Craig Stacey (1944O) | 1927 - 2019
Craig Stacey passed away peacefully at the age of 92 at Evergreen Lifestyle Village, Fourways, on Friday 8 November 2019.
Craig started his schooling at Western Province Preparatory School, then went to Bishops College from 1942 and completed post matric in 1945. In his final year he was a school prefect, head boy of Ogilvie House, an officer in the cadet corps and an occasional 1st XI cricketer. He had a passion for mechanical engineering but that was not enough for him to master the mysteries of Chemistry and he never completed his engineering degree. Instead he joined the London & Lancashire Insurance Company and spent time in their offices in Salisbury, Cape Town and Bloemfontein. In 1966 he successfully completed the examinations for the Fellowship of the Chartered Insurance Institute which is regarded as the foremost accolade for those in the insurance profession. He joined the Shield Insurance Company in 1967, later to be taken over by Allianz AG, from whom he retired in 1992.
The courtship of Craig and his wife Marjory is a remarkable story. Marjory grew up in Sydney, Australia, and while both families were on overseas visits, they stayed in the same hotel in London in 1938. A cross-continent pen-friendship for 14 years followed, until they met up again in Cape Town in 1952 and got engaged. They were married in 1954 and remained together until Marjory passed away in September 2015. From 1963 to 1976 during their sons’ time at Bishops, both Craig and Marjory were consistently seen supporting interschool and inter-house cricket and rugby matches, transporting teams to away games, listening to performances by the choir and brass band, and attending Sunday choral evensong in the chapel.
Craig joined the 1st Kenilworth scout troop in 1939 and in 1943 was awarded the King’s Scout badge, the equivalent of today’s Springbok Scout Award. As a parent, he was again enthusiastically involved with the 1st Kenilworth scout group and the annual Hermanus Scout Camp. In the early 1970’s he was part of the delegation that covertly negotiated the transformation and integration of scout troops in the Western Cape into a single multiracial organisational structure. Sport was a lifelong interest for Craig, playing club cricket for Western Province Cricket Club, and winning the veterans category of the Simonstown to Cape Town Big Walk in 1974. He remained fit throughout his life and even completed the 5km Lonehill parkrun in 52 minutes at the age of 89.
In his retirement, Craig was actively involved as a congregant, chorister and maintenance jack-of-all-trades at St Michael’s Church, Bryanston. He and Marjory travelled extensively ,particularly to visit Marjory’s Australian relatives, and often made a point of connecting with ODs in far-flung places. Craig finally indulged in his passion for engineering with "Daisy", his 1958 Morris Minor 1000, in which he and Marjory drove to and attended many national rallies across the country with the Morris Minor Owners Club. Nothing gave him greater pleasure than being surrounded by his growing family. He is survived by his sons Brian (1972O) and Anthony (1976O), his daughter Robyn, seven grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
Name: Mr George Craig Stacey
Year & House of Matriculation: 1944 Ogilvie
Occupation: Insurance Executive
Place of passing: Evergreen Lifestyle Village, Fourways
Date of passing: Friday 8th November
