rotary and Gardeners Club. The seeds of his positive spirit continue to grow within all those lucky enough to have known him.
Surviving are his wife of 55 years, Jane Sowden; his children, James (Cynthia) of Shaker Heights, OH; Curtis (Madeline) of Baltimore, MD; Margaret Parfitt (Christopher) of Hamilton; six grandchildren, Bryan, Isabella, Hannah, William, Benjamin and Maya; and his sister, Dorothy B. McKnight of Bethesda, MD..
Memorial Services will be held at 11 AM Friday, April 9, 2010 at St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Hamilton, NY and at 11 AM on May 24, 2010 at the Lakewood Presbyterian Church in Lakewood, OH.
Memorial contributions cam be made to St. Thomas Episcopal Church Memorial Fund, 12-1/2 Madison St., Hamilton, NY 13346; the Master Gardeners of Cuyahoga County Education Fund, c/o Susan Shapiro, 22532 Rye Rd., Shaker Heights, OH 44122; or Lakewood Presbyterian Church Music Fund, 14502 Detroit Ave., Lakewood, OH 44107.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Burgess & Tedesco Funeral Home, 25 Broad St., Hamilton, NY.