Obituary of Richard W. Stewart

Richard Warren "Rick" Stewart, age 56, of Darien, Connecticut, died of cancer on Sunday, January 8, 2012 at Greenwich Hospital. Born June 29, 1955 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Rick graduated with a B.A. in economics from Washington and Lee University in 1978 and with an M.B.A. from Columbia University Graduate School of Business in 1985. Rick began his career in finance at Manufacturers Hanover Trust and was later a founding partner and co-portfolio manager at Octagon Credit Investors. During his career, Rick focused on leveraged buyouts, recapitalizations, acquisition financings and credit restructurings. In 1999, he joined Nomura Corporate Research and Asset Management as a Managing Director to launch the firm's leveraged loan practice. In addition to his work, Rick has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Loan Syndications and Trading Association, Inc. and as a contributing editor to the LSTA Handbook for Loan Syndications and Trading published by McGraw Hill. Rick was a vital and energetic member of the Darien community, where he lived with his wife of 20 years, Kelly Barnes Stewart, and their sons, Danny, 14, and Robbie, 9. A dedicated baseball coach, Rick was Commissioner of T-ball, A, AA and AAA ball leagues and became a board member of the Darien Little League. A former Boy Scout, Rick guided his sons in scouting, serving as both a cub scout Den Leader for Pack 55 and an Assistant Scoutmaster for Troop 53 in Darien. He also served as a board member of the Andrew Shaw Memorial Trust, an organization which supports Darien Boy Scouts. In addition, Rick was an enthusiastic supporter of Darien Youth Hockey. Rick is remembered for his generous spirit, uncompromising integrity and sense of humor, which touched the lives of many people. He was a member of both the Country Club of Darien and the Tokeneke Club. For nearly three decades, Rick performed as a second tenor with the University Glee Club of New York and "The Ten", a cappella singing groups based in NYC. Rick was also a member of Saint Thomas More Church, where he worshipped with his family. In addition to his immediate family, Rick is survived by his parents, Robert J. and Virginia P. Stewart of Lancaster, PA; by his in-laws Peter and Barbara Barnes of Edison, New Jersey; by siblings Robert J. Stewart, Jr. of Atlanta, GA, Anne Stewart Doane of Silver Spring, MD, and Charles V. Stewart of Clifton Park, NY; and by five sisters-in-law, four brothers-in-law, and 17 nieces and nephews. His sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Sheila and Paolo Clemente reside in New Canaan, CT. A wake will be held Thursday January 12, from 4-8 pm at the Edward Lawrence Funeral Home, 2119 Post Road, Darien. A funeral mass will be held Friday January 13 at 10:30am at the Saint Thomas More Church, 374 Middlesex Road, followed by a graveside service at Spring Grove Cemetery in Darien. A reception will follow. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Andrew Shaw Memorial Trust, (an organization which supports Darien Boy Scouts) P.O. Box 2315, Darien, CT 06820 or to Darien Youth Baseball, P.O. 2108 Darien, CT06820 (www.dybs.org). Funeral Home: Edward Lawrence Funeral Home 2119 Post Road Darien, CT USA 06820