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Seaman is remembered as a sharp businessman, a humble contributor to his community and ‘the centrepiece’ of his family
He is remembered as a sharp businessman, a humble contributor to his community and “the centrepiece” of his family.
“His drive for excellence, his work ethic, loyalty, honesty and sincerity were always reflected in his work,” his obituary read. “The pervasive and lasting legacy that he has left us is his love for his family. His generosity and care of his family made him deeply beloved.”
A key figure in building Alberta’s energy sector, Seaman’s success in business took off after he joined his brothers in founding Seaman Engineering and Drilling in the 1950s. The company evolved into Hi Tower Drilling and eventually became Bow Valley Industries, a global energy firm. Bow Valley was taken over by British Gas in 1987, after which Seaman pursued separate business ventures, often mentoring young entrepreneurs and investing in their success, his obituary stated.
Seaman gave back generously through the Don and Eleanor Seaman Foundation, supporting causes including education, health care and youth sports. He was a key supporter of the Laurie Ircandia Memorial Scholarship at the University of Calgary and remained deeply involved in philanthropic work until the end of his life.
Okotoks Dawgs stadium among legacy
One of his most visible community contributions is Seaman Stadium in Okotoks, home to the Okotoks Dawgs Baseball Club. Noticing a lack of facilities for young baseball players in Calgary, Seaman envisioned and helped fund the multimillion-dollar stadium, which has since become a national hub for summer collegiate baseball, a youth academy and community centrepiece. In 2017, Seaman was honoured for this achievement at the Top 7 Over 70 event.
“He saw the success of the players we had with basically no playing facility, and he wanted to provide an opportunity where future players would have an easier time realizing their dreams,” said Dawgs founder John Ircandia, who is also Seaman’s son-in-law. “Don turned to me and said, ‘We need to find a way to build the Dawgs their own stadium.’ ”
That vision eventually became a reality, and the stadium now sells out most games, typically drawing more than 4,700 fans each night.
The Dawgs program includes about 140 youth players, along with a summer collegiate team that has seen many athletes go on to play at the college level and drafted to Major League Baseball teams.
In May, the organization held a special tribute in Seaman’s honour, with around 200 players and coaches standing at home plate and tipping their caps to Seaman as he sat in a stadium suite — a symbolic moment, according to his son-in-law.
“In the days after that, he spoke often of how touched he was by that gesture,” Ircandia said. “It meant everything to him because it really was a full circle. You could just see how pleased he was . . . that he’d seen this vision come true.”
Seaman was also known for his determination and athleticism, Ircandia said. Even into his 90s, Seaman stuck to doing daily exercise, walking to work and playing golf. He didn’t officially retire until he was 98, his obituary stated.
His death has left “a huge hole” for those close to him, but loved ones take comfort in knowing his legacy will live on, Ircandia said.
“He was a person that drew everybody together. He was the centrepiece and the foundation of his family,” Ircandia said. “His loss is a great loss, but he’s left us so much that he’s made it easy for us to continue down the same path.
“He had a great life and a very impactful life,” Ircandia added. “He realized his dreams (and) helped so many others realize their dreams.”
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