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Obituary of Dr. Frank Steward
It is with great sorrow that the family announces the passing of Dr. Frank Richard Steward, who died on April 26th, 2025, at the Dr. Everett Chalmers Hospital, surrounded by his family. He passed away following complications resulting from a fall.
Frank was born in Woodbury, New Jersey, on May 16, 1937, the third son of Owen Steward and Mary Waddington.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 64 years, Jacqueline, his children, Richard (Brenda), Louise (Mark), and Jocelyne “Danielle” (Timothy), and his six grandchildren, Manoli, Nicholas, Sarah, Irene, Rachel, and Darcey.
Frank enjoyed a very close relationship with his grandchildren, who lived nearby and spent cherished time with him at home, at the cottage, and later at the nursing home.
He attended schools in Woodbury, New Jersey, where he developed a love for both sports and music. As a teenager, he sang in school and church choirs and was the regular piano accompanist. Following in his mother’s footsteps, he was a faithful member of the Woodbury Friends Meeting.
In 1959, Frank moved to Boston to study Chemical Engineering at MIT, where he earned his ScD (PhD) and met his wife, Jacqueline. In 1963, he joined the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of New Brunswick, where he served for 35 years, including three terms as department chair. Frank initiated student exchange programs with universities in France, Turkey, Thailand, and China. He also taught graduate courses at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok and Northeast Technical University in Shenyang. He encouraged many students to pursue postgraduate studies at UNB. His research focused on heat transfer, combustion, fire science, and energy studies, and under his supervision, many students obtained their PhDs.
Frank took a leave of absence from UNB to work with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), where he helped establish the graduate program in Chemical Engineering at the Middle East Technical University in Ankara, Turkey. During his sabbatical leave from 1980 to 1981, he worked at the National Research Council, where he initiated the Industrial Energy Conservation Program. Frank published numerous technical papers in Refereed Journals and co-authored two textbooks.
Following his retirement, Frank founded and served as director of the Center for Nuclear Research (CNER) for over 10 years. In 2003, he was designated Professor in Emeritus at UNB.
Frank was known for promoting social activities within the department. Students and professors were frequent guests at his cottage on French Lake, where annual picnics were held. International students were also warmly welcomed into the Steward home for holiday celebrations. Frank maintained lifelong friendships with many of his graduates.
Beyond his university work, Frank served as an expert witness in fire and explosion investigations. He had a wide range of interests, an avid reader of history, especially the American Civil War, nurtured a rose garden, loved to travel, and enjoyed playing the guitar and singing folk songs. Although he did not play sports later in life, he remained an enthusiastic follower of sporting events, discussing them at length with his son, sons-in-law and colleagues, betting on the outcomes. Frank valued a small, close circle of friends but, by nature, was a shy person who found his greatest comfort “at home”.
He was predeceased by his parents, his two brothers, Owen (of Woodbury) and Omar (of Pittsburgh), as well as his sisters-in-law, Betty and Marilyn.
The family would like to express their gratitude to the staff at Pine Grove, the nurses and doctors at the Dr. Everett Chalmers Hospital for their exceptional care, kindness and compassion.
Visitation will be held at McAdam’s Funeral Home on May 18, 2025, from 10 am to 12 pm. A Friends Meeting Service will follow at 1 pm in the J.A. McAdam Memorial Chapel, with a reception after.
For those who wish, memorial donations may be made to the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of New Brunswick, the Greener Village Program, or a charity of your choice.
1937 2025
Death notice for the town of: Fredericton, Province: Nouveau-Brunswick
death notice Dr Frank
Steward 1937 2025
obituaries notice Dr Frank
Steward 1937 2025
We offer our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Dr Frank
Steward 1937 2025 and hope that their memory may be a source of comfort during this difficult time. Your thoughts and kind words are greatly appreciated.
