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APEGGA Life Member Stafford William “Mac” McDermott,
P.Eng., 91, died suddenly on Dec. 22, 2003, in Vancouver,
B.C., during a struggle with lung cancer. Born Feb. 19, 1912,
in Regina, Sask., Mr. McDermott went on to work his way into
high-level management, retiring in 1977 from Stelco as vice-president
of manufacturing.
Raised in Calgary, Mr. McDermott attended St. Mary’s
School where he quarterbacked the championship football team
to an undefeated season. The team was never scored upon,
that year.
He earned his bachelor of science degree in mining engineering
and metallurgy from the University of Alberta, then performed
geologic and land surveys in Northern Alberta and the territories,
where he flew “white knuckled” with Wop May and
other bush pilots.
Mr. McDermott furthered his education by earning a business
degree from the University of Western Ontario, and joined
Stelco in 1936. He worked in Swansea, Montreal, Edmonton
and Hamilton, rising through the ranks to manage various
plants and divisions, and ultimately becoming vice-president
of manufacturing.
A tireless charity worker, Mr. McDermott spent many years
on the boards of the Boy Scouts, the Heart Fund and the Cancer
Society of Ontario, which he chaired. He was a parishioner
of St. Christopher’s Anglican Church in Burlington.
In 1979 Mr. McDermott and his wife Phyllis retired to Red
Deer, where he was active in the Golden Circle and the Red
Deer Museum, and attended St. Luke’s Anglican Church.
He was once the over-65 silver medalist in bridge for Alberta.
In 2002 the McDermotts moved to an apartment just a block
from Stanley Park in Vancouver.
He’s remembered as a man with “twinkling eyes,
quick wit and deep love.” A memorial service for Mr.
McDermott will be held this summer in Red Deer.
In addition to wife Phyllis, Mr. McDermott is survived by
daughters Kelly and Michaelin, son Darcy and five grandchildren.
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