Obituary of Greg Phillip Stevens

November 24, 1935 - Toronto, Ontario

October 24, 2023 - Calgary, Alberta

Greg Phillip Stevens passed away peacefully on Tuesday, October 24, 2023, in Calgary at the age of 87.

Greg is survived by his Wife of 65 years Patricia (87), son Tom (Linda), daughter Linda (Tom), grandchildren Malcolm (Sara), Eric (Kayla), Duncan (Alex), Jared, Clay, Reka and Nicole, great grandchildren; Olyve, Atticus, Grayson, and predeceased by his sister Dianne in 2005 and by his daughter Laura (Bill) early 2023.

His amazing life all started when born in Toronto Canada in 1935, the eldest of two children to Greg and Gladys Stevens. Greg attended the University of Manitoba and earned a degree in civil engineering, receiving the Lt. James W Black Memorial Thesis prize which bought the engagement ring for the love of his life, Patricia Beeby.

Greg had grown up always wanting to become a fighter pilot and thus joined the RCAF in 1954 and took his pilot’s training during the summer while not attending university.  He earned his Wings and become that what he dreamed, moving from the propeller driven Harvard to the T-33 single engine jet fighter.  He then took instrument flying training and became the pilot of his beloved CF-100 all-weather twin jet conversion plane.  He was an exceptional pilot with instruments and therefore could fly in day, night, fog, bad weather or cloud; earning him one of a few Top Weather Fighter Pilots. His call name was Halfback 10. 

In 1958 Greg married Patricia and was posted to several centres across Canada as a fighter pilot until 1961. It was at this time that he made a difficult decision to leave the armed forces so he could spend more time with his family because his first daughter Laura was born. Greg got a job as a city planner for the city of Vancouver BC and off the family went. Two years later in 1963 his son Tom was born, and Greg was offered a position as a city manager for the City of Kelowna and there his third child Linda was born in 1967.

In 1971 Greg, always looking for adventure and challenges, moved his family to Banff Alberta when he became Banff’s townsite manager. There they all learned to ski and explore the amazing mountains and surroundings while living in what is now a historical log home that still stands today along the Bow River on Buffalo St.

Still looking at more career challenges he again uprooted in 1975 and moved to Ft. McMurray Alberta to become the General Manager of the Alberta Housing Corporation which he later became the Vice President of the Southern Region. There he caught the eye of then Premier of Alberta Peter Lougheed and the political bug started to resonate. Peter let him know that if he could win a riding and get elected as an MLA that would like to have him in his cabinet.

Once again, the family was on the move and headed to Calgary where he ran as Progressive Conservative candidate for the Banff-Cochrane riding in 1978 which he won in a landslide. Greg Stevens was then appointed to the Executive Council of Alberta by Premier Peter Lougheed as Minister responsible for Personnel Administration. He continued to serve that position after winning his second term in office in the 1982 Alberta general election. When Don Getty became Premier in 1986 Greg was appointed as Minister of Culture and Multiculturalism. He served that position after winning handily for his third term in the 1986 Alberta general election until his retirement at the dissolution of the Assembly in 1989.

Greg and Pat moved to Victoria, BC then Sidney, BC in the latter half of the 1990’s to enjoy their retirement on the ocean and travelling all over the world. They were never one to “settle” long, as they moved six more times on that Island! They bought a boat, the ‘Lickedesplit’, and enjoyed crabbing and boating adventures for more than ten years. His last public service was to volunteer for the BC College of Physicians and Surgeons as one of five Public Members to review complaints and offer governance.

Greg was a born storyteller, and his stories could hold an audience captured from start to end. He was an avid reader and loved movies.  His tales of his time in the skies, however, were his favourites, and were always fascinating to listen to. His Navigator’s name, Don Frederick, was well known to us through these stories all our lives, and to Dad’s last day, they spoke. 

The many friends that Greg and Pat had, endured over 65 years and Greg always kept in touch. His friendships were very dear to him. Greg’s last few years were living in an Assisted Retirement Lodge across the street from his wife who had to go into Long Term Care. There was rarely a day he missed seeing Mom; he made the best of a difficult situation and always made our Mom feel loved and special.

The family will be holding a private Celebration of Life in the near future and would like to thank his healthcare supporters at the Revera McKenzie Towne Assisted Retirement Lodge, he truly appreciated all of you. Halfback 10 Over and Out.

In living memory of Greg Stevens, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Deerfoot South, 12281 – 40th Street SE, Calgary, AB T2Z 4E6, Telephone: 403-203-0525.