Obituary of Tom Stevens

November 28, 1932 - Edmonton, Alberta

December 7, 2024 - Calgary, Alberta

Just days after his 92nd birthday, Thomas James Stevens died peacefully surrounded by his family. Tom was a much-loved husband, father, father-in-law, brother, brother-in-law, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, great-uncle, and dear friend. He had recently laid the love of his life, Marina, to rest.

The son of Hermon and Isabella Stevens, Tom was born in Edmonton, AB, on November 28, 1932, and grew up in Calgary, AB. He attended St Mary's Boys High School where he was a well-liked, studious boy with an interest in cars. He furthered his education at the University of British Columbia, obtaining a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science.

Once home from university, he reconnected with Marina. They married, raised five children, and enjoyed 70 years together.

Tom’s keen fascination with the Canadian military led to his enlisting in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), where he spent over fourteen years. During a transfer east, Tom completed a Master of Arts in Public Administration at Carleton University in Ottawa.

Tom resigned from his commission in the RCAF and started a lengthy career in community college administration and teaching. He continued his education with a Master of Education from the University of Toronto’s Ontario Institute for Studies in Education.

He contributed to the book, The Canadian Military: A Profile in 1972, and authored The Business of Government: An Introduction to Canadian Public Administration in 1978. Tom was a true bibliophile who loved reading, as evidenced by his extensive library.

Tom was a community leader and served on different boards and associations. He was a member of the Friends of Red Deer Public Library from 1994 to 2012 and served as a member of the library board, including as chair and treasurer. In 2016, in recognition of his contribution, the Red Deer Public Library opened the Tom Stevens Friends of the Library Book Shop inside the downtown branch. Tom also served with the Calgary Public Library Board and was chair of the Alberta Library Trustees Association in 2001-02.

Tom was predeceased by his wife Marina, his brother Dan Jackson (Donna), his sister Elizabeth (Oscar Samson), his sister-in-law Helen Jullien, and his brother-in-law Bill Boyes.

He is survived by his daughters, Susan (Don Beamish), Kathleen (Michel Hébert), Jennifer (Ken Labach), and Lisa (Gordon Dunn); and his son Tom (Amra Stevens). He will also be deeply missed by his grandchildren, Jared, Jeffrey, Jennifer, Francois, Isabelle, Nicole, Mykola, Emily, Kate, Cole, and Malcolm; and his five great-grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews, and many dear friends from near and far.

We thank our special family friends, Anja and Karel Sagasser, for their love and support, as well as the Prominence Way team, the physicians and nursing team at the C3 Sarcee program, and all the wonderful caregivers for their care and support.

A Celebration of Tom’s Life will be held at McInnis & Holloway (Park Memorial, 5008 Elbow Drive SW, Calgary, AB) on Saturday, January 25, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. Reception to follow in the Hospitality Centre at the Funeral Home.

If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Tom Stevens Friends of the Library Book Shop at the Red Deer Public Library, 4818 - 49th Street Red Deer, AB T4N 1T9, Telephone: (403) 346-4576, www.rdpl.org/donate.

Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed with Tom’s family here.

In living memory of Thomas Stevens, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Park Memorial, 5008 Elbow Drive SW, Calgary, AB T2S 2L5, Telephone: 403-243-8200.