In Memoriam

Remembering Queen's alumni.

Those Who Have Passed

Sharing memories of friends, faculty, and colleagues - In Memoriam helps you honour those who have recently passed.

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  • 1980s

    Lynn R. Sansom

    鈥 BSc'83

    Fall 2022

    Lynn passed away May 25, 2022. She is survived by her daughters, Deanna and Danielle; her partner, Mike Darlington; and her sister, Gail Gauthier. She also leaves behind many dear friends.

    Lynn worked tirelessly with clients with acquired brain injuries and was a strong advocate on their behalf. She left us too soon and will be deeply missed.

  • Portrait of older woman with blonde hair wearing a sweater and cardigan, with a large beaded necklace.

    1950s

    Alice G. Robertson (nee Marks)

    鈥 BA鈥56

    Fall 2022

    Alice G. Robertson passed away on July 20, 2022. Predeceased by husband Stuart D. T. Robertson (BSc鈥58), and survived by children, Jeananne (Rick Fleischmann), Donald (鈥淛ocko鈥), and Jennifer.

    Born May 18, 1934, in Listowel, Ont., Alice worked as a chemist for Canadian Industries Limited in Kingston, Joe Lyon鈥檚 in London, England, and the Ontario Research Foundation in Toronto before teaching high school as assistant head of chemistry in Toronto. Alice married Stuart D. T. Robertson on June 23, 1959, in London, England. Throughout their life together, they were ardent travellers, active members of the Baby Point Club community in Toronto, and their home was a busy harbour for their children and their friends.

  • 1960s

    David Edward Richards

    鈥 BA鈥60

    Fall 2022

    David Edward Richards passed away most unexpectedly on Aug. 5, 2022. Dave was predeceased by his wife of 36 years, Elizabeth Anne Christie, and youngest son, Michael Edward Richards. Dave leaves behind his loving wife of 24 years, Martha; and his children: Peter Richards (Corinne), Jane Brebner (Jim), and Leslie Richards; grandchildren: Kyle (Kate), Annie, Andrew, Callahan, Chloe, Brooke, Jack, Cole, and Ryan; stepchildren: Michele Young (Ted), Mac Plymale (Cassie); grandchildren: Malena, Camryn, Ari, and Caleigh. Also survived by his sister Margo Bulmer, sister-in-law Marlene Wilson, brother-in-law James Christie, and wife, Kathy, and their families.

    Dave was born in Chatham, Ont., then lived his formative years in Chicago, Illinois, and Hamburg, N.Y. From there, the family moved to Lambeth, where Dave worked hard and played hard until he moved to Florida in 1997.

    Dave had a very successful career in frozen food. He grew up the son of a pioneer in the frozen vegetable industry 鈥 his work life highlighted by his tenure at Produce Supply and as vice president of Algonquin Mercantile (Hardee Farms). In 1983, Dave ventured out as a founding partner of Strathroy Foods; a leading grower, processor, and packager of frozen vegetables. He successfully led the business until it was sold.

    Dave was passionate about sports. His natural athleticism and competitive spirit led him to enjoy a successful high school career as a football/basketball player at London South Collegiate Institute. After South, he went on to play for the Queen鈥檚 Golden Gaels football team as quarterback and defensive back (1956 -1960). He always spoke fondly of his time at Queen鈥檚 and of the lifelong friends he made while a student.

    Following university, he developed his skills as a strong skier/golfer. He loved his long-standing membership at the London Hunt Club, until he took up playing at Prestwick Golf Club in Florida. Dave also played squash/tennis and was a fan of the Detroit Lions. He was extremely supportive of his children鈥檚 athletic endeavours, rink-side and courtside.

    Dave lived out his last 25 years in Ormond Beach, Florida. He and Martha have a lovely home that they generously shared with family members; the grandchildren have fond memories of trips down south to enjoy the sun, surf, and golf with grandpa and oma. In 1998, Dave became an active member of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). He consistently attended his group meetings, often taking on the role of sponsor.

    Dave will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and AA community. He will be remembered for his kindness, easy smile, and calm, sweet nature.

  • Graduation photo of a man.

    0s

    Denis O'Driscoll

    鈥 Founding member of the Faculty of Education

    Fall 2022

    Denis O'Driscoll passed away on Jan. 16, 2022. He was 92. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Loretto (McCarthy) (Artsci'83); sons, John (Artsci'81, Meds'85) (Sylvie Fortin) and Niall (Helen McIntyre); and daughter, Gillian (John Toth); as well as his six grandchildren. He was predeceased by his youngest, Aisling (BEd'88), whom he had the great pride and pleasure to teach before she followed his footsteps into her own career of teaching.

