And a few additional details on Lt(N) James Sebe's life and career in the CF. RIP
http://www.intelligencer.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2551605
Lt. James Sebe was a 'leader'
Family and comrades remembered Naval Lt. James Sebe Monday as a man who was "all heart."
Sebe, 41, was found dead in his quarters at CFB Trenton April 21. The military said Friday he died of natural causes.
A private memorial service was held Monday afternoon at the base.
"He gave it all until the end," Capt. Ian Laporte, Sebe's friend and fellow public affairs officer, told The Intelligencer by phone as the service concluded.
He said between 120 and 150 people were in attendance.
"It was a tribute to his career, everywhere he's been, and the person he was," said Laporte.
Sebe lived in Hamilton with his life partner and was a father figure to her 10-year-old son, Laporte said.
He maintained quarters on the base when working at Trenton's Land Advanced Warfare Centre, where he was the public affairs officer, or "paffo," with the SkyHawks parachute performance team.
Sebe had also served as the team's leader during the 2009 season.
"He always checked for the safety and well-being of his troops before himself," Laporte said, adding his friend ensured he had the best people on his team.
"That's why the team was so strong: he made sure he surrounded himself very well."
Born in Montreal, Sebe joined the Canadian Forces' cadet instructor cadre in 1990, two years after graduating high school, according to his military biography.
After 15 years in that job, Sebe transferred to Hamilton's HMCS Star, one of the largest of Canada's 24 naval reserve divisions. It meant a drop in rank; then an army captain, Sebe became a naval sub-lieutenant.
The Hamilton unit's reservists serve on coastal defence vessels, port inspection dive teams and security units.
Sebe, though, was headed for the sky. He earned his civilian free-fall parachuting licence in 1995 and would later make at least 450 jumps.
He worked as an adjutant and public affairs officer in Toronto while completing his training in public affairs; Laporte was in the same course.
"James was always there for me as a colleague and as a superior," said Laporte. "He was a a good friend and a partner in work."
Sebe served with the SkyHawks in 2001-2002 before returning in 2005. He was later promoted to naval lieutenant, the equivalent of his army captaincy.
Sebe had been scheduled to continue in his public affairs role for the SkyHawks' 2010 season.
Laporte, who last year handled the paffo job while Sebe led the SkyHawks, said the outgoing Sebe was the perfect person for public relations.
"He's as much a professional as a showman. He had a sense of humour, he was outgoing and he reached out to people. That's why everybody liked him so much. He was always looking out for the guys.
"His energy is one of the things that lifted the spirits throughout the season. Travelling from city to city is hard; you can get a little bit homesick. And James was always the guy who said, 'OK, tonight ... we're going to have fun.' He loved golfing and he was a car fanatic. But with a team like the SkyHawks and being on base we didn't have a lot of time for leisure. His leisure time was being there for the team and having fun."
Laporte said the SkyHawks promote not only parachuting but all parts of the Canadian Forces.
"As a navy officer in an army unit on an air force base, James was the prime example of this mosaic of variety in the Canadian Forces. That's why he wore the team so proudly on his chest."
The SkyHawks are now trying to plan the season without their spokesman and narrator of their shows.