Stanley (Stan) Bernard Cassin

Stanley Bernard Cassin, 89, passed away on October 2,2024 surrounded by family.

Stan was born on February 19,1935 in Corunna, Ontario living a long and fulling life while thriving as part of a family of eight brothers and one sister under the love and guidance of their Irish Canadian parents, Raymond and Mary (McHenry) Cassin.

Stan’s medical career spanned five decades, graduating as class president from the University of Toronto, Faculty of Medicine in 1963. Drawn to western Canada he interned at the Calgary General Hospital where he met his wife Barbara a surgical nurse. He established a family practice in North West Calgary while becoming one of the inaugural staff members at the Foothills Hospital, later becoming Director of the Emergency Department. He was loved by his patients and greatly respected by colleagues and patients in all areas of practice. As a President of the Alberta College of Family Physicians, he worked tirelessly to develop interest in general practice careers when need was growing for family doctors in rural communities.

He practiced as a family doctor in Calgary until 1989 then moving to El Campo, Texas where he developed a family practice clinic for 10 years in an area of high need often with no fee for service. When an opportunity to be Medical Officer for Holland America Cruise Lines traveling the world as its ship Doctor it became his next venture into health care.

Stan had a wonderful ability to think outside the box. He returned to Calgary from Texas in 1979 to pioneer the opening of the very first walk-in medical clinics in Canada. Always interested in politics he entered Alberta’s Legislative Assembly winning as MLA for Calgary Northwest electoral district in a landslide. During his term as an MLA, Stan organized the development of Calgary’s Nose Hill Park while also spearheading a mandated seatbelt law for Alberta, one of the first such laws in Canada.

As a business man, he developed both the Dalbrent Shopping Centre and the Market Mall Professional building with both continuing to operate successfully. 

In retirement, Stan and Barbara spent active winters in Green Valley, Arizona while advising friends on their health and medical issues, always with a strong interest and he remained in contact with many of his former patients and colleagues, right up until a week before his passing. Stan always looked after others, no matter the time or effort. He was a wonderful man, kind, unselfish, generous, so much love for his family.

“Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, Love leaves a memory no one can steal”

Stan was predeceased by his beloved son Tim Cassin (1966-2006); his brothers, Herman (Doreen), Roy, Larry (Mary), and Frank (Florence).

Stan is survived by Barbara, his wife of 60 years; his children Melissa and Pat (Paula); daughter-in-law Kathy; and two beautiful grandchildren Teagan and Oliver. His surviving siblings are his sister Suzanne (Richard Rysak); brothers James (Valerie and Mary Jane, deceased), Brian (Mary Jane, deceased),and Bill (Donna); as well as many extended family members.

Funeral Mass will be held at St. Luke’s Catholic Church (corner of Northmount Drive and Northland Drive NW) on Tuesday, October 22, 2024 at 11:00 am with reception to follow. Visitation will be at the church from 10:00am-11:00am. A recording of the Mass is available below for those who were unable to attend.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to The Mustard Seed Calgary (www.theseed.ca) 

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