Richard (Dick) Oland of the Moosehead brewing family was found bludgeoned to death with an axe in his Saint John office, the Toronto Star has learned.

While Saint John, N.B. Police Chief Bill Reid declined Tuesday to comment, a source familiar with the investigation confirmed police have a “number one” suspect in Thursday’s grisly slaying.

“I don’t know why the police are being the way they are about this. They are sort of leaving it as a mystery as to what it was that killed him. He was killed with an axe. He was bludgeoned to death,” the source told the Star.

At Oland’s funeral Tuesday, it was standing room only as about 450 family members, friends, politicians and members of the Saint John business community gathered at the Our Lady of Perpetual Help church in Rothesay, N.B., to pay their respects to the accomplished sailor.

“He was a passionate guy. He lived life to the fullest. He didn’t suffer fools gladly. It’s a sad day for the province that a guy with that much talent was snuffed out at 69,” said an acquaintance, who requested anonymity.

Saint John Police Chief Bill Reid issued a press release Monday stating “there is no evidence at this time to suggest that this was a robbery or a random act” and told reporters that the investigation will likely show that Oland and his killer knew each other.

Oland’s body was found in his Canterbury Street office in Saint John on Thursday, at which point police described his death as suspicious.

Saint John police said they’ve determined Oland was the victim of foul play but they declined to say how he died.

“Preliminary results of the autopsy coupled with evidence at the scene clearly indicate Richard Oland was a victim of foul play,” Reid said in a statement.

“We are collectively committed to bringing anyone involved in Richard Oland’s death to justice. . . . Grieving family and friends need answers to the question, ‘Who is responsible?’ ”

Besides Oland is survived by his wife, Constance, daughters Elizabeth (Lisa) and Jacqueline, son Dennis Oland and seven grandchildren.

Oland was a member of the family that owns Moosehead Breweries Ltd., but he left the company in the 1980s.

He grew up in Rothesay and was educated at the University of New Brunswick. He was the younger brother of Derek Oland, who is now executive chairman of Moosehead, Canada’s oldest independent brewery, established in 1867.

A spokesman for Derek Oland said Monday he would not comment on the investigation.

Richard Oland also worked in the trucking business, at the Saint John Shipbuilding and Drydock Co., and as a director for several firms, including Eastern Provincial Airways, Newfoundland Capital Corp. and Ganong Bros.

More recently, he was president of the investment firm Far End Corp., according to the Saint John Board of Trade. He was also known as a competitive yachtsman and fitness advocate.

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He also served as president of the board of the 1985 Canada Summer Games in Saint John, and was appointed an officer of the Order of Canada in 1998.

With files from The Canadian Press