STEPHEN, John Rowan Mackenzie Slipped away gently on May 22nd, 2010 at Royal Jubilee Hospital after a courageous battle with cancer. John was born in Glasgow, Scotland on March 5th, 1946, lived briefly in Scotland and England, thence North Vancouver for his youth and young adulthood.

After attending Simon Fraser University as a charter student, John moved to and graduated from technical school in Saskatoon where he prepared for his career as a Conservation and Fishery Officer, serving with distinction in arctic communities, thence Rivers Inlet, Lilloett and finally, Sooke, where he retired in 1999.

After retirement, poultry hobby farming occupied John for many years but his abiding passion was for his family, near and far. John was active in Sooke politics and Sooke Baptist Church and was known throughout his community as a truly compassionate neighbour and good Samaritan. Shortly after his loving wife Margaret's death in 2005, John developed multiple myeloma. In 2007 John found love again with Lucie Gaucher and the two were married in 2009.

John is predeceased by Margaret, his wife of 36 years, and his father Jim, of North Vancouver. He leaves behind his wife Lucie in Sidney, sons, Michael(Heidi) in Vancouver, and Jeffrey in Victoria, and daughter, Emily Leyh(Aaron) and infant grand daughter Rebecca in Nanaimo, mother, Rebecca, in Horseshoe Bay, brother Jamie(Helen) in Chemainus, sister Moira Zealand in Sechelt, together with many devoted nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews throughout Canada and the U.S. John's family offers thanks for the compassionate, professional care received at the Victoria Cancer Clinic and Royal Jubilee Hospital.

A memorial service will be held at Sooke Baptist Church, 7110 West Coast Road, Sooke, B.C. (250-642-3424) on Saturday, May 29th, 2010 at 1400 hrs. In lieu of flowers, donations are recommended to Victoria Hospice (Stadacona Centre, 1510 Fort Street, Victoria, V8S 5J2) and/or the B.C. Cancer Foundation (Suite 600-686 West Broadway, Vancouver, B.C. V5Z 1G1). 590662

Published in the Victoria Times-Colonist on 5/27/2010

"Older Fishery Officers may remember John as the independent thinking, 6’5” Fishery Officer who wore sandals. John was a graduate of the Saskatoon Technical School. John’s career encompassed being a Natural Resources Officer in the NWT, and postings as Fishery Officer in Rivers Inlet, Lillooet and Sooke. For twenty years, John was a well respected Fishery Officer in Sooke who took a special interest in the community and fish protection. John was a strong supporter of the Jack Brooks Hatchery and San Juan Hatchery.

John looked forward to the yearly spawn enumeration and habitat inspections in the San Juan Valley. Fishery Officer’s Altino Carvalho and Fred Reder were faithful in those efforts. You can’t protect what you don’t know is there. I have many fond memories of those times. A partner in this effort was his brother Jamie, who was a Conservation Officer in Duncan. John’s habitat findings were detailed in departmental letters that were thoughtful, concise, and grammatically correct.

He was a decade ahead in his thinking. John was vocal with his concern for the juvenile Chinook by-catch in the San Juan net fishery and logging damage in the San Juan Valley. Selective net fishing, reduced fishing times, along with a 5 million San Juan remediation fund later evolved.

John’s retirement in 1999 started well. He was an emu, then chicken farmer, Municipal Councillor, and a strong family man. Daily egg deliveries were done by motorcycle. This changed with the passing of his wife Margaret in 2005. His overwhelming sadness for Margaret continued into a diagnosis of Multiple Myeloma. The Sooke Baptist Church was an important part of John’s life. He found love again with Lucie Gaucher. The two were married in 2009.

John’s passing leaves a large hole in the Sooke community."

--Roy Osselton
Fishery Officer Trainee
Sooke, British Columbia, 1991-1994

John Stephen was My Friend

Good Bye, John. John Stephen was my friend, mentor, boss and colleague. We first met in 1976 at his office in Lillooet, and became friends almost immediately. John made a striking figure in his uniform, towering above me; but it quickly became apparent that he was as gentle as he was tall. We worked together for a number of years, as equals, even though we both knew that his training and experience far outweighed mine. The job pressure never seemed to dampen his good humour and readiness for mischief. There is at least one ex-CO who will always remember looking in the Yalakom Valley for a non-existent Mr. Larsen with a moose in the swimming pool. And there is an ex-FO who got soaked to the skin because he just had to blow into an “ooligan pipe” as instructed by John … And then there is the crew up north who flew around for hours one April 1st, searching for a herd of imaginary caribou drifting off on a giant ice floe…

John had an uncanny ability for finding action, fun or information. Many suspects (and some co-workers) found out very fast that his interrogation technique got results. He once snuck up to within 20 feet of two poachers busy dip-netting salmon. When one poacher told the other: “I think we have enough”, John turned his flashlight on them and informed them that he thought so too, and placed them under arrest. They almost fell into the Fraser River in their surprise.

The annual spawning counts in the many streams and creeks in the interior were John’s favorite duties. He organized these outings with motorcycles, rubber dinghies, canoes or aluminum boats, usually as overnight excursions. On one of the first in the Lillooet Sub-district, he found an unopened bottle of “Baby Duck” in an abandoned trapper’s cabin. Even though neither of us was very fond of the taste, it became a tradition to open a bottle of “Duck” whenever we found ourselves together in the upper Nahatlatch river area! When he failed to get funds to remove old log jams in the Nicola and Nahatlatch Rivers, he simply packed some lunches, chainsaws and patrolmen into the Suburban and did the dirty work himself.

