Martins Stauvers

Passed away peacefully on Friday, May 24, 2019 in Pointe Claire, Quebec. Born in Vecpiebalga, Latvia on June 13, 1927 to Janis and Olga Stauvers, Martins was in his 91st year. He was predeceased in 1995 by his beloved wife, Ilga Stauvers (nee Rozenbachs). Martins will be greatly missed by his three daughters Dace (Gundars), Ilze (Glenn) and Mara, his grandchildren Anna (Zigurts), Aleksandrs (Sarah), Cheryl (Keith), Sheena, Angela, Karl, Andrew, Ashley, Austin and Ethan and great grandchildren David, Nancy and Emils, as well as the Latvian community. Together with his parents and younger brother Andrejs, Martins fled Latvia in 1944 during its invasion by Russia and lived in the Displaced persons camp in Memmingen, Germany for several years before settling in Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1949. Soon after, he began working for Catelli, an affiliation that continued when he moved to Montreal with his family in 1969. One of the highlights of his career as a food scientist/technologist was his tenure as president of the Canadian Institute of Food Science and Technology (1981-82), an institution that he was a member of since 1964. He devoted much time and effort to serving in Latvian organizations, such as the Latvian Societies in Winnipeg and Montreal, the Latvian National Federation in Canada and was a member of the Trinity Latvian Church of Montreal. From the1990’s, he was on the board of several Global Latvian Societies’ Conferences in Riga, Latvia and directed many stewardship seminars in conjunction with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia and Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Martins conceived of the Latvian Youth Song and Dance Festivals, held in Quebec and the USA (1975 - 1987), as well as the Latvian Young Musicians’ Music Camps in Mount Orford, Quebec (1985 - 1990). In 1982 his and his wife Ilga’s achievements in organizing the international festivals, that featured young Latvian musicians and folk dancers from North America and Europe, were recognized by the J. H. Moore Award for Excellence. The award's monetary grant helped launch the first Young Musicians’ Music Camp in 1985. From 1994, the music camps or master courses have taken place biannually in Latvia. In 1995 the Latvian government awarded Martins the Order of the Three Stars, its highest civilian order in recognition of meritorious service to Latvia. Over the course of 70 years Martins edited and published Latvian journals and newsletters and was a correspondent for the Latvian newspapers in North America. Even in his later years, his lifelong love of singing Latvian folk songs remained strong, as did his avid interest in fostering an appreciation for Baltic art and artists, music, literature, films and theatre. He also enjoyed playing bridge with his friends at the Belvedere residence. Martins led a very full and rewarding life and was grateful for his family and friends and living the “miracle of life” each day. Visitation will take place on Saturday, June 15 at 10:00 a.m. , followed by a funeral service at 11:00 a.m. at Collins Clarke MacGillivray White Funeral Home, 222, Autoroute 20, Pointe Claire, Quebec H9S 3X6. We wish to thank the medical and nursing staff of Belvedere, Montreal General Hospital, Catherine Booth Hospital, Royal Victoria Hospital and the WIPCR Stillview Pavilion for their compassionate care. In lieu of flowers, donations to support the XIV International Latvian Young Musicians’ Master Courses in Sigulda, Latvia may be made in memory of Martins Stauvers to: Latvian Cultural Association TILTS, Inc., memo: Music Camp Fund, and sent to: Ms. D. Aperans, 11 Cat Rocks Dr., Bedford, NY 10506, USA or Mr. J. Baidins, 1104 Windon Dr., Wilmington, DE 19803, USA.