    Born in Ireland, Denis graduated from teachers college and taught elementary school there through much of the 1950s. As the primary breadwinner for his widowed mother and four younger siblings, he pursued his higher education via correspondence, earning his bachelor鈥檚 degree from the University of London.

    Ongoing tight economic circumstances led him to emigrate to Canada in 1958, where he continued to combine day-time public school teaching with evening and summer courses at the University of Alberta, obtaining his MEd in 1966. He subsequently won a scholarship to pursue his PhD at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, and in 1968 was selected from there to form part of the first group of professors for Queen's newly-opened Faculty of Education. 

    At Queen's, he focussed on comparative and international education, and on the Catholic school systems in Ontario and elsewhere. His own experience with the opportunities available to students taking continuing and adult education courses led him to spend summers giving them at Montreal's Sir George Williams University (now part of Concordia University), an institution founded specifically to offer evening undergraduate classes to working people. 

    His knowledge of, and passion for, the Irish language and culture led him to teach evening and summer courses at KCVI and at RMC, and to become president of the Kingston Gaelic Society.

    He retired in 1995, but continued an active life in Kingston for most of another 20 years before moving closer to other family members in Montreal.

  • Graduation photo of a man.

    1960s

    John Myher

    鈥 BSc鈥62, MSc鈥63

    Fall 2022

    John Myher passed away on May 14, 2021. He was 81. John is survived by his loving wife, Lu-Ying Yang; stepson, Johnny Hou; brother, Raymond (Sc鈥71); and sister, Dorothy (Robert Grant). He was the cherished uncle of Trevor (son, Ayden), and Robyn Grant.

    John was born in Copper Cliff, Ont., on April 16, 1940 to Joseph and Frances Myher, predeceased. John earned his chemistry BSc and MSc degrees at Queen's and his PhD at the University of Toronto. After a year of post doctoral research at the University of Cambridge in England, John completed a career of research at the Banting & Best department of medical research, University of Toronto.

    In his earlier years, John enjoyed playing squash, swimming, going on inland camping trips by canoe in Algonquin and Quetico provincial parks, reading science fiction and listening to classical music. In retirement, he enjoyed going for walks and golfing.

  • 1940s

    Donalda Margaret McGeachy (n茅e Campbell)

    鈥 BA鈥42

    Fall 2022

    Donalda Margaret McGeachy, n茅e Campbell. She was 102. She is missed and loved by her four children: Lynn, Joan, Neil, and Ruth; her six grandchildren: Jana (Mike), Kristin (Mike), Dave (Leslie), Diane, Cynthia, and Cameron; and her seven great-grandchildren:  Journey, Camden, Lucas, Ben, Maddox, Nolan, and Mako. She was predeceased by her parents Milton and Hazel (n茅e Dixon) Campbell and her brothers George and twins Wallace and Doug.

    Donna lived an interesting life filled with opportunity, creativity and great changes. Although she was a 鈥渂ig city lady鈥 who loved Toronto, Donna was fiercely proud of her pioneer beginning in Pelly, Sask., and the values she learned there. She was the only girl, with three older brothers. Her parents prized education and she was treated equally, rare for females at that time. Her father told her if he gave her money it could be taken from her, but no one could take away an education, so she also was able to go to university. She lived through the terrible prairie drought, the Great Depression, the Second World War, and had four children with her fellow Queen鈥檚 graduate ex-husband. She devoted herself to volunteer work, serving 25 years in the cancer field, including 12 years on the Ontario Cancer Treatment and Research Foundation Board.  She also volunteered with  the Women鈥檚 Canadian Club, the Service League at London鈥檚 Victoria Hospital, and the Canadian Institute of International Affairs. She was a member of the Granite Club and the Heliconian, a club for female artists.

    Dubbed 鈥淭he Prima Donna鈥, she delighted in opera, ballet, classical music, and works of art.  She was a docent at the Art Gallery of Ontario, was herself a painter, and earned her Japanese seal after studying with a Japanese master for five years. She prized creativity and cultural pursuits and found her 麻豆传媒 joy in the arts, but she also shared a passion for politics with her father, a former Progressive Party MP. She and her brothers shared the vision their parents had for this country and their respect for hard work, integrity, and freedom. In her later years, she became an avid bridge player. Asked if she had any words to leave behind, she replied, 鈥淭hanks for the memories鈥.鈥