Biography
(by Margaret Stredder)

PERSONAL

FREDERICK OWEN STREDDER was born in Birmingham (Egbaston) England in 1900, the son of Josiah Clifton Stredder and Gertrude Alice Stredder.  His father was promoted to Canadian representative of the Sun Life Assurance in Canada, and he and his family emigrated to Canada, arriving in Halifax, Nova Scotia, the year of the great explosion where Owen Stredder lived and completed his elementary schooling.  During the 1914-1918 World War, he served in the RCNVR as a wireless telegraph operator until the cessation of hostilities.  He was the holder of first class certificates of proficiency in Radiotelegraph.

He was educated at the Halifax Academy, the Royal Naval College; Toronto University, McGill University, Lincoln Jefferson University, and received the degrees of Bachelor of Pedagogy, "magna cum laude"; Master of Arts in Educational Psychology, Doctor of Philosophy in Education, as well as studying courses leading up to the Anglican (high church) ministry.  His thesis on adult education in England, completed in June 1927, is presently on file at the Norris Library.

When first arriving in Montreal, Dr. Stredder stayed at the YMCA, where Mr. A. W. Young, then associated with this organization, found him sick and slowly trying to recuperate from typhoid fever.  Since his second daughter, Abigail Young was as well a licentiate performer in voice and violin and engaged professionally in both, a registered trained attendant nurse, he brought Owen home to be looked after properly by his daughter.

On May 5th, 1925, Owen Stredder and Abigail Young were married in Dominion Douglas Church, Westmount and on November 14th, 1926, a daughter was born, named Margaret Gertrude Emily.  (The name Anne was added later, when Margaret converted to Roman Catholicism).

Owen Stredder was one of the founders of St. George's school, of Westmount, which was Montreal's first progressive school and was opened in 1930 at 3606 Westmount Boulevard.  This school is still in existence.

In 1935, Dr. Stredder was asked to make a survey of the Financial Federation of the Council of Social Agencies in collaboration with Dr. J.C. Dawson of New York.  This was finished and extensive reports presented before being appointed as Secretary and Burser of McGill University, on August 13, 1935.  Leave of absence from this position was given by the University because Dr. Stredder was called by the Government on August 29, 1939 for Active Service, three days prior to the Declaration of War on September 2nd, 1939.

From the period of 1936 to 1941 he served by appointment of the Minister of National Defence as Paymaster Lieutenant Commander, RCNVR of His Majesty's Canadian ships Stadacona and Restigouche for voluntary service, sailing from England to Halifax.  In 1938, he was promoted Paymaster Commander, which he served under until his death in June 1941.

Dr. Stredder had a outgoing personality and had the rare power of gathering around him fellow workers whom he infused with his own enthusiasm.  He was a man of profound understanding of student life and its problems and took a personal interest in the problems of all his students.  He was highly regarded as an organizer and an administrator.  He had a kind and tolerant sense of humor which put those with whom he came into contact at ease.  He had a keen curiosity, was a hard worker and had a determination to accomplish the aims he set before himself, which enable him to carry through to completion those tasks which might well have worn down a man of lesser qualities.  He was a man of ability and initiative.  He quickly saw the point of a business problem and was a difficult man to hoodwink.  Off duty, he was cheerful and full of fun.  He had an abundance of energy so that in a very limited leisure, he developed a number of interesting hobbies.

He was a keen photographer as well as an accomplished professional musician in the organ and piano and was an ardent artist.  Specializing mainly in oils, he painted largely country scenes and landscapes.

PROFESSIONAL

In 1923, Dr. Stredder was appointed in charge of educational work of the Montreal YMCA, conducted under the name of Sir George Williams College.  (In 1924 he became vice-principal of the YMCA schools).  In 1925, he was conducive to the induction of an Evening School, under the name Sir George Williams College, which name he was responsible for, and being named after Sir George Williams, the founder of the first YMCA in England, in 1844.

He was made Principal and Dean in 1925, a position he held until 1935.  He was directly responsible for the development and administration of all schools, Educational Supervision, engagement of teachers (33 on staff), curriculum planning, the enrolment of students increasing under his Principalship from 400 to 900.

He reorganized the educational program of the YMCA thus establishing the Montreal YMCA schools as a distinctive unit.  They continued only one year under such name, when they were absorbed under Sir George Williams College and functioned under the college as a whole.