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In memory of those who have Crossed the Bar
WALSH, Stephen Vincent - We are heartbroken to announce the passing of our beloved son, brother, and father, Stephen Vincent Walsh on May 23, 2026 after a brief illness.
Steve to his friends but always Stephen to his family, he was born on January 13, 1966 in St. John’s, Newfoundland, the third child and second son to Vincent and Shirley Walsh.
He graduated from Gonzaga High School in 1983 before moving with his family to Halifax, Nova Scotia, where he attended Saint Mary’s University. He graduated from Saint Mary’s with a Bachelor of Science and a Diploma in Engineering in 1988. During his degree, he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force through their Officers Training Program, and attended training and flight school in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan and North Bay, Ontario, later graduating top of his class in air weapons control. He served his country for 31 years, with postings in Nova Scotia, British Columbia, Oklahoma, and California.
While stationed in British Columbia, Stephen accompanied the Royal Canadian Navy on many joint duty assignments, travelling to Guam, Australia, and Hawaii, crossing the equator and sailing over the Marianas Trench. Stephen was a veteran of the Gulf War and completed tours of duty in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey.
As a boy, Stephen was an unstoppable force of energy and mischief. He told stories of skipping school as young as 6 years old, preferring to throw rocks in the pond and go to the store for candy than sit at a desk. He excelled in sports, particularly basketball, and was always top of his class, especially in math and science. He didn’t like the limelight and refused to go to an end of year ceremony in grade 9 where he was to receive Boy of the Year until the principal called home to tell his parents he had to attend.
In high school, he won awards for Outstanding Student and Most Valuable Player for the basketball team, impressive feats considering all the time he spent running home with his brother Chris to try to make curfew or getting into scraps playing road hockey.
After joining the armed forces in university, Stephen studied air weapons control which allowed him to serve in different positions throughout his career and travel all over the world. Stephen’s love of aviation led him to become an instructor for air crew on the AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System) planes while stationed at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma in the early 2000s, and flying on these vessels with his call sign “Steve-O” was a highlight of his career. Stephen graduated with his Master of Science from Southeastern Oklahoma State University in 2007.
In 2010, he served as Head of Security for the Olympic Games in Vancouver, British Columbia. In his final posting before retirement, he served with the Canadian Forces contingent on Vandenburg Space Force Base in Lompoc, California. Stephen leaves behind many friends and colleagues who will fondly remember his outstanding service as well as his wicked sense of humour.
Stephen’s family and friends will remember his big smile and even bigger laugh, his irreverent humour, his love of swimming, basketball, and hiking, and those bright blue eyes that caught everyone’s attention.
The light of Stephen’s life was his daughter, Kathleen. She was the focus of everything he did and he was so proud of her. He spent as much time as possible with her when she was growing up and after moving back to Nova Scotia post-retirement, he would count the days until she could visit. At his house in Eastern Passage, Stephen displayed a photo album she had made for him called Daddy-Daughter Adventures as well as framed pictures of the two of them. Kathleen was his highest priority and his greatest achievement was his strong and loving relationship with her. In turn, he was her favourite person, and she will miss him forever.
Family was important to Stephen and he dedicated his retirement years to assisting his parents with their needs as well as helping other family members with their projects. He would show up without being asked with tools in hand and ready to get to work, all with his familiar sarcastic wit and generous spirit.
Stephen passed away peacefully at the Dartmouth General Hospital on May 23, 2026, with family at his side. Although we will miss and love him forever, we give thanks for his life of service and our memories of his humour, generosity, loyalty, and courage.
Stephen leaves to mourn his daughter Kathleen (Dale), Edmonton, Alberta; parents, Vincent and Shirley Walsh of Dartmouth, NS; sister Wendy (Todd), St. John’s, NL; brother Chris (Marie), Saint John, NB; and sister Susan, New Glasgow, NS as well as extended family across Canada. He was predeceased by grandparents Augustine and Margaret Walsh, Clarence and Violet Sheppard.
Cremation has taken place under the care of A.L. Mattatall Funeral Home in Dartmouth. A celebration of Stephen’s life will take place at a later date. Special thanks to the nurses and doctors of the Intensive Care Unit at the Dartmouth General for their compassionate and excellent care.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to True Patriot Love, the Canadian veterans advocacy foundation, or a charity of one’s choice. (Matattal Funeral Home, Dartmouth)
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