JOSEPH T. "RICK" STEPHENS, JR., age 86, passed away Saturday, October 11, 2025. Beloved husband of 60+ years to Evelyn (nee Buchholz); loving father of Katherine Bogard (Robert) and Tom Stephens (Marian); proud "Papa" of Taylor, Kaeli and Audra Stephens and step-grandparent of three; dear brother of the late Peggy Barker (David) and Fred Stephens (Linda); dear uncle of many nieces and nephews and friend of many.

Graduated from Colgate University where he was involved in football, track and was a proud member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. Former Trust Officer for the Cleveland Trust and Ameri-Trust Banks, where he earned his Chartered Financial Analyst designation, and retired as a principal from Boyd Waterson. He was a Past-President of the Cleveland Society of Security Analysts. Rick, a man of Christian ideals and uncompromising moral character, respected persons of all faith backgrounds as he learned of them through his travels, particularly to the Middle East. A world traveler, he made it to all 50 states and missed only Antarctica amongst the continents. Following his retirement, Rick enjoyed time spent in the Carolinas at the beach with his beloved Evelyn and their continued travels throughout the country admiring all of God's creation, especially the National Parks of the Rocky Mountain region.

A memorial service and celebration of life will be held on Saturday, October 18, 2025, John Knox Presbyterian Church, 25200 Lorain Rd., North Olmsted. at 10:30 A.M. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the charity of one's choice or to Doctors Without Borders at https://give.doctorswithoutborders.org/campaign/687007/donate or Habitat For Humanity at https://secure.habitat.org/site/Donation2?df_id=7753&mfc_pref=T&7753.donation=form1&keyword=button-header-single.