WATERLOO — Ronald Sills, the man who decided the fates of hundreds of people during 21 years as a local judge, and later presided over the inquiry into the RIM Park financing scandal, died Saturday at the age of 82.

His wife, Donna Sills, called the nearly three years Ronald spent guiding the inquiry into the troubled financial dealings that haunt Waterloo taxpayers to this day "the highlight of his years as a judge."

She said her husband was warm and caring, showing compassion to everyone.

She said her husband's responsibilities during his decades practising law and being a judge weighed on him.

"I think he was very fair, I know he was very fair."

"You can't even imagine his wisdom, on any topic that was brought up. He could tell you more than you could go and research on the Internet," said his stepdaughter, Kristyn Clairmont.

Sills was born in Seaforth in 1932. He was called to the bar in June 1957 and became a judge in 1992. He was an avid outdoorsman — hunting, fly-fishing, sailing, parasailing and even trying skydiving as a young adult.

He outlived his first two wives, and lost a daughter, Allison, in a ski accident 22 years ago. Donna called the loss "devastating".

In his later years, he focused on planning events to bring together his children and grandchildren. The last such event was an Alaskan cruise, when Ronald and 23 members of his family sailed together in 2010.

For the past several years of his life, Sills required use of an oxygen tank at all times. He suffered from a variety of health issues, but Donna said he didn't waste time troubling others with his declining health.

"He was very strong, he never complained. He carried an oxygen tank for 3½ years, 24 hours per day and never complained about it."

Donna and Kristyn said Ronald always had time to give advice to family and friends.

"Anybody who called him, he'd give them advice," Donna said.

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"Even the kids, if they had school projects — studying law in high school — he was always excited about helping and contributing to assignments. He took great honour in being asked to be a part of those things," Kristyn said.

Visitation will be held at the Erb & Good Family Funeral Home on Friday, March 13 from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. A mass will be held at Waterloo's St. Louis Roman Catholic Church on Saturday, March 14 at 11 a.m.