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John (Sean) Patrick Doyle

John (Sean) Patrick Doyle

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March 6, 1939 – December 12, 2025

On December 12, 2025, our father, Sean Doyle, passed away peacefully at Calgary AgeCare SkyPointe. Sean grew up in Dublin, Ireland, and in 1957 at age 18, immigrated to Canada, stopping first in New York and Montreal, then travelling across the country to Calgary. Sean dreamed of living near the mountains, horses, and the Calgary Stampede.

In 1965 Sean graduated from the University of Calgary with a Bachelor of Education, majoring in Art and English. He began teaching for the Calgary Catholic School Division (CCSD) in 1963 and taught at Bishop Carroll, Bishop Grandin, Father Lacombe, and Ernest Manning schools, retiring from CCSD in 1996. He then taught at, and later became principal of, Prince of Peace School until 2001. Sean continued to substitute teach until 2016, ultimately retiring after 53 years of teaching.

Sean was known for his incredible artistic talent and loved to share his abilities with others. During his teaching career he enjoyed the arts and contributed to the production of plays and musicals and set design/creation. Sean taught art, social studies, religion, psychology, and English. If you spent any time around him, you would have experienced his talent for sketching landscapes on everything from a canvass to a coffee shop napkin. Sean was spellbound by the Rocky Mountains and the beautiful landscapes, waterfalls, mountain grasses, wildlife, and snow-covered mountain peaks. A sketch book, pencils, paint brushes, and paint tubes were always at the ready should he feel the urge to create. He often spent his time driving the highways and backroads of Kananaskis, Banff, and Lake Louise Provincial and National Parks finding inspiration for his next artistic creation.

The most impactful moment of Sean’s life was July 5, 1985, when he and George Forster were working part-time security for the Hudson Bay Company and arrested an individual for shop lifting. They later learned they had arrested a notorious serial killer, Charles Ng. During the struggle, Sean was shot in the hand, leaving a lifelong injury. Sean later testified at Ng’s trial in California, although the trauma of the incident forever impacted Sean’s life.

In addition to art, Sean had many interests such as skiing, travel, football, current events, and trips to the Rocky Mountains. Sean loved the Canadian Football League and was a Calgary Stampeders ticket holder for over 40 years. He was proud of his Irish heritage and travelled home to Ireland several times. He also enjoyed trips to the Philippines and United States.

Sean dedicated many volunteer hours to teaching art to seniors at several places including Carewest, Inglewood Silver Threads Assn, and the Retired Teachers Assn. He volunteered at the 1988 Winter Olympics, and during his teaching years, he also enjoyed volunteering as a football coach.

Sean could best be described as a character. He was incredibly proud of his children’s and grandchildren’s accomplishments. He overcame an addiction to alcohol and maintained his sobriety. He loved a good political, art, or football debate. He had an insatiable sweet tooth favouring scotch mints and Quality Street candies and adding several heaping spoons of sugar to his coffee. He was a ladies’ man and dressed to impress, often wearing a three-piece suit and fedora (even in the lodge).

Sean is survived by his three children Sean (Michelle) of Calgary, Jason (Corinne) of Victoria Harbour, Siobhan (Joe) of Medicine Hat, grandchildren Katelyn, Hailey, Nathan, and Rowan, beloved siblings Larry, Leo, and Carmel. He is predeceased by his parents, Leo and Johannah, and his brother Eammon.