His commitment to the resource and his integrity can best be shown with the following example: In court one day, John was accused by a suspect of drinking on the job. There was no truth to the story (I had been there and testified to that), and the accused admitted that she had been drinking on the day in question. Yet the judge told John that he was very, very suspicious of him. That was the only time I saw John turn white. On the drive home he didn’t say a word. He wrote a letter of resignation that same night, because he didn’t think he could do his job to his and the Department’s satisfaction if a judge could take the word of a drunken suspect over his and his patrolman’s. (His supervisor wisely did not accept John’s resignation.)

We didn’t have much contact in the last 20 years beyond the usual season’s greetings and occasional phone conversations. But even after he became ill, his humour always surfaced and his joie de vivre never diminished. And when we reminisced on our adventures in the interior sub-District, we always promised to get together soon to go camping in the Nahatlatch, Churn, Yalakom River…

I’m sorry we never did. I will miss John."

-- Hans Meyer

Guestbook for John Stephen

"Jeffrey, Michael and Emily..... so many people will miss your Father so much...I will always remember his kind heart, his HUGE hugs, his booming, friendly voice and how he always asked how I was and eagerly waited for me to give him the update on my life....I remember how much he was there for our family during Julia's illness and death, a pillar of strength and helping out in whatever way he could. I look forward to reuniting with both your parents again in heaven... Take care and much love..."

L.A., Victoria, British Columbia

"We know John is resting in peace now. Sincerest condolences to all the family. "

C & GG

"Dear Emily, Michael and Jeffrey, My thoughts have been with you since I heard the sad news last week. John was my first friend in Sooke and his warmth, compassion and love will always linger with us all. He savoured his family life and loved you three unreservedly. There are few people whose presence stays with you forever but John is one and I will miss him too. I am in Uganda and Jesse (Coxey) is in Egypt. Wish we could be there for John's memorial service. Our love for you will be there."

M.H., Kampala, Uganda

"I'm very sorry to all of you who John left behind. I know that he was so loved by each of you and there will be so many tears and smiles as you all share the many memories you made with him over the years"

J.L., Cowichan Bay, British Columbia

"Please accept our deepest sympathies. Ken Wilson and Staff, BC Cancer Agency, Vancouver Island Centre"

Kenneth Wilson MD, Victoria, British Columbia

"I will always remember with fondness Big John, our neighbour and friend to the Martin Family in North Vancouver. He was a warm and high spirited youth to whom I always looked up."

S.M., Nanaimo, British Columbia

"I am very sorry to hear of John's passing and my condolences go to the family and friends. I very much enjoyed working with John and assisting him over the last few years. He was always professional and courteous towards myself and my firm and was always a pleasure to just sit and chat with."

K.M., Sooke, British Columbia

"I knew John well in my early days as a lawyer, when I was prosecuting Fisheries offences. He was always diligent, passionate about Fisheries and protecting fish stocks, and an excellent witness in Court, but at the same time always fair to the persons he dealt with. I will remember him fondly. When later I came to know Jeff I did not make the connection, but I now see that John was blessed with a loving family, who will always keep his memory close in their hearts. Sincere condolences from Sue and myself. "

B.G., Victoria, British Columbia

"Our entire family looked up to John both literally and figuratively! He was our friend and neighbour growing up. He is well remembered. Wishing you all comfort and peace. "

M.M., North Vancouver, British Columbia

"Big John, we called him, when we grew up in North Vancouver. We Martin's lived across the street from John and his family. We were always he best of friends. We have very fond memories. The Martin Kids, Carol, Dianne, John, Susan, Mary, Mum & Dad."

C.M., Gabriola Island, British Columbia

"We will always remember John"s sense of humor. He had a great way of making people smile laugh and feel good. We first met him at Eskimo Point and last saw him my mother's memorial in Sidney in 2008. John had many wonderful memories and laughter to share every time we saw him. Our sincere condolences to all the family."

P & MF, Port Alberni, British Columbia

"I worked for and alongside John back in my first years as a Fishery Guardian. He was a caring and thoughtful person and I look back fondly on those days. My condolences to his family."

R.K., Sechelt, British Columbia

"We are so saddened by John's passing. He was such a good friend to us ever since we met back in 1971 in Arviat Nunavut (Eskimo Point, NWT). Dave and John shared many adventures together. Our deepest sympathy to all the family, you are in our hearts."

C & DM, Lac La Biche, Alberta

"We are so very sorry to hear of John's passing. I remember him vividly coming to visit my Dad after his stroke. My Dad was Fred Reder and he and John so enjoyed their work in Port Renfrew with the DFO. Our sincerest condolences

U.R. & C.M., Victoria, British Columbia

"I am very sorry to hear about John's passing. I worked with John years back at Fisheries and Oceans in Victoria. My heart goes out to his family."

C.C., Courtenay, British Columbia

"So sorry to hear about John;s passing. I will miss his friendly unarranged visits. Our deepest sympathy to you all."

J & I.S.

"We are sorry to hear about John, he will be missed, please accept our deepest sympathies."

S & D.C., Sooke, British Columbia

"Through my 25 years as a Fishery Officer I had the occasion to work with John. He was a dedicated officer and loved the work he did. I am sorry to here of John's passing and wish all his family well."

S.R., Blackfalds, Alberta

"Friends and family, I knew John as a Fishery Officer, I was reminded of the the passion he showed for the job a number of times. Ironically my oldest daughter, a nurse at Royal Jubilee, met John in his final days. God bless and may his spirit live on."

R.N., Vancouver, British Columbia

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