Steve ‘The SignMan’ Shortreed, the Canadian sign painter who founded the Letterheads’ website, Letterville, passed away earlier this year after a long series of health issues.
Shortreed opened his SignMan shop with his wife Barb in 1975 in Fergus, Ont. They helped gather Letterheads—signmakers specializing in traditional techniques—from around the world for regular meets to help preserve their art and craft, an effort that eventually led to the creation of Letterville.
“I remember when he discussed the concept of a Letterhead Meet that never ends,” says Ken Henry, a signmaker in London, Ont. “I knew nothing about the Internet or chatrooms, but it was clear Steve had a vision of what could be and how he intended to bring the Letterheads together virtually.”
“Steve and Barb visited us a number of times and he left his mark both in our shops and in our hearts,” says Dan Sawatzky, owner of Sawatzky’s Imagination Corporation in Chilliwack, B.C.
Shortreed died on January 30 and was interred on February 6.
