Wherever he is today, friends and family know that William Lewis “Bill” Sears will be sitting at a piano to play a tune in the evening.
Bill Sears was born in Edmundston on April 3, 1933. By the age of three, Bill was playing piano by ear, winning awards for his success at the International School of Music. After high school, Bill spent a brief time with the Royal Canadian Air Force before heading to Fredericton and enrolling in the civil engineer program at UNB. After earning his bachelor of science in 1957, Bill and his young family moved to Stoney Creek, Ontario, where he served as Township Engineer for several years.
In 1965, Bill established his own practice – William L. Sears & Associates, Consulting Professional Engineers – and was named Engineer of the Year in 1986. He carried out projects in Canada, South America and several Caribbean Islands, and volunteered his time with CESO both internationally and in Indigenous communities here at home.
Bill’s drive to achieve led him into politics, and he served as mayor of Stoney Creek for five years, then on to chairman of the Hamilton-Wentworth region before stepping down in 1988.
Outside of work, Bill and his wife Judy spent summers taking trips to New Brunswick for fresh air and UNB reunions. They held season tickets to the Toronto Blue Jays and enjoyed many games together. After selling their Florida retreat, Bill and Judy began RVing across the United States and Canada. In retirement, Bill was a woodworker and avid gardener, a passion he shared with his wife.
Bill died on Dec. 27, 2020, at his home in Stoney Creek with his loving wife at his side. To honour his memory, Bill’s family and friends have established the William Lewis Sears Scholarship, which is awarded to a student enrolled in the bachelor of science in engineering (civil) program.
You may support the William Lewis Sears Scholarship by making an online donation, or by mailing a contribution to our offices in Saint John or Fredericton. Thank you for your generosity.
We encourage you to share this page with family, friends and colleagues who may have known Bill, and to help keep his memory alive by making a gift in support of the memorial fund at UNB online or by mail.
Establishing named scholarships, bursaries or other funds is an easy and meaningful way to ensure that you or someone you care about is remembered with a special connection to UNB. Contact us to learn more.
