STAFFORD FORSYTH SWAIN CA. IFA/CBV

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STAFFORD FORSYTH SWAIN CA. IFA/CBV Peacefully, Stafford Forsyth Swain, passed away on Wednesday, April 11, 2018 at the age of 73. Stafford was a true intellectual and polymath who leaves behind many whose hearts and lives he touched through his warmth and generosity. Born April 2, 1945 in Winnipeg to Doug and Betty (Forsyth) Swain as the eldest of four (Grant, Graham and Shelley), his youth was spent in the Wildwood Park neighbourhood and later South Drive of Fort Garry, an area that he would call home for most of his life. His early passions included playing football for the Fort Garry Lions, swimming, working as a lifeguard and spending weekends and summer holidays at the family cabin on Dorothy Lake in the Whiteshell. There he enjoyed many activities such as canoeing and riding dirt bikes. He was particularly proud of his prowess on waterskis - a skill he still enjoyed showing off later in life to the delight of many. After graduating as a chartered accountant in 1969 he worked briefly for the federal tax department before moving to Touche Ross where he would work for the next 19 years. In the early 1970s, he was introduced to the love of his life, Karen (Thomson) through his brother Grant and her sister Lynne who would themselves go on to marry. Daughters Vanessa and then Kristin, came along soon after to round out the family. From the first, Stafford was an active and involved father who cherished spending quality time with his girls. Family life was always of primary importance to him and included pets (Bacall, Trey and Walker), his swimming pool and as much travel as possible. Summer car trips across Canada and the U.S. in the 'grenade' were an adventure and Christmas time alternated between tropical destinations and more traditional holidays spent with in-laws Edna and Murray Thomson along with Grant, Lynne and their children Nevin and Kyla. Memories of that first big Christmas trip to Belize remain the stuff of legend in the family. Stafford was fanatical about work and hobbies that stimulated his curiosity, often to the point of obsessiveness. His quest for further knowledge lead him to specialize and complete certifications in business valuation and forensic accounting and eventually to open his own successful self-titled firm in 1989. He had a wide range of hobbies and interests but two in particular stand out: his love of music and model trains. Like his father before him, Stafford had a lifelong enthusiasm for model trains that culminated in the creation of his world class HO scale layout of the CN 1950s steam era set in the Whiteshell. Model Railroading became a way of life around which trips were planned and lifelong friendships developed including John, Marcel, Terry, Fred, Ken, Al and Nick among many others. Stafford was involved with the National Model Railroading Association chairing the 1983 convention held in Winnipeg and he served terms as President of the Thousand Lakes Region and the Winnipeg Model Railroad Club. He authored many articles for model railroad magazines and was a co-founder of the CN lines SIG. He was considered to be a true model railroading pioneer for his fidelity and accuracy in modelling which was due to his extensive and meticulous research into 1950s era boxcars, cabooses and engines (who knew there could be so many shades of boxcar orange!). Stafford was very proud of his designation as Master Model Railroader #98 that he achieved in 1983. Music of some kind was always playing and Stafford was particularly fond of 1950s era rock 'n roll. He revelled in gaining and sharing esoteric knowledge about his musical heroes and was particularly fond of the collected works of Buddy Holly. Stafford even decided to learn to play the guitar in his 50s and spent many enjoyable afternoons strumming away with his friend Arnie. Stafford and Karen had a true partnership filled with love and laughter that would last for 45 years. Throughout that time, he remained certain that he was the luckiest man ever. One of his few regrets in life was that ill health in his later years meant that their post retirement plans for travel were curtailed, however they still had the opportunity to travel together to England, France and Ireland. Stafford was immensely proud of his daughters' successes in scholastics and their careers and he maintained close relationships with both girls and their husbands, Dan O'Brien (Vanessa) and Cory Malyon (Kristin). One of Stafford's final joys was spending time with his beloved grandchildren, Isabel and Emily O'Brien and Natalie and Dean Malyon. The family wishes to express their gratitude for the care given by the second floor nurses and staff at Vista Park Lodge. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Stafford's name to the Heart & Stroke Association of Manitoba, 6 Donald St. #200, Winnipeg, MB R3L 0K6. A celebration of Stafford's life will take place later this summer. www.voyagefuneralhomes.com

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Apr 21, 2018