In Memoriam

Alexander Michael Cragg Russo passed away on July 7, 2023.

Alexander, known also to his pockets of people as Al, Alex, and simply, Russo, was born in Clinton, Ont. and grew up locally in the Clinton and Goderich areas, attending Clinton Public School, Central Huron Secondary School, Queen’s and McGill Universities. 

He ventured West to his home in the Okanagan, B.C. in 2011 to explore and pursue his passion for wine. Alex was exuberant and passionately authentic, caring, kind and wonderful with eccentric confidence, infectious laughter, and a perfectly crooked smile.

Alex’s humour and expressions of love were complimented by his penchant for needlepoint, bone china, grooner and Belgian-style beer. He loved bright colours and imaginative patterns contributing to an unforgettable dress sense complete with shoes of all types and an international collection of unique hats and gold jewellery. 

Alexander was not shy – not in person or over the phone or in the kitchen – where he demonstrated an obscure way with herbs and spices, creating highly suspicious yet delicious masterpieces of flavour and texture. Wildly humble and unapologetically authentic he embraced and made space for the uniqueness of others, their tastes and their troubles and proudly exclaimed his love with unparalleled frequency and intonation.

On July 3, 2023 Alex asked to be Candace’s husband, unceremoniously and perfectly sweatily snug on their deck overlooking Lake Okanagan. He was complementing her (like he does) as she eye-rolled (as she does), affirming they would and should do everything together, as a team, forever. As a man full of facts about everything, inspired to constantly learn and evolve, it’s important everyone knows that he did not get it wrong, not even close because of their indivisible souls.

Alexander lived a full life of laughs, adventure, hard work, which he made look easy; love, which overflowed from his pores as sweat. He left in a justifiably poetic way, after a long chat with his favourite barber, while he finished a fresh fade and ensured his clean lines. Alexander joins his brother Daniel (2001) and Aunt Caterina (2022), as three permanent and eternal guardians to those who can no longer touch them.

Alex’s kindness and warmth live on in those who remain: partner, Candace, swooning over her bespoke sparkly hardware; parents, Michael and Constance Russo; sister, Billi-Dawn Chittenden (Sam, Mateos, Kayti) and the extended Russo, Wakely and Treliving families. Alexander’s passion and awesomeness will persist with his carefully curated network of friends in Ontario, B.C. and across the globe, who became family not limited to his CHSS, the L4E Queen’s crew, the OSFAM and the people he spent every day with at Le Vieux Pin and LaStella Wineries – his Enotecca family.

Dr. Bill (Jan Willem) Kamphuis passed away on Oct. 30, 2023. He is survived and very much missed by the family that he loved and made laugh: wife, Nelly; daughters, Vicki (Keith) and Melanie (Robin); his own cousins as well as the large extended family on his wife's side.

Bill was a brilliant, generous and loving man, with an exuberant sense of humour. He was a leader and a mentor to his family, church, university students and the international Coastal Engineering community. His other passions were sailing, skiing and music, including playing organ at church. We will all miss Bill terribly and cherish the great times we had with him.

Bill was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in September 2020. Ultimately, he was taken after a thankfully short struggle with cancer.

Dr. Laura Mary Teague-Breukelman passed away on Nov. 15, 2023, surrounded by her loved ones as she transitioned from this world to the next. She is survived by her husband, David; her father, Norman; sisters, Alison and Susan; brother, Michael; stepchildren, Christian and Megan; grandchildren, Atrisha Joan and Autumn Mary Anne; daughter-in-law, Atrisha; son-in-law Kenneth; nieces and nephews, Andrea, Olivia, Eric and Ben, who will continue to cherish her memory and carry forward the values she held dear. 

A woman whose life was a testament to the profound impact one can have on others, she leaves behind a legacy of compassion, wisdom, and a lifetime of dedication to the field of healthcare.
Born on Feb. 15, 1963, in Kirkland Lake, Ont., Laura grew up with an innate desire to help others. This calling led her to pursue a career in the nursing field, where she dedicated herself to the well-being of countless individuals. Her tireless efforts as a nurse practitioner saved numerous lives, bringing hope and comfort to those who were fortunate enough to cross her path.
Beyond her remarkable career, Laura was a teacher in every sense of the word. Her knowledge and experience were not kept to herself, as she generously shared her wisdom with aspiring nursing professionals and mentored innumerable students. Her guidance and nurturing spirit inspired and shaped the future of healthcare for generations to come.

Laura's impact extended far beyond the hospital walls. She was a beloved friend, a confidante, and a pillar of strength to many. Her warm smile and kind heart made her a magnet for friendships, and her unwavering support was a source of solace for those who sought her counsel.

Laura lived her life in the service of others with grace and humility, always putting the needs of others before her own. Her legacy will forever be imprinted on the hearts of those she touched, reminding us of the power of love, compassion, and selflessness. In her passing, Laura has left an indelible mark on our lives, and her memory will forever serve as a beacon of light and inspiration. Though she may no longer be with us in person, her spirit will live on in the hearts of all who had the privilege of knowing her.

Rest in peace, dear Laura, knowing that your love and legacy will endure for generations to come.

Allan Harvey Reddoch passed away on Oct. 10, 2023 at 92. He was the beloved soulmate and husband of Joyce Dunston and the cherished son of Scottish immigrants Lt Cdr (E) Allan Reddoch and Mary Love Harvey. 

The family arrived in Ottawa in 1942 following his father’s Second World War posting there. Allan was an award-winning graduate of Lisgar Collegiate and then of Queen’s. In 1952, he – as part of three-member team – was the winner of the William Putnam Mathematical Competition. This competition is widely considered to be the most prestigious university-level mathematical competition in the world. 

Following his studies in chemical physics at the University of California, Berkeley (PhD’60), he returned to Ottawa as a postdoctoral fellow at the National Research Council of Canada. He subsequently became a research officer there until his retirement in 1991. His work involved the application of electron spin resonance spectroscopy to a variety of studies in physical chemistry and solid state physics.

Allan’s interests were widespread and included astronomy, physics, history, woodworking, and eastern art and architecture. His memberships in Sigma Xi, The Ottawa Field-Naturalists’ Club (of which he and Joyce were made Honorary Members), The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, and similar organizations covered many decades.

Allan and Joyce’s long-term population studies of the native orchids of the Ottawa area spanned half a century and resulted in many publications, including their classic 1997 monograph The Orchids in the Ottawa District: floristics, phytogeography, population studies and historical review.

Allan and an Australian cousin traced their rather uncommon surname back to Glasgow and then to Linlithgow, Scotland, where their ancestors lived at least as far back as 1600, when the parish records began. Many of their ancestors were tailors. 

Kind, considerate, and quiet to the end, Allan is survived by Joyce and by Reddoch first cousins, Joan and Doreen, and by Harvey first cousin, Fay, as well as more distant kin.