Stan Seymour: June 6, 1930 – January 5, 2021
Born and raised in Belfast Northern Ireland, evacuated to Portrush during the 2nd World War, married to Mary Kerr of Whitehead Northern Ireland and happy emigree to Canada in 1956. Experienced their first Canadian winter in Elliott Lake. And stayed. He was a lucky man – he had two loves of his life. Mary died in 1973 and, despite his unruly mob of adult sons, Marilyn Johnson rescued him from life as a widower to be his bride in 1989.
Dad was an enthusiastic immigrant. Not for him the old Irish ways, no, we are Canadians now and will do all things Canadian. He was an active volunteer being a hockey and football and baseball coach never having played any of these games. He was an active volunteer for the establishment of the Nepean Sailing Club and involved in the Canadian Institute of Quantity Surveyors for years. He was a notable dancer at the Friday night Dixieland jazz shows. For 16 years Dad’s turkey meals were always an adventure.
He played the role of Mr. In Between with aplomb. He was both mother and father after Mary died. He found himself with a foreign accent both in Canada and in Northern Ireland. He was someplace in between as a professional, neither being private sector enough for his former general contractor associates for the first part of his career nor civil servant enough for his colleagues at Statistics Canada for the last part.
Stan had been making the most of retirement with Marilyn, indoctrinating grandchildren, building a house at the lake, being a snowbird, and joining Marilyn in Canadian Club musical productions. Oh, and dispensing a surprising retinue of advice to unwitting family and friends.
He died as the result of non-Covid complications from a fall on December 14, 2020. He is survived by: Marilyn, his wife of 31 years; sons Alan and wife Kathleen, Brian and wife Jennifer, and John and wife Elizabeth; step-son Chris and wife Annie, and step-daughter Melissa and husband Jonathan. Grandchildren include Stacey, William, Mariel, Maya, Anya, Emily, David and Felix.
His crowning achievement was his commitment to keep in touch with disparate extended family members spanning the Atlantic. His efforts to ensure that we stayed in touch will be a lasting testament to his influence and efforts.
There will be a celebration of life later in the Spring when Covid restrictions allow. Please raise a jar of your favourite Irish tipple and tell a tale or two about the man in the meantime. You could top that off with a donation to your favourite charity if the spirit moves you. Heaven is about to get way more organized.
Tuesday January 5th 2021
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Stan Seymour Tuesday January 5th 2021..
Décès pour la Ville:Ottawa, Province: Ontario