Major Stephen John Petzing was born in Bristol, England on 10 March 1938.

After nearly 20 years of service in the British Army (Queen’ Royal Surrey Regiment), during which time, in 1969, he served as a regimental exchange officer with 1st Bn Queen’s Own Rifle, Stephen, Rusty and their young family moved in 1975 to Victoria, where  Stephen worked in an eclectic range of jobs. A keen, all-around sportsman, Stephen was active and well-respected in B.C.’s amateur sports community.

He died in Victoria, B.C. on 23 July 2012.