John Stefura, an architect who designed many of the city’s landmark buildings, died Feb. 10 a few days after his 88th birthday.
Stefura was the son of Ukrainian immigrants and born in Saskatoon, Sask. His family moved to Sudbury when he was a child.
He studied at the University of Toronto and began his career in the architectural office of Louis Fabbro, followed by a collaboration with Bernard Barbeau.
In 1965 he formed a partnership with Arthur Townend that was to last three decades. The firm, which evolved to include numerous partners were responsible for many notable buildings such as the University of Sudbury, Cambrian College, St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church, Tom Davies Square, and Science North.
Science North – a joint venture with Toronto architect Raymond Moriyama – was awarded the Governor General’s Medal for Architecture by the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada in 1986. In 2016, St, Mary’s Ukrainian was honoured as heritage building by the Ontario Association of Architects.
He and his wife, Mary, were active in the Ukrainian-Canadian community and life-long member of St. Mary’s. Stefura contributed to the design of Hnatyshyn Park, the Ukrainian Seniors Apartments and the Altanka and Barvinok gardens.
In 2013, the Stefuras received the Northern Life Community Builders Hall of Fame Award for their contributions to the civic and cultural life of Sudbury.
Visitation will take place at Jackson and Barnard Funeral Home, from 2 to 4 p.m. and from 6-8 p.m. Prayer service at 6 p.m. Tuesday. The funeral will take place at St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church, Wednesday, Feb. 15 at 10:30 a.m.
