Robert William Clark Stevens

Bill Stevens was born on Friday, April 13, 1934, Good Friday. He referred to it as ‘Great Friday’ and forever considered 13 to be his lucky number. He passed away in the arms of his children on November 3, 2025, at Hospice Wellington in Guelph. Bill lived by several deeply held convictions. This remembrance honours his many mottos that guided him throughout his life.

‘Plan the Work – Work the Plan” was one of Bill’s mottos. As such, he wrote his own obituary nearly a decade ago. The words that follow in quotations are his words he left for this occasion.

“I died today! Cause unknown, BUT I exceeded my expectations since my parents, Vernon & Reta Stevens and brothers, John & Jim Stevens, died at much younger ages. So, I have no reason to complain. I tried to be ‘true to myself’ and I hope in doing so I left no enemies. My regrets are few, although I wish I had developed a musical talent.

I would like to think that I will be remembered as a parent, husband, academic, athlete, poultryman, business executive, mushroom man, manager, mentor and volunteer. My life’s experiences tell me that the people that will grieve my passing the most are my immediate family. My wife Beverley and I had three wonderful children who have matured into responsible citizens and parents. Their concern for our health and welfare has been beyond duty.”

Bill was predeceased by his wife of 64 years, Beverley Stevens, less than one year ago. They were married at War Memorial Hall at the University of Guelph and enjoyed their home and community in Guelph for over 60 years.

Bill leaves behind his son Robert Stevens and his wife Molly, as well as his daughters Debra Stevens and Sharon Stevens. Bill adored his six grandchildren, and they adored their ‘Papa’. Rob and Molly’s daughter Mia, Debra’s daughters Erin (Nick) and Allie (Ryan), and Sharon’s children Caleigh, Jenna and Bram (Caroline). They will all keep the memory of their Papa alive for his newest namesake, Theodore William. Bill was larger than life to his grandchildren and they have embodied many of his mottos and inherited his love of ice cream.

Rooted in what was modelled to him in childhood, Bill’s dedication to his family was practiced every day. “I had a great relationship with my mother. Every day through public and high school, I came home for lunch, yelled ‘Hay Mae, I’m home’. Mae was my nickname for her.”

When Bill’s two brothers passed away decades ago, Bill became the patriarch of the extended Stevens family. He fully adopted his niece Anne Stevens with mutual affection and admiration. He held a special role for his nephew Lincoln Stevens and his wife Monie, as well as his niece Nancy Stevens and his late niece Lynn Burrows and his nephew John English. He will be remembered fondly by his sisters-in-law Joan and Joyce, as well as all his nieces and nephews; Mark, Jim, Cathy, John, Bill and Joanie.

Bill loved his ‘family of choice’ circle of friends and ‘strangers only once’ that he found at Geneva Park, relationships that have continued through generations. It was the foundation of a lifetime of tradition and 50 years of bringing family together for summer vacation, Thanksgiving weekends, New Year’s Winterlude and numerous skits and pranks. Geneva Park extended to Guelph tennis weekends, guys golf trips, and travel adventures. For Bill, Geneva Park was his favourite place to come together with family and friends to ‘gather sunsets’.

Bill lived a life of community service: Director of the Guelph YMCA, member of the Guelph Chamber of Commerce, and life member of the University of Guelph Alumni Association. But it was Rotary where he demonstrated Service Above Self as a 50+ year member of the Rotary Club of Guelph, serving as President in 1986, Director in 1978 and as Chair of the Club’s Charitable Foundation. He also served on Rotary International’s World Community Service Committee.

Bill also relished in the weekly fellowship of a men’s group called ‘The Senators’, which he initiated to support other likeminded fellows through the isolation of the pandemic, and continues to this day.

He enjoyed his tennis at the Cutten Club, downhill skiing with his family and doing 50 laps a day in his backyard swimming pool. Notably, he did a once annual back flip off his diving board well into his 80’s.

It was his reverence for education, instilled by his own father Vernon Stevens, which was equally steadfast throughout his life. “I admired my father, from a strict Baptist childhood in Strathroy. He coveted education and earned a Ph.D. at age 72. Mr. Clark sponsored him to McMaster. Hence, my third name Clark, in gratitude.”

Always evaluating the world through a science lens, Bill was unreserved in expressing his belief in evolution. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from the University of Toronto, Ontario Agricultural College (OAC) then a Ph.D. in Genetics from the University of California, Davis. Outside of his studies, his passion was competing on the OAC football and basketball teams.

“I lived by a few mottos. My religious faith was simply ‘Providence Provides’ and it did, frequently. In my life, every providential event was facilitated by a mentor.

The first was Gord Riches, milkman and Scout Leader. He let me help on his horse-drawn milk wagon when I was 10. That was followed by Fred Vodden, farmer at Clinton. He adopted me at 12 to be his hired hand. Bill Huycke taught me how to jump and play basketball. At the Ontario Agricultural College, Ian White selected me to be a student-dean. Mac Cuddy showed total trust in me for 40 years and sponsored me to the Agri-business course at Harvard. He introduced me to George Nicholas, turkey & sheep breeder, philosopher and visionary, who, in turn, introduced me to Dr. Fred Shultz, consulting geneticist, who paved the way for me to earn a Ph.D. Providence Provides!”

Bill enjoyed a long and successful career which began at the Ontario Veterinary College as a Professor in the Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Biomedical Sciences followed by teaching in the Department of Animal & Poultry Sciences at the University of Guelph.

Academia was the foundation of the next 50 years of his profession. After working for many large agri-food companies, he took the leap into entrepreneurship, created William Stevens Consultants Ltd., and consulted to governments, associations and businesses nationally and internationally. His work saw him invited to countries around the world, as an expert in animal husbandry, focused on poultry, swine, and later, mushrooms. He often referred to himself as a ‘turkey man’ and later a ‘fun-gi’.

As Bill often enjoyed having the final word, he deserves to do so now. “If you asked me how I am now, I would say just ‘chipper’. I do believe my cup has runneth over! I also still believe that ‘a turkey with a Ph.D. is still a turkey’. Celebration of Life is out of my hands".

"To my children’s children… Come let us gather sunsets together. Hugs and kisses, Papa”.

Bill and his wife Beverley will be forever memorialized at the same Manitou White Ash tree in the University of Guelph Arboretum that was initially dedicated to his parents Vernon & Rita Stevens.

Bill would be so pleased if his commitment to Hospice Wellington continued in his honour through a memorial donation. www.hospicewellington.org/donate

Please the family for a Celebration of Life for Robert William (Bill) Stevens, Saturday, January 10, 2026 11 a.m.Centennial Arboretum Centre, University of Guelph, 200 Arboretum Road, Guelph, Ontario