Toronto – February 19, 2010 -- It is with great sadness that we say goodbye to our friend and colleague, Stu Turner.
Growing up in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Stu was always interested in the world of radio and television. Graduating from Toronto’s Devry Institute of Technology, Stu began his broadcast career at CBC. Later, as an MCR engineer at CFTO, Stu needed to use a whole lot of creativity to keep their Ampex 2” (found only in TV museums now) cart machines from constantly breaking down. None of the other engineers would even go near them but Stu had those machines rigged “six ways to hell” in order to keep them running. With Stu, where there’s a will, there’s a way.
In 1988, he went on to be a major contributor to the successful launch of the then revolutionary YTV. His years at YTV as Chief Engineer and Director of Operations are marked by many successes, not least of which was his role as Santa Claus at the annual YTV Kids’ Christmas Party; listening to moms and dads through an IFB earpiece, Stu could convince even the most skeptical child he really was Santa Claus! Stu always could maximize the benefit of any piece of technology. Setting up the YTV team in their new home on Jefferson Avenue, Stu went on to work on yet another successful launch, that of Treehouse in 1997.
Stu joined the Stornoway team in 2000 during the company’s bid for a number of specialty digital networks. His work as Senior Vice President of Operations and Advance Technical Planning (quite a mouthful but Stu could handle it!) was invaluable in the success of the bid and throughout his nine-year tenure with Stornoway.
We could always rely on “Big Daddy” Stu, a techno-junkie who understood, and always took the time to explain concepts and ideas that would have most people running in the other direction. Whether we needed a professional opinion on the latest, greatest piece of hardware for the office or his advice on which tv might work best in the family room, Stu was available and thrilled to help.
He worked tirelessly for his staff and for the company he helped build during a time of tumultuous change in the television and communications industry.
And he always made it look easy; as part of the senior management team he was a great mentor, leading with grace fair-mindedness and humour. If his elaborate ties didn’t put a smile on your face, Stu’s jokes certainly did.
Mixed feelings dominated Stu’s retirement in June 2009, just prior to his 65th birthday. Happy that he would enjoy time to himself and with his family, knowing he was just a quick phone call or e-mail away…. also worried that he was retiring before his time due to health concerns. But Stu wasn’t going anywhere without a fight, and he battled hard, knowing those who loved him didn’t have their final goodbyes ready. Unfortunately liver cancer and the complications caused by it proved too major an adversary and on February 18, 2010 Stu succumbed to months of medical treatments and hospital beds.
Stu will be missed, and yes, not forgotten. His love of everything battery operated, his quick wit and infectious laugh and yes, even his funny, silly ties, will keep going and going and going…. in all of us who knew and loved him.
We encourage friends of Stu to visit a Facebook page “In Memory of Stu Turner” at the following link: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/group.php?v=info&ref=nf&gid=319356168394