Obituary of John Stevens

John passed from this life in peace and comfort while in hospice in Ottawa, on the 31^st of May 2025. He was 83 years old.

He worked, built, loved, and listened until the last of his considerable strength, and even under illness and duress his will to live could not break. He sought responsibility, lived by his word, was humble with and kind to strangers, and chased both the joys of family and the wonders of science with curiosity, patience, wit, and charm.

He obtained his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine in 1969 and his Masters in Veterinary Microbiology in 1971. He completed a Ph.D. program in Veterinary Microbiology at Iowa State University, where he also met and married the one love of his life, Dr. Judith Ann Trefzger (b.1944), in March 1972.

They moved to Ottawa so he could work as a Research Scientist in the Swine Diseases Unit of the Animal Diseases Research Institute (ADRI), under Agriculture Canada’s Food Production and Inspection Branch (FP&I). John was later involved with Canada’s Bovine Tuberculosis Eradication program, was promoted to lab management and program planning, and retired in 2009 as the Associate Director of the FP&I’s Ottawa Laboratory on Fallowfield Road. While many people will mourn him, there would be tens of thousands of now healthy animals that would miss him more, if only they knew what he had done for the quality of their lives.

Together with his wife, John raised a son, Christopher William (b.1976), and two daughters, Catherine Margot (b.1980) and Jennifer Alisa (b.1983). His children remember him as the world’s best hugger, the most selfless helper, and the strongest man they had ever known. John was invested in his community and the lives of his children; he devoted untold hours working with Les Petits Ballets, a local ballet company. For them, he built sets and set pieces, assisted backstage, and loved watching his children perform.

John and Judith’s children went on to each have happy marriages of their own, producing a total of eight grandchildren. In his golden years, an engaging project, a bountiful meal, a comfy napping chair, and a house full of happy progeny was where he found bliss. Even if only a fraction of the world could have ever met him, humankind is nevertheless now one paragon fewer.

In lieu of flowers, his family asks that you direct donations instead to Hospice Care Ottawa in thanks for their loving care of him in his final days.

A celebration of life will be held on June 28^th from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at Highland Park Cemetery (2037 McGee Side Road in Carp, Ontario).