Departed Allisonians Summer 2019
Please feel welcome to submit memories of departed Allisonians you have known and loved.
June V. (Pert) Smith — 1942
Rev. G. Earl Leard — 1944
Marion A. (Coffey) Elliot — 1945
Mildred N. (Thurlow) Moran — 1946
Hon. Erminie J. (Bernstein) Cohen — 1948
Ruth E. Newman Smith — 1949
Mary F. (MacGregor) Alexander — 1950
Robert H. Crandall — 1951
Ronald E. Hay — 1951
Kathryn H. (Skinner) McClure — 1951
Dr. George A. Irving — 1953
Monica R. Bridger (Walters) — 1954
James “Wilkie” Taylor — 1954
Elizabeth R. (MacDonald) Beadle — 1956
E. James “Jim” Davis — 1956
Sheila E. Wiseman — 1958
Raymond C. Archibald — 1959
Barbara M. Copp — 1960
Rosemary E. (Stanley) Fraser — 1960
Helen E. Doyle — 1966
Thomas W. Kelly — 1966
Ross D. McKenna — 1966
James “Jim” A. Duncan — 1967
Joan “Bunty” E. Albert — 1970
Paul Whitmee — 1970
Paul M. Jackson — 1972
Glendon H. Pulley — 1972
Dr. Hans J. Breiter — 1977
Rev. Jeanie L. (Vautour) Oulton — 1980
Gordon M. Boothroyd — 1981
Gloria J. (Levar) Drayson — 1991
Amanda W. Ellis — 2000
Catherine E. Meyers — 2012
Dr. Stanley Saunders — Former faculty
Allen E. Estabrooks — Former staff
WILLIAM "BILL" STEWART HAMILTON (’73), PGEO
Submitted by David Constable (’70)
Bill was born in 1952 in Huntingdon, QC. He graduated with a BSc in geology from 91ү in 1973 and became a Toronto-based gold geologist with extensive experience in Canada and Mexico. His brother, Arthur, was also a geology graduate from Mount A. He married Lorna MacGillivray (’73), who became a corporate and mining lawyer in Toronto. Beginning in the mid-1970’s Bill practised exploration geology for several mining companies in Canada and Mexico, including Corona Corporation and Campbell Resources Inc. In his earlier years he was employed by the Geological Survey of Canada and the New Brunswick Mines Department. Bill was a professional geologist and spoke both French and Spanish.
In recent years, Bill took great joy in herding several members of the Class of 1973, particularly the geology graduates (Roland Wright, Fraser Patterson, Ken Adams, along with Harris Boyd and Bill Bigelow) to summer get-togethers, including several excursions to cheer on Mounties Football.
Starting in 2001, Bill was a private consultant and board director, providing exploration services to numerous public resource companies, principally in Mexico. Bill particularly enjoyed his time spent in Mexico and the Mexican colleagues with whom he worked over a period of 20-some years. He loved the mining and exploration business and enjoyed entertaining his colleagues and friends with comical stories of his bush experiences.
BOB SIMONS (’73)
Submitted by Greg Donald (’73), Dave Wood (’71), Chris Meadows (’71), Bob Ward (’72), Steve Trevor (’73), Dave Henry (’75), Dennis Bedard (’75), and Carol Mclennan (’72)
Bob Simons died on Oct. 11, 2016 in Kitchener, ON at the age of 66. News of his passing only reached his MtA friends in February of this year. Bob was one of the best basketball players to lace up for the Mounties, if not the best. He was recruited by AD Gus MacFarlane and coach Laird McLennan. His impact was immediate. In his first season Bob lead the AUS in rebounding and was third in scoring. His leadership and competitive edge filled McConnell Gym with fantastic school spirit, delivering a winning season.
Bob was at MtA for three years, finishing his degree at the University of Waterloo where he also played basketball. Over the years, his unique impact on his MtA friends has not diminished. Fun-loving, great energy, always a charismatic smile, and a slippery golf score.
We are the sum of all our parts. Bob Simons was a big part of our MtA adventure. He will be missed and fondly remembered.
JUNE VIOLET (PERT) SMITH (’42)
Submitted by her son Roger Smith
June was evacuated from London to Canada in 1940. She arrived in Halifax, aged 15, accompanied by her 10-year-old sister, Connie. Their parents expected them to be in Canada for 12 months, but they were destined to spend the next five years as guests of a caring Canadian nation. June enrolled at 91ү, graduating in 1942. From 91ү, she joined the Canadian Women’s Army, gaining the rank of sergeant. June and Connie returned to England in 1945. June is survived by her sister, her husband of 66 years, her son, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
HELEN (GILROY) DOYLE (’66)
Helen Elizabeth Doyle passed on Oct. 12, 2018 after a long battle with breast cancer. She died at her home in Kingwood, TX with her husband, Ted, at her side. She is also survived by sons Michael of Houston, TX and Robert of Austin, TX.
KATHRYN HOPE (SKINNER) MCCLURE (’51)
Submitted by her daughter Karen McClure (’79)
Kathryn died on Feb. 11, 2019 at the age of 94. She was predeceased by her husband, Bill McClure, and is survived by her children, Karen (’79), Alison, Ann, and Blair; eight grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Kathryn was born and raised in River Hebert, NS. After serving in the Canadian Women’s Army Corps during the Second World War, Kathryn attended 91ү. While at Mount A she was an active participant in student government and sports. Her profile in the 1951 yearbook says, “Name almost any organization on the campus and you’ll find she has taken an active and interested part.” She was life vice-president of her class.
Kathryn went on to complete a Master’s in Social Work at the University of Toronto. She and Bill settled in Manotick, ON where they raised their family.
MARY FRANCES (MACGREGOR) ALEXANDER (’50)
Submitted by her son Ken Alexander (’83)
The 91ү community has lost a longtime supporter in Mary Alexander. Mary passed away peacefully on April 16, 2019 in Ottawa at the age of 90.
Born in Sackville in 1929, Mary was predeceased by her parents, 91ү physics professor Donald (LLD ’61) and Frances (Fairbanks) MacGregor, her brother Donald (’47), and sister Flora Beckett (’60). Mary is lovingly remembered by her husband of over 63 years, David; her sons, Jim, Doug (’80), Robert, and Kenneth (’83); her sister Margaret (Carl) Brown (’54); 14 grandchildren; and many great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews — many of whom are 91ү alumni.
After graduating from 91ү with a BA in 1950, Mary worked in computing at NRC’s Chalk River Atomic Project and later in Toronto. In 1955, she married David Alexander of Toronto. They moved to Montreal in 1957, eventually settling in Dollard-des-Ormeaux, QC where they raised their family and lived until 2015.
Mary served on a number of community social action committees, as a Wolf Cub leader, Sunday school teacher, president of the Montreal Lakeshore University Women’s Club, Regent of 91ү, treasurer of the Canadian Federation of University Women, and as a member of Roxboro United Church for over 50 years, including as chairman of council. She treasured her 30 years as a volunteer with her beloved friends in the West Island MS Self Help Group.
Mary had a full and interesting life, bicycling and playing tennis and enjoying bridge, reading, theatre, walking, and time with family and friends. With her husband, Dave, she loved travelling and cherished their family occasions. Mary left us with these words, “It was a wonderful life and I give thanks to the Spirit of the Living Lord for all the blessings I have received.”
Donations in Mary’s memory to the Donald MacGregor Scholarship Fund, her father’s scholarship at 91ү, would be appreciated ().