"She's so happy. Everyone's so happy. We'd done it, you know? My goodness, it's an absolutely great picture."
Sonia Scurfield, a former co-owner of the Flames, passed away Thursday aged 89.
Her husband, Ralph, was part of the original ownership group that helped bring the franchise north from Atlanta in 1980.
Sonia holds the distinction of being the only Canadian-born woman to have her named engraved on Lord Stanley's big, silver chalice.
"My recollection of Sonia,'' says former Flames' general manager Al Coates, "is very clear and very simple: The spirit of the lady.
"Always positive. I don't think there was anything she believed could not be done and somehow found a way to do it with a smile on her face.
"It was always somewhat contagious.
"On days of the board meetings of the owners, normally she would come through the back door of the offices to get to the owners' lounge. And she'd stop and talk to everybody.
"She always lookedat everybody, was sincerely interested in everybody, knew their names and if she didn't know what their job was within the organization, she asked, was keen to hear what they had to say and normally seemed to have some parting wisdom to share.
"I thought she was just a really, really positive person, lots of energy and exuded a fabulous spirit for life."
Ralph died in a heli-skiing accident in 1985, and passed on his Flames' ownership stake to his wife, who remained a co-owner of the team until 1994.
"Ralph had been kind of the driving force,'' McDonald recalls. "But when he passed, Sonia jumped into the mix. She wasn't afraid to speak up at staff functions or owners meetings that I was involved in, after we'd won. She didn't mess a beat.
"Her opinion was valued and sought after.
"The fact that she's the only Canadian woman to have her name on the Cup is phenomenal.
The current generation of Flames are familiar with her most from the annual Ralph T. Scurfield Humanitarian Award, presented annually to the player who exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, determination and leadership on the ice combined with dedication to community service.
"I didn't know her outside of the award but I do know - as so many people do - what the family means to the community and what she did for people,'' praised current captain Mark Giordano.
The legacy, the imprint, she, along with Ralph, have left on the organization and the city, is immense.
"She was a very, very quiet, determined woman,'' praises Jim Peplinski, co-captain of the '89 title team. "After Ralph's untimely passing, right in the prime of his life, she had to adapt in a difficult situation.
"She has seven kids that all have their unique personalities. She stayed in the same house and kept on after the world around her had changed.
"And she did it with poise and a quiet confidence.
"In many respects, it's a wonderful story: After some great successes, and then as we all have in life, some real challenges.
"But, in good or bad circumstances, she did the very best she could. And, really what more of a compliment can you pay somebody than that?"
