R.I.P. Don Seaman

July 12, 2025

Donald "Don" Roy Seaman Obituary

July 26, 1925 - Rouleau, Saskatchewan to July 9, 2025 - Calgary, Alberta

Don was born in Rouleau, Sask., the youngest and last surviving of four children. His siblings were Dorothy Hamilton, Doc, and BJ Seaman. Being the youngest, he developed a competitive spirit, always trying to keep up with his highly achieving big brothers. He was always known for catching the biggest fish, driving the longest ball, walking fastest up the hill, or beating you in cards.

His father was a road contractor, and his mother was a homemaker whose deepest wish was that her children be educated. Don often talked with sorrow during the last months of his life, how his mother was forced to quit school after grade eight, as her father said that girls did not need an education. Largely, as a result of her determination, all four of her children achieved degrees from the University of Saskatchewan. All three of her sons graduated in Mechanical Engineering. Don said they all chose Mechanical Engineering so they could share the same textbooks. In 2019, Don received an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from his alma mater.

Don met his wife, Eleanor Lee, during frosh week in his last year of university. They married in 1950 and went on to have five daughters. Victoria, Donna, and Laurie were born in Regina, Sask., and Marilou and Erin were born in Calgary. Laurie died at age 32 and Erin died shortly after birth. These tragic losses, particularly the death of Laurie, lived in his heart for the rest of his life. He and Eleanor went on to have a marriage that lasted 72 years until her death in 2022.

In the early 1950s, while surveying in Québec, Don received a call that was to change his life—his brothers had started a drilling company in Calgary and asked him to join them. Their family business, which started with Seaman Engineering and Drilling, grew into a merger with a public company called Hi Tower Drilling. The name was later changed to Bow Valley Industries which ultimately grew into a global energy company with interests all over the world.

In 1987, Bow Valley was taken over by British Gas. He then decided to develop separate business interests from his brothers. During this time, he often served as a mentor to young entrepreneurs, offering counsel, guidance, and capital. It was a fundamental principle to Don to “give back,” as a result of which he created the Don and Eleanor Seaman Foundation through which he generously supported a wide variety of worthy initiatives. He was also a key contributor to the Laurie Ircandia Memorial Scholarship at the University of Calgary.

Don’s life is not to be captured only by his business success. His drive for excellence, his work ethic, loyalty, honesty, and sincerity were always reflected in his work. It was said that the Seaman brothers could do a deal on a handshake—and that would be their bond. The pervasive and lasting legacy that he has left us is his love for his family. Along with his wife and children, he was blessed with 15 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. His generosity and care of his family made him deeply beloved. He never forgot a birthday or Christmas. He hosted numerous family gatherings. He bought homes in Maui, Canmore, and the Okanagan so he could share special times together. After each grandchild graduated from high school, he would take them on a trip: fishing trips and bike trips in Italy, cruises to exotic locations, and even an African Safari.

When two of his grandsons and their teammates were having trouble finding baseball fields to play in Calgary, he along with his son-in-law, John Ircandia, decided to build them—and future youth players—a baseball stadium. And so, they did. Today, Seaman Stadium in Okotoks, Alta., has become a multi-million-dollar indoor and outdoor facility and home of the Dawgs Baseball Program. It is now the top draw in Canada for summer collegiate baseball and third-highest draw in all of North America. Don was honoured for this achievement at the Top 7-over-70 Event in 2017. At that time, he was 92 years old.

Don was a man who loved life. He was always a committed athlete. Even into his 90s, he would do a morning routine of push-ups and sit-ups. He would walk to work and enjoyed golf until he was 95. This ethic reflected his family’s values. His brother Doc Seaman published a biography entitled, “Staying in the Game,” meaning never retire. Don took this message to heart and did not retire until he was 98 years old. As he reached his later 90s his health began to decline. But ever determined to live his best life, he underwent heart surgery to replace a valve at 96. He was the oldest patient at that time in Calgary to have this surgery. Eventually, the prostate cancer that had claimed his father and brother had spread to his bones. And even through the pain, his goal was to make it to 100 years of age. Despite the struggles, every day he would strap his FitBit to his ankle and with the help of a walker count his 5,000 steps.

On Saturday, May 31, 2025, Don was honoured with a special tribute night at Seaman Stadium. As he stood to receive a standing ovation from the 6,000 fans in attendance, with his daughters supporting him as he stood in the suite, all 205 of the young players and players-in-training came together toward him and tipped their hats in salute to this man who had made it all possible. It was a defining moment in his life. The next day he called his family together and said he no longer wanted to make 100; he didn’t think he could. He said the celebration with the Dawgs at Seaman Stadium was the last celebration he wanted. He asked permission from his family to let go of that goal, as he was concerned that he was letting everyone down. This man who loved life so much, who possessed an indomitable spirit, now had another goal—to enjoy each day for as long as he could.

He died just seventeen days before his 100th birthday, with a circle of his family and caregivers around him sharing stories, tears, and love. He will be missed.

Don is survived by Victoria (Navid) Tirmizi, Donna (Michael) Kanovsky, Marilou Seaman (former spouse Tom Hamel, deceased), John (Laurie, deceased) Ircandia, his fifteen grandchildren, and his fifteen great-grandchildren.

The family wishes to thank all who supported Don in his final years: Dr. Susan Lee for her dedicated care, the staff at United Active Living Garrison Green for their kindness, the teams in Palliative Care and MAID for their compassion, his assistant, Alyssa Black, for her loving and steadfast assistance, and his devoted caregivers, Leslie, Joan, Raquel, and Yolly. Your support and kindness meant so much.

A Celebration of Don’s Life will be held in the Fall.

If friends so desire, the family asks that donations be made to Momentum, a Calgary charity whose values reflect Don’s legacy of helping others build better lives and communities, 100 – 525 28 Street S.E., Calgary, AB T2A 6W9, Telephone: 403-204-6187, www.momentum.org/donate.

Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed with Don’s family here.

In living memory of Donald Roy Seaman, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Park Memorial, 5008 Elbow Drive SW, Calgary, AB T2S 2L5, Telephone: 403-243-8200.