Shreeve a "catalyst" for SOAR

By John Hopkins

Two days after his sudden death Steve Shreeve was remembered as a "catalyst" in the formation of the Southern Ontario Association of Racing (SOAR) by his longtime friend and the organization's founder Ken McAdam.

McAdam, who launched the SOAR racing program at Toronto Motorsport Park in Cayuga, ON this season, spent a number of years racing with Shreeve, who died in his sleep early Sunday morning at the race track.

"We were good friends for many years," McAdam said. "He wanted to be part of SOAR when we started putting it together. He offered more moral support, pushing me in the right direction. He was a catalyst, working hard in getting the word out."

SOAR was hosting the Mid-Summer Motorcycle Mayhem Weekend at TMP last weekend and Shreeve was on hand, with his girlfriend Cindy Gaudet, to assist with the event and ride himself. According to McAdam, Shreeve went to bed around 11:00 p.m. on Saturday night. Around 1:00 a.m. Gaudet alerted McAdam that Shreeve was not breathing.

McAdam and several others staying at the track, including a nurse, tried to revive Shreeve before an ambulance arrived. Shreeve was taken to hospital in nearby Hagersville where he was pronounced dead.

"Everyone did everything they could for him," McAdam said.

Shreeve was 47 and had two children, Kristen and Brandon. Although a resident of Ajax, ON, just east of Toronto, he was a native of Toronto's Beaches area on the east end of the city.

Funeral services for Shreeve will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, July 17 at Westney Heights Baptist Church at 1201 Ravenscroft Road in Ajax with a wake to follow at his home at 9 Agate Street in Ajax.

There will be viewings at the McEachnie Funeral Home at 28 Old Kingston Road in Ajax on Thursday, July 16 from 2:00-4:00 and 7:00-9:00 p.m.