Obituary of Michael Evan Stoneham

STONEHAM, Michael Evan
February 2, 1933 - February 6, 2020

Michael Stoneham passed away peacefully on February 6, 2020. A much loved husband, father and grandfather, Michael was born on February 2, 1933, in Portsmouth, England, to William and Irene Stoneham. His father was an Electrical Engineer who worked for the British Admiralty and who was, accompanied by his wife and son, posted to Hong Kong prior to the Second World War. Under threat of a Japanese invasion of Hong Kong in 1941, Michael and his mother were evacuated to Australia. Michael's father was captured, along with other members of the British admiralty, and ultimately died in a Japanese prisoner of war camp. Michael and his mother spent the remainder of the war in Melbourne where Michael attended the Brighton Grammar School. After returning to England, Michael attended the Portsmouth Grammar School followed by a six year engineering apprenticeship with the Royal Dockyard School, and subsequently was awarded a scholarship to attend the University of Durham where he completed a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He initially worked for the British aircraft manufacturer A.V. Roe and Company (generally known as Avro) in Manchester, England, where he met and married his wife, Olwen (Parker), in 1959. He subsequently moved to be a Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering at Coventry University while living in nearby Royal Leamington Spa. Feeling the need to expand their horizons, Michael undertook a sabbatical teaching post in Saskatoon in 1964, in the College of Engineering at the University of Saskatchewan. After returning to England in 1965, Michael joined the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST). Michael and Olwen then immigrated to Saskatoon in 1968 where Michael worked as a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Saskatchewan for 29 years, retiring in 1997.

Michael was passionate about sailing and sailboats, as well as cars, including his much beloved 1964 Jaguar MKII. Michael and Olwen travelled extensively over the years, including sailboat trips to Greece, extended trips to Australia, as well as trips to England to visit family and friends. Michael was a founding member of the Saskatoon Energy Management Task Force (EMTF) and the Chair for many years. He was an active proponent of the EMTF and had a strong belief that the group could contribute positively to the Saskatoon community.

Michael is survived by his wife Olwen, and his 3 children: Grant (Susan Hayton), Fiona (Bruce Hamilton) and Jennifer (Glen McIntaggart) and his 6 grandchildren: Emily, Frances and Kathleen Stoneham, Hannah and Nick Hamilton, and Rebecca Stoneham.

Michael's funeral will be held on Saturday, February 15 at 2:00 p.m. at St. John's Anglican Cathedral (816 Spadina Crescent E, Saskatoon, SK) with a reception to follow in the Church Hall.