Stinson was dean of city soccer writers
Journalist, 69, was dependable reporter who could cover any beat
Dan Stinson was a staple of The Vancouver Sun’s sports department for almost four decades.
“Dan was the kind of guy you could assign any kind of story to,” said former Sun sports editor Brad Ziemer.
“He was well-versed in a number of different sports. Soccer was obviously his specialty and his first love, but he was equally comfortable covering high school and university sports, or (Vancouver Grizzlies) basketball.
“I’m not sure he did any hockey, but he covered the Vancouver Canadians (baseball team) for a while. He was a real reliable guy who served the department well for a long, long time.”
Stinson died at his condo in North Vancouver Feb. 18 from a heart attack. He was 69.
“He didn’t have any warning,” said his sister Sherry Christie.
“He wasn’t feeling poorly that day — he was at my dad’s place Friday and Saturday until midday Sunday. (The heart attack) would have happened about eight o’clock Sunday evening.
“I can visualize that he would have been in his TV room, watching the Olympics or a hockey game, some sport-related activity, because that’s what he enjoyed doing.”
Danny Richard Stinson was born Oct. 2, 1948 at Royal Columbian Hospital in New Westminster. He grew up in Maple Ridge, in a family that owned a landmark local business, Haney Builders’ Supplies.
In 1969 he entered journalism school at the King Edward campus of Vancouver Community College, where his classmates included future Sun and Province reporters Wyng Chow, Clive Mostyn and Jack Keating.
“Dan and I struck up a friendship because we were big hockey fans,” Keating said. “The first year of the Canucks we even shared season tickets together.”
When Keating became sports editor of the Richmond Review, he hired Stinson as a reporter in 1971. Stinson also worked at the Victoria Times, before he was hired at The Sun in 1972. Aside from a few months in the mid-’70s when he left the paper to travel with some friends to Australia, he would remain at The Sun until he retired in 2010.
His sister said he played a lot of sports as a kid: baseball, tennis, hockey. But his forte became soccer.
“He was there when we started in ’74,” Vancouver Whitecaps president Bob Lenarduzzi said.
“It was him and at the Province it was Jeff Cross, the two of them were the beat reporters. He was there for the glory days, too, the 1979 Soccer Bowl in New York.”
Lenarduzzi says he “always enjoyed the relationship” he had with Stinson. And he said Stinson’s family was quite proud of his sportswriting career.
“I think his mom kept all of his articles, believe it or not,” Lenarduzzi said.
“She kept a scrapbook.” Keating said Stinson became the dean of local soccer writers.
“He covered the Whitecaps from their inception, and he covered many World Cup runs of Canada’s national soccer team, including trips to Mexico, Haiti, El Salvador and Australia,” said Keating.
“It’s a little known fact but he was sort of the Rich Little of Vancouver sportswriters. He did hilarious imitations of John F. Kennedy, Pierre Trudeau, Lou Piniella and (Senator) Sam Ervin.
“He was a great guy. He loved his dog Chester and he loved his family.”
Chester was a springer spaniel, the third one Stinson owned.
“It went from Chumley to Charlie to Chester,” said his sister Sherry.
“He was absolutely devoted to his dog. He took his dog out for walks three or four times a day.”
Stinson was also devoted to his family, often driving to Maple Ridge to do yard work on his 92-year-old father’s property.
In retirement he also did some travelling to Maui and the Oregon coast.
A celebration of life will be held March 17 at 2 p.m. at Burnett Fellowship Church, 20639-123 Ave. in Maple Ridge.
Stinson is survived by his father Bob, his sister Sherry and brother Tom, three nephews and one niece.
Dan was the kind of guy you could assign any kind of story to. He was well-versed in a number of different sports.