Obituary of Steven Kordel Gibb
Steven Gibb, beloved father, brother and husband, favourite uncle, “cool” Papa, photographer, painter, writer, cartoonist, sportsman, dog lover, former editor of the StarPhoenix, died August 3, 2021 at the age of 73.
Steve is survived by his daughter, Sheila Gibb (Damien Forbes) of Toronto, and son, Brian Gibb (Melissa) of St. Albert; his four grandchildren of whom he was so proud, Ella and Ada, Eleanor and Finlay; and his siblings, Kayla Barton, Gay Smith, Ron Gibb and Don Gibb. He was predeceased by his parents, Henry Gibb and Nella Shore, his sister Ella Marlene Hamilton, and his second wife, Sarah.
Steven Kordel Gibb was born in Brooks, Alberta on April 2, 1948 and raised in nearby Rosemary. He lost his father at a young age, and grew up in an old farmhouse without insulation or plumbing. At the farm, Steve had two of his first close encounters with death: an angry ram and a shotgun that discharged inches from his face. He managed to make it to Mount Royal College in Calgary, where he studied journalism.
With his first wife Terry at his side, Steve began his career as a photographer and reporter at the Swift Current Sun and Cambridge Daily Reporter. In 1975, after a summer photographing the Cypress Hills from the back of their van, Steve and Terry moved to Saskatoon, where Steve began a 35-year career at the Saskatoon StarPhoenix. Steve served as graphics editor, night editor and managing editor, among other roles. In 1993, Steve began a 17-year tenure as editor-in-chief— the longest serving editor in the history of the StarPhoenix.
With an artistic eye, Steve knew how to make an impact on a reader. He led the redesign of the paper to its current masthead; he spearheaded offshoots including the Saskatoon Sun and PS Teen Magazine; and his newsroom was recognized for spectacular coverage of events like the Olympics and Saskatchewan’s Centennial. During an era of changing corporate ownership, the digitization of media and staff cutbacks, Steve was always prepared to fight the good fight, and he ran the newsroom with kindness, fairness and a large measure of dry humour.
Steve did this all while also raising two children as a single dad.
Steve excelled at sports – motocross, fastball, hockey, badminton. He was an avid skier and had a killer tennis spin. Steve loved to explore, whether the badlands or on travels further afield, including Thailand and Korea with his kids. On one such trip, to San Francisco, Steve had another run-in with death, when a speeding car crushed the back of his shoe, sparing him by scarcely a millimetre.
A few years later, Steve had another near miss when a massive cardiac arrest put him on life support. He gave everyone a surprise when he woke up — especially the ICU nurse who thought she was seeing a ghost.
Through it all, Steve was an artist. He published a single panel comic in the early ’80s; he was a talented woodcarver. A self-taught painter, Steve was inspired by the prairies but was no ordinary landscape artist; his paintings are held in private collections across Canada.
Steve was also a gifted photographer. He could frame any subject and find beauty in the mundane. It was his ability to find art where others overlook it that led to his passion for photographing landmark buildings around Saskatoon, which he shared on his website, www.gibbart.com.
Steve loved his dogs, Maggie and Gracie, almost as much as his children. He was rarely seen around town without a camera around his neck or his beloved dogs at his side. Most recently, he was a devoted caregiver to his second wife, Sarah.
Steve was a kind and loving soul, wickedly funny, endlessly creative, a joy to be around, our “dear old dad”. He could not cheat death any longer, and we are so very sorry that there isn’t more time.
There will be a celebration of Steve’s life in the fall, with details to come. In lieu of flowers, the family is establishing the Steven Gibb Memorial Award in support of students in the College of Arts and Science at the University of Saskatchewan. To make a charitable donation in Steve’s memory, visit donate.usask.ca/online/artsandscience.php?fund_code=100248SGIBB.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Steven
Kordel
Gibb 1948 2021..
Death notice for the town of: Saskatoon, Province: Saskatchewan