HARRIS, Stephen Paul (September 11th, 1951 – October 6th, 2017) It is with great sadness that we announce the sudden and unexpected passing of Stephen, October 6th, 2017, surrounded by his friends and co-workers. Stephen was predeceased by his parents John and Georgina Harris and his companion of 27 years, Gloria Janicki. He is survived by his brother, Lawrence (Faye) and his sister, Lorraine Stevenson (Rob), his nephew Sean (Nancy) and their son, Hunter. Stephen was born September 11th, 1951, in Guelph, Ontario, the youngest son of John and Georgina Harris. Stephen graduated from Guelph Collegiate and Vocational Institute in the vocational program and later qualified as a machinist and tool and die maker. For many years he worked at the Bundy Plant on Edinburgh Road, Guelph, (now long closed) and later at Golden Valley Farms in Arthur, Ontario. He was known far and wide as a methodical and willing worker. Stephen’s greatest passion and mission in life was drumming and playing in the pipe band fraternity of Southern Ontario. Beginning in 1963, he played for the Guelph Pipe band and accompanied the band to Scotland in 1968. The culmination of these efforts was a first place in the World championships in Scotland in the 1970’s. In later years, he composed scores for the drum section, played for the Grand Celtic Pipe Band and instructed Army Cadets in the art of drumming at the Blackdown Army Cadet Training Centre, in CFB Borden. He is also fondly remembered as a family man, attending his grandchildren’s sporting events and family dinners with his partner, the late Gloria Janicki. By good report, he was an attentive and handy grandparent. There will be a memorial service celebrating the life of Stephen Harris at the Royal Canadian Legion, Watson Road, Guelph on Sunday November 26th 2017. Interment will take place at a later date. Expressions of sympathy and donations may be left to the Canadian Heart and Stroke Foundation.
