(02/26/1954 – 01/16/2018) - Passed away at Royal Jubilee Hospital, Victoria BC on Tues. Jan. 16, 2018.
Stephen Joseph Suraci known as “Pops” to all who became his extended family in Nanaimo, and throughout Vancouver Island, BC. Steve is remembered as a kind, caring individual with an amazing sense of humour, who would go out of his way to offer a hand. He was a self-starter and entrepreneur, partnering with others in business ventures that ranged from construction, surveying, sporting goods and two pizza restaurants, both named Papa Joe’s in tribute to his father, earning him the nickname Pops.
Steve graduated from Sault College with a degree in Civil Engineering, which led to his work on many challenging projects in BC including the largest lumber mill in Canada. He spent many months in the wilderness on projects that required adherence to environmental impact regulations and was a stickler to ensuring all were in compliance.
Steve was an outdoorsman. Growing up in Sault Ste. Marie, he was raised with a love of fishing and camping, but when he moved west to Lethbridge and eventually Nanaimo, those activities extended to hiking, mountain climbing, skiing, cycling, scuba diving, and golfing. He loved his life in Nanaimo, with its mountains, rainforests and the ocean minutes from his door. He lived simply but very well. Past the essentials of a comfortable home, he surrounded himself only with things connected to his passions - drafting and CAD design, sporting activities, photography and in particular, cooking.
Steve was all about his family and even though he lived over 2000 km from his closest sibling, he was surrounded by loving people who enriched his life and let him enrich theirs. Steve followed the lives of his nieces and nephews and was proud of their accomplishments, both academically and becoming great young adults.
Steve was predeceased by his father Joseph Louis Suraci and his youngest brother Christopher Peter Suraci. He is survived by his mother Virginia Marie Suraci (nee Dupuis), his brother Wayne Suraci and husband Merle Craig, his sister-in-law Patti Suraci (nee Pettenuzzo) and children Hayden and Paxton, and his sister Theresa Suraci, husband Robert Howard, and children Robert Joseph and Rachel.
A celebration of Steve’s life will take place on Saturday March 3rd, 2018 in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. Service at St. Gregory’s Church at 9:30 am. Reception and memories at the Quattro Hotel, Great Lakes Room from 11:00 am – 1:30 pm. Donations to Red Cross of Canada here.