Seward Ritchey Stroud

MADISON - Seward Ritchey Stroud, age 94, died peacefully at home on Tuesday, Dec.16, 2008. Seward was born June 16, 1914, the son of Miriam Ritchey and Ray M. Stroud. He was married to his loving wife, Margaret Coleman Stroud, for over 65 years. Seward is survived by his wife, Margaret; five children, Bill (Elaine) Stroud, Rob (Mary) Stroud, Gib (Liz) Stroud, Ritchey (Maria) Stroud, and Nancy (Charles) Carpenter, all of Madison; thirteen grandchildren, Nick, Alex, Brett, Ian, Andrea, Colin, Ryan, Tyler, Leah, Sawyer, Tim, Marcie, and Peter; and a great-grandson, Knowl. He is also survived by his brother, Donald Stroud; and his sister, Clare Oetking, both of Madison. Seward was a member of the first graduating class of Maple Bluff's Lakewood School. He was a graduate of Shattuck School, Dartmouth College and Michigan Law School and practiced law for over 50 years with the firm of Stroud, Willink & Howard and was a highly regarded business attorney and mediator. During World War II, after serving in the Pacific, Seward was recalled to Washington to serve as an intelligence officer on General Marshall's command staff. Seward returned to Madison to practice law and raise a family. Among the family's favorite activities were boat camping trips on the Tennessee, Mississippi, St. Croix, and other rivers. When his children were young, there were often picnics at Picnic Point. He also enjoyed hockey, golf, flying, motorcycling, sailing, boating, waterskiing, squash, and traveling with Margaret. Seward served on numerous corporate and non-profit boards, including AnchorBank, Findorff, Ed. Kraemer Construction, Appleton Mills, Wisconsin Cheeseman, YMCA, United Way, and Cremer Foundation. He was also a long-time member of Rotary, Madison Club, Maple Bluff Country Club, Boy Scouts Four Lakes Council and SCORE. Seward served as an Elder at Christ Presbyterian Church, and 32^nd degree mason and commander in the Masonic Temple. While he had a wide variety of interests, his first loves were his wife and family. For many years, after all of his children had married and started families of their own, Seward, Margaret and their children and grandchildren have enjoyed a tradition of gathering at his house for food, fun, and laughter virtually every Sunday. The family is planning a memorial service next spring. Memorials may be made to Olbrich Gardens or Madison Rotary Foundation.