Obituary
It is with tremendous heartbreak and profound sadness that we announce that our most dearly loved Stephen passed away suddenly at his family cottage in Tiny Township, ON. Stephen was a beloved son of the late Harry and Rose Marie Damp. He will forever be lovingly remembered and missed by his cherished wife, Mary Frances, his four daughters, Alycia, Cassidy (Sylvain), Maddie, and Alanna, and his grandson, Joel, all of whom he admired and adored with the entirety of his heart. He will also be remembered and dearly missed by his siblings, Carol (Craig), Paul (Lynn), Diane, and Janet (Rocco); his in-laws, Bob and Vida Nairn, Rob (Andy), Cathy, and Sandy (Emma); and many nieces, nephews, and friends. It is with extreme comfort that we know Stephen will forever remain alive in the hearts of all of those who were lucky enough to know him.
It is immensely difficult to articulate the feelings of joy and happiness that Stephen exuded when in the presence of his family but to say that no one loves his family more than Stephen is an earnest attempt. He and Mary Frances spent almost 33 wonderful years together raising their four daughters in various homes throughout Southern and Northern Ontario. Every person that knew Stephen knew his daughters were his pride and joy. He would move mountains for them, and he would move mountains to spend time with them – and he did. There is truly nothing on this earth Stephen enjoyed more than spending time with his family. He was nothing short of an incredible husband and an incredible father. We were so blessed to be constantly reminded of his love for us during his time on earth as he repeatedly told us and showed us that he loved us every chance he could. There is nothing more special or meaningful that a daughter could ask for of her father or that a wife could ask for of her husband than this.
Stephen built for himself a highly respected career in the Canadian construction industry. It began at Queen’s University in 1979 when Stephen challenged himself by enrolling in the Engineering Physics program. During his four years at Queen’s he found great joy in being a part of the rugby, swimming, and Clark Hall communities, and throughout his life he loved sharing stories of the fond memories he had of these times. After graduating, he started working as an engineer for Harvey Johnson where he played a role in inventing an asphalt recycling machine, The Johnson Scarifier (i.e., The Rube). Recycling before it was fashionable. His role at Johnson turned into a 25-year career with The Miller Group where his hard work ethic and his honest character were the foundation of his success as a leader, both in the company and in the industry. Following his time at The Miller Group, Stephen moved to EllisDon to build and lead a strong civil division – and that he did. He is remembered at EllisDon for building, but not building structures. Instead he built people, he built opportunities, he built character, and he built relationships. He cared so deeply about people, and he believed in people, irrespective of their seniority in the company or the title they held. This is one of many testaments to Stephen’s humility, a value he embodied so genuinely as a leader to all and a colleague to many.
Stephen’s legacy was not defined by his accomplishments. It was defined by his character. Stephen was a man of principle, of honor, and of faith. It is one thing to make a conscious effort to live by certain values. It is another to truly embody them. With Stephen, the values of compassion, humility, generosity, and selflessness were deeply ingrained in who he was as a human being. He enjoyed life with a passion, and his positive outlook was contagious. If you’ve spent time with Stephen, you know he could light up a room in a minute. His voice and his presence were captivating. He left an indelible impact on everyone that knew him, and we are all better for it.
Stephen’s favourite past times included spending time with his family and close friends or taking on building and renovation projects at his home and his cottage. His genuine excitement for life was especially vibrant during these times. One of his favourite sayings was, “if you don’t grow up by the time you’re 50, you never have to!” He jumped at every opportunity to be on the golf course or the ski hills. He loved taking trips with his family. His cottage was also a place he both filled with and found so much joy and happiness, be it walking the beach with his wife, his girls, and his dog, connecting with neighbors, circling through his collection of classic rock records, or barbequing dinner on the Green Egg. It was truly such a special place for him and will forever remain as such for his family.
In the words of Stephen, “it’s a grand world if we don’t weaken.” But sometimes we do. This separation is temporary, and he is forging a path in heaven for all of us. The countless wonderful and precious memories we have of him will be kept alive in the stories we share for all of our years to come. May the values he embodied each and every day be a reminder to all of us of how to lead our lives.
If desired, donations in memory of Stephen can be made to Dr. Singal’s Oncology Fund at Michael Garron Hospital or The Heart and Stroke Foundation. Cards available at the funeral home or you may also send the family a condolence at www.macintyrefamilyfuneralhome.com
MacIntyre Family Funeral Home
519 833 2231
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Stephen Peter Damp, please visit our floral store.
August 12 1960 May 29 2020 (age 59)
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Stephen Peter Damp August 12 1960 May 29 2020 (age 59)..
Décès pour la Ville:Erin, Province: Ontario