Richard (Rick) Wilton Edward Sterne passed away on Dec. 5, 2023 at the age of 79.
Rick was born on Oct. 9, 1944 in Brantford, Ont. He attended high school at Brantford Collegiate Institute, Chemical Engineering at Queen's, the Ivey School of Business at Western University and, most latterly, the Rotman School of Management at The University of Toronto.
Rick loved his time at Queen’s and attended his 55th homecoming reunion in the fall of 2023 alongside his daughter, Jennifer (Sc’98, Chemical Engineering). Rick upheld a Sterne family lineage of Chemical Engineers graduating from Queen’s. His grandfather, Edward Tyghe Sterne, graduated in 1913; his father, Francis Eddy Sterne, graduated in 1946; and his daughter, Jennifer, went on to become the 4th generation, graduating in 1998.
Rick possessed a spirit of positivity, passion, and generosity that would define his life. He was a leader and entrepreneur from the time he was a young child, organizing neighbourhood events throughout his youth and his school days. One of his early endeavours was founding the Bitter Grounds Coffee House during his undergrad years at Queen’s, for which he received the Tricolour Award in 1968.
He began his professional career at 3M Canada in London, Ont., then returned to Brantford as the executive vice president at Sternson Limited. He ran for two political campaigns before starting his own business, Datasym Inc., which began as a small team in his basement. Datasym went on to grow and offer employment to many in Brantford and the surrounding area for over two decades. In his later years, he became a director of Brantford Hydro and Brantford Generation, a member at the Social Security Tribunal of Canada and most recently was a CEO chair and executive coach at TEC Canada, where he shared his time and mentorship with other entrepreneurs.
Rick was a proud ambassador for Brantford and many of its organizations. He was most passionate about his work with Brantford Rotary Club (49 years), having served as both president and district governor. He was a past president of the Brantford Chamber of Commerce, chair of the United Way and of the board of governors of Mohawk College. He served on and chaired many foundations, including: the Juravinski Cancer Centre, the Grand River Trillium Foundation, and 29 years for the Samuel W. Stedman Foundation. He was vice-chair and director of the Lansdowne Children’s Centre, and a Jaycee for many years. Most recently, he was serving on the Laurier University board of governors and senate — a champion of the Brantford campus. Rick’s presence at community events and charitable gatherings was a testament to his commitment to making Brantford a better place for all.
Rick knew how to balance the demands of life with moments of joy and relaxation. He loved spending time with family and friends who often found themselves embraced by his hospitality, fun, and positivity. He made Christmas’ magical for his children and grandchildren. He loved new adventures and travel, taking up scuba diving with his son, Eric; snowmobiling excursions with The Great Northern Ride; and organizing many family trips — especially his trips to Mexico with his wife, Jeanette.
His most favourite place on Earth was at the family cottage in the Bay of Islands, fondly referred to as West Point. There, he sought personal solace and enjoyed spending time with his family and friends. We know his spirit will live on through the special memories and retelling of those stories by his children and grandchildren of the summers spent up there with him.
