June 28, 1945 – May 13, 2025   

It is with profound sadness that I am announcing the death of my best friend, companion, and love, Malcolm Anthony Kerr Stobie, better known as Tony or “Stob.” 

When the Alzheimer’s journey advanced, making Tony’s physical care too difficult for Wendy to manage, Tony spent three months at Noric House, Long Term Care, in Vernon. Wendy visited twice per day nearly every day. But Tony passed away in his sleep at approximately 1:20 am., May 13, 2025. 

Tony, with his family, moved from Oxford, England when he was 16 (or so) to settle in Branford, Ontario. Then, back and forth to England, back to Canada again. After working construction, Tony attended Guelph University for three years, got married, then moved to B.C. with two sons. After short careers as a salesman, computer programmer(yep!), and bank manager trainee, he decided to return to university, Simon Fraser University, where after two years, he graduated with a teacher’s certificate to begin his career in Kamloops as an English teacher. 

Through these years, Rugby remained all important. His career of 32 years began at McArthur Park Jr. School, then, when Mac Park closed until Tony retired in 2004; he taught at Brock Secondary School. Somewhere along the way he was divorced, and, in Tony’s words, “made the most important decision of my life”, to move in with Wendy and her daughter, Jennifer, “and that has made all the difference”. 

Remaining an avid rugby player, he coached at high school level and coached and played many years at the Kamloops Rugby Club. As well, he spent time hiking the hills around Kamloops, a camera around his neck and his dog by his side. 

Some, but not all, of his other loves were playing men’s doubles tennis, doubles tennis with Wendy, coaching Jennifer’s soccer team, working in the garden, reading, attending live theatre, going to dances, and the preparation of gourmet meals while walking back and forth from the kitchen to the living room so he could watch football or rugby on T.V. 

During the summers and into retirement, Tony and Wendy, often with their dog, Lexus, travelled extensively in their RV fifth wheel all around Canada, to Alaska, more of U.S., – the Olympic Peninsula, Yosemite, Yellowstone, Bryce, and Zion Parks, to Texas, Florida, and more – and he always took his rugby boots – just in case… 

After retirement, Tony with Wendy “graduated “to flying, sometimes with a group of friends, enjoying trips to Mexico, Hawaii, Costa Rica, China, Cambodia, Peru, Ecuador, Turkey, Greece, Spain, Baltic, then Rhine cruises… and more. 

However, as the Alzheimer’s journey progressed, travelling was curtailed, our home of 40 plus years was sold, and we moved to Vernon where Wendy was nearer family for support. We did keep close contact with our Kamloops friends, through Messenger, and meeting now and then for a visit or a dinner, and theatre. While Tony was able, we kept our long-time seats at WCTC. 

My Tony, a “presence” in any group, is completely missed and forever loved. 

A remembrance of Tony will take place July 5, 2025, 1:00 p.m. at the Kamloops Rugby Club, 1031 Lorne St., Kamloops. Please be willing to share your “Tony (“Stob”) stories with the group. 

Dress is casual as it might be quite warm. 

You may offer a message of condolence at Cypress Funeral and Cremation Services for the Stobie family. 

• Date : 2025-05-13
• Location : Vernon