Stephen R. Sexton
July 1st, 1937 - December 9th, 2021
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Stephen's Obituary
Stephen R. Sexton, 84, of St. Joseph, passed away on Thursday, December 9, 2021, at the Whitcomb in St. Joseph.
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, December 13, 2021, at Sacred Heart of Mary Catholic Church, 51841 Leach Rd., Dowagiac, MI. Burial will follow in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Dowagiac. Visitation will be held from 2-4:30 on Sunday, December 12, 2021, at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph, MI with a prayer service at 4:30. Visitation will also be held one hour prior to the service on Monday, from 10-11 am at the church. Out of respect to the family, if you have not been vaccinated masks will be required. To join mass virtually, follow the zoom link https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89164806026 . Memorial contributions in Stephen’s name may be made to The Carter Center, 453 John Lewis Freedom Parkway, NE., Atlanta GA. Arrangements have been entrusted to Starks & Menchinger Chapel. Those wishing to send a condolence online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.
Stephen was born on July 1, 1937, to Stephen Joseph and Veronica (Bird) Sexton in Chicago, IL. He was a graduate of De LaSalle High School in Chicago, Xavier University in Cincinnati and Loyola University in Chicago. Professionally, Stephen was an educator, serving his first three years in Chicago Public Schools and then thirty-seven years in Cincinnati Public Schools. Through the years he held various titles, teacher, guidance counselor, visiting teacher, and as a chief negotiator for Cincinnati Federation of Teachers. Stephen was a driving force in teachers rights and the 1977 teachers strike to adjust wages. He had a passion for community activism and was an avid contributor to organizations he believed in. Stephen is a first generation Irish American and was proud of his Irish Heritage.
Stephen was a long-time member of the Hamilton County Democratic Party Executive Committee from 1964 to 2000. He was active in politics and was elected as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1984 in San Francisco, and worked on hundreds of campaigns over the years.
Most of all, Stephen cherished time with his family, especially his children and grandchildren. He particularly loved the memories they created together at their lake house on Dewey Lake in Sister Lakes, MI.
Stephen is survived by his children, Kathleen (Howard) Brandeisky oF Northbrook, IL; Anne (Neil) Doughty of Elmhurst, IL; Julie (Byron) Stallworth of Cincinnati, OH and Michael Sexton of Columbus, OH.; grandchildren, Kara (Eric Pilch) Brandeisky, Paul Brandeisky, Nina (Dan) Kachelmeyer, Peter Doughty, Maya Stallworth Jerome Stallworth and great-grandson, Thomas Kachelmeyer. He was preceded in death by his parents, Stephen and Veronica Sexton and son, John Andrew Sexton.
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, December 13, 2021, at Sacred Heart of Mary Catholic Church, 51841 Leach Rd., Dowagiac, MI. Burial will follow in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Dowagiac. Visitation will be held from 2-4:30 on Sunday, December 12, 2021, at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph, MI with a prayer service at 4:30. Visitation will also be held one hour prior to the service on Monday, from 10-11 am at the church. Out of respect to the family, if you have not been vaccinated masks will be required. To join mass virtually, follow the zoom link https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89164806026 . Memorial contributions in Stephen’s name may be made to The Carter Center, 453 John Lewis Freedom Parkway, NE., Atlanta GA. Arrangements have been entrusted to Starks & Menchinger Chapel. Those wishing to send a condolence online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.
Stephen was born on July 1, 1937, to Stephen Joseph and Veronica (Bird) Sexton in Chicago, IL. He was a graduate of De LaSalle High School in Chicago, Xavier University in Cincinnati and Loyola University in Chicago. Professionally, Stephen was an educator, serving his first three years in Chicago Public Schools and then thirty-seven years in Cincinnati Public Schools. Through the years he held various titles, teacher, guidance counselor, visiting teacher, and as a chief negotiator for Cincinnati Federation of Teachers. Stephen was a driving force in teachers rights and the 1977 teachers strike to adjust wages. He had a passion for community activism and was an avid contributor to organizations he believed in. Stephen is a first generation Irish American and was proud of his Irish Heritage.
Stephen was a long-time member of the Hamilton County Democratic Party Executive Committee from 1964 to 2000. He was active in politics and was elected as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1984 in San Francisco, and worked on hundreds of campaigns over the years.
Most of all, Stephen cherished time with his family, especially his children and grandchildren. He particularly loved the memories they created together at their lake house on Dewey Lake in Sister Lakes, MI.
Stephen is survived by his children, Kathleen (Howard) Brandeisky oF Northbrook, IL; Anne (Neil) Doughty of Elmhurst, IL; Julie (Byron) Stallworth of Cincinnati, OH and Michael Sexton of Columbus, OH.; grandchildren, Kara (Eric Pilch) Brandeisky, Paul Brandeisky, Nina (Dan) Kachelmeyer, Peter Doughty, Maya Stallworth Jerome Stallworth and great-grandson, Thomas Kachelmeyer. He was preceded in death by his parents, Stephen and Veronica Sexton and son, John Andrew Sexton.
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