Dr. Steven C. Ward, 55, of New Fairfield, Professor of Sociology at WCSU, has died

Dr. Steven C. Ward

Dr. Steven C. Ward, 55, of New Fairfield, Professor of Sociology at Western Connecticut State University, died on Friday night December 29, 2017 at Regional Hospice Center for Comfort Care and Healing, in Danbury after a valiant fight against colon cancer.

He was the husband of Karen L. Roth.

Dr. Ward was born in Marshall, Arkansas, August 6, 1962, a son of the late Paul I. and Pearl (Henry) Ward. He attended school in Marshall and then received his Bachelor of Arts in Sociology in 1984 from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Master of Arts in Sociology in 1986 and a PhD in Sociology in 1991 from the University of New Hampshire.

A resident of the area for the past twenty two years, Dr. Ward became a member of the Department of Social Sciences at Western Connecticut State University in August of 1995 as a professor of Sociology. While there, he headed the University’s Honors program for many years and served on many committees as well as a being a very active member of the Union, resigning as vice president this fall. Steve was a prolific writer, with hundreds of articles and papers to his credit as well as three books. He enjoyed writing and traveling to and participating in many conferences around the world. To all that knew him, he was considered one of the knowledgeable people you ever had the opportunity to converse with. He was kind and generous and extremely witty. He was the type of person you wanted to engage because you always came away with something you didn’t know prior to your conversation. His family encouraged him to go on Jeopardy as they were sure he would win, but alas he did not. Steve was also an avid aficionado of music, enjoying numerous concerts and festivals.

In addition to his wife of twenty five years, Dr. Ward is survived by his beloved three daughters, Kinsey (19), Kesslyn(16), and Kylie (13) and by two sisters, Ann Breeden of O’Fallon, Il. and Sue Dye of Camdenton, MO as well as several nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends in the Jowdy-Kane Funeral Home, 9-11 Granville Avenue, Danbury on Friday, January 5, 2018 from 3PM to 6PM. On Sunday, January 7, 2018 there will be a memorial/celebration of life at the clubhouse on Candlewood Isle in New Fairfield at 11:00 am.

Friends and family will be encouraged to share memories/stories with all present. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Regional Hospice and Palliative Care of Western Connecticut, 30 Milestone Rd., Danbury, CT 06810, www.regionalhospicect.org, Do it For the Love Foundation, 360 Grand Ave., #350. Oakland, CA 9460, www.doitforthelove.org or the City of Hope, 1500 East Durate Rd.,  Duarte, CA 91010 www.cityofhope.org.

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Submitted by New Fairfield, CT

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