Len Stephenson

NOVEMBER 6, 1921 - AUGUST 27, 2017, DOMINION, NOVA SCOTIA 

Len Stephenson lived a full, colorful life; his invalvement and commitment to his community of Dominion spans decades. Len worked in the coal mines before jining the Merchant Marine, where he served as a medic beside his brothers during WWII. Upon his return, he joined the Post Office and served as Dominion's Post Master for 35 years, retiring in 1987. 

Len was a solid athlete, and coached basketball, baseball and boxing. He was the Captain and short stop of the first team to bring a Maritime Baseball Championship to Cape Breton, playing for the Dominion Hawks in 1940 and 1941, and was head trainer for the Glace Bay Miners' Professional hockey team in the hey-day of the Maritime Major Hockey League from 1946 to 1953.

 Len was made an honorary fireman after fifty-years of volunteer service, and had honorary member status in the Italian Community and the Dominion Community Hawks Club. He served as board chair of Seaview Manor, and as a board member of the Miner's Museum, Dominion Credit Union, and the Children's Aid Society of Cape Breton. He was active in St. Eugene's Church, and was a member of Royal Canadian Legion. During the 1987 Jeux Canada winter games, he took on the role of chairman of Medal Design and Presentation Committee. 

His passions included teaching bridge to new enthusiasts, and building observatories for bird watching and astronomy. Len had a reputation for making the best seafood chowder and lobster sandwiches, but he is best known and respected for his knack for historical research: documenting the people, buildings and the stories of Dominion. His works were published in five books, displayed at the Dominion Heritage Museum, an institution that was re-constructed under his leadership. He also researched and led the design of the Miners' Memorial, and Firemen's Monuments. A true gentleman. Len Stephenson shunned the accolades, reluctantly accepting "Citizen of the Century" in 2006, the Queens Jubilee Medal, and the Provincial Volunteer Award.