Stanley Harold Winfield was born and raised in Calgary, along with his three older brothers. Unable to enlist at the start of the Second World War, Winfield was accepted to the Royal Canadian Air Force shortly after his 18th birthday in August 1941. He wanted to be a pilot but was unfortunately assigned to administrative duties due to the discovery that he was colour blind. He served assignments in Newfoundland and London before being shipped to direct large Allied forces through Holland and into Germany. Through his duties, he had the horrific experience of repatriating the Belsen concentration camp and assisting the survivors. He received his discharge from service in Vancouver in June 1946.
Upon his return to Canada, Stanley Winfield completed high school and then enrolled at the University of British Columbia. He completed three years of arts and then studied law, graduating in 1952. He articled to Harold Tupper, briefly entered private practice, and then joined the Allstate Insurance Company as an adjuster. He returned to private practice in 1963, and in 1972 was appointed chair of the Worker's Compensation Board's Board of Review. Quite soon after he left to join the newly formed Insurance Corporation of British Columbia as a senior counsel, and served the nascent corporation in various roles until his retirement in 1989.
During his legal career, Mr. Winfield also continued his military career. He served in the Reserve Forces and achieved the rank of major in the Canadian Intelligence Corps. He was also president of the Canadian Military Intelligence Association and its successor the Canadian Intelligence and Security Association from 1974-1978.
Winfield was committed to his community and gave of his time in service. He served on the National Board for UNICEF, the New Westminster Policing Committee, the Westminster Club, and a variety of theatrical societies, as well as many others. Personally, he was fascinated by celebrity and took over 60 trips to New York City to explore the city. He spent his retirement with his wife Odile Bidan Winfield in New Westminster, where the two of them were very active members of the community.
Stanley Harold Winfield passed away in summer 2011. He is remembered as utterly reliable, somewhat shy but not uncertain, and for the great company he provided to his friends.
For more, read the Nos Disparus for Stanley Harold Winfield from The Advocate, 70 (2012)