In Memoriam

Anna Matzov of Kingston, Ontario, died unexpectedly on Jan. 16, 2022 at the age of 88. Vibrant, intelligent, warm, and inspiring, Anna was a remarkable woman. Despite facing extreme adversity and many challenges during her life, she was a woman of great substance and heart; her talents were many. She lived several lives in her lifetime.

Anna was born on Dec. 24, 1933 in Pinsk, Poland (now Pinsk, Belarus). She is predeceased by her parents (Josef and Freida Furman) and her husband (Leonid Matzov). She is survived by her brother Gabriel Furman (Zipora), her children Avi Matzov (Kathryn), Irit Matzov (George) and Ron Matzov and her grandchildren Simon, Ian, Rebecca and Jonathon Matzov (Cassie). Anna was a devoted and loving daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, aunt and friend.

Anna grew up under Stalin’s rule and the aftermath of the Russian Revolution. Around the age of seven, she and her family were exiled to Siberia; a very cold and unforgiving purgatory where many perished. Even as a child, she found beauty under appalling conditions: the family cow was her best friend and she developed a lifelong love for birch trees typical of Siberia. Miraculously (and ironically), Stalin saved their lives while the rest of her family in Poland tragically perished under Hitler.

In 1946, she and her family wound up at a displaced person’s camp in Germany for four years where she started her high school studies. In 1950, they immigrated to the new state of Israel. Anna embraced her new country and life, quickly mastering Hebrew (her 5th of 6 languages). After serving in the army, she earned her first degree in 1956 (Physics, Math & Statistics) at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. She followed her passion for teaching, earning her Teaching diploma a few years later. Anna started her illustrious teaching career by successfully preparing future high school math teachers at the Teaching Seminary in Tel-Aviv. At the time, they also needed a university degree. Anna broke new ground through her approach, resulting in the prerequisite for a degree being removed and establishing a new course for the Seminary and future high school math teachers. In 1967, Anna, her husband and young family immigrated to Canada, settling in Kingston in 1968 where she embarked on a new career path. In 1970, she earned a BA Honours (Russian and Math) from Queen’s University followed by her MA (1973) and PhD (1984) in Slavonic Studies from the University of Ottawa.

Anna taught Russian language and literature at Queen’s for 30 years. She also introduced Scientific Russian, an innovative course which she taught at Queen’s and the Royal Military College.

Throughout her distinguished academic career, Anna taught and contributed to professional literature and was part of the Learned Societies. She was a recognized authority on Boris Pasternak (Dr. Zhivago), and Mikhail Bakhtin and Literary Criticism. Her teaching attracted and inspired students from many disciplines.

A fiercely independent thinker, Anna was a pragmatic optimist with a warm heart and querying mind. Her personal trials and tribulations, from wars to health challenges, strengthened her resolve and resilience to make the best of things. “Never a dull moment” as she would often say. Enlightened and passionate about learning, she was an inspiration, catalyst and cheerleader for many. She had a genuine interest in people of all ages and backgrounds, forging many friendships throughout her life. She found solace in family and friends. She was drawn to the many expressions of creativity, from art, music and literature to teaching, cooking and developing young minds.

Anna valued family, friendship, loyalty, authenticity, originality, an open mind and a good soul. She strove – and succeeded – to inspire many a mind and heart to be our best selves and make the most of life. She never stopped expanding her mind – she was truly “an amazing work in progress.”

Anna was dearly loved and will be greatly missed.

Ronald Francis Mann passed away on Feb. 21, 2022 at the age of 90. He is survived by Helen (nee Lane) (Artsci’84), his beloved wife of 66 years; daughters Janet (Artsci‘78, MBA’84) and Karen Scott (Artsci’82) (Jim), and son Robert (Sc’84) (Ellen); and four grandchildren.

A long-time resident of Kingston, Ron’s was a life well-lived. Soldier, chemical engineer, teacher, faculty member of Royal Military College, active church member and avid genealogist — his life was a broad tapestry; he touched so many lives.

Martin Hammerli passed away on Feb. 11, 2022. He is survived by his children Michael, Karen, and Heidi; his grandchildren, Kaitlyn and Ryan; sister, Cathy Moss; sister-in-law, Marjorie Hammerli; brother-in-law, Jim Metzger; and their extended families.

He was born in Switzerland and his family immigrated to Canada in 1949. Following his degree at Queen’s, he stayed to do a PhD in Physical Chemistry, and worked for many years at the Chalk River Laboratories, becoming an expert on methods of large-scale hydrogen generation as an energy source. He continued to develop his expertise in this area at the National Research Council in Ottawa, where he supported Ballard Power Systems among others, and later as a consultant. Martin was a long-time member of Alcoholics Anonymous. He provided support and a lifeline to recovery for many of his fellow members and volunteered at the Royal Ottawa Hospital for more than 10 years.

Frederic Campling passed away on Jan. 27, 2022. He was 93. He was predeceased by his wife Joan (Arts’49) and his brother, Electrical Engineering Professor Charles Campling. He is survived by his children, Kathleen (Douglas Smyth), Robert (Com’79), Jo-Anne Lacroix (NSc’80), Nancy (MBA’84) (Greg Burton) and Mary (Com’86) (David Procter); his grandchildren, Laura, Eric, Bryan, Michael, Michelle, Jeremy Burton (Artsci’12), and Joshua Burton (Sc’13); and nine great grandchildren.

In 1951 as a civil engineering summer student, Fred went to Kapuskasing to work on a hydro dam project for Spruce Falls Power and Paper Company Ltd., where he was introduced to the world of pulp and paper. He was hired by the company upon graduation. Fred and Joan made Kapuskasing their home for the next 40 years. Fred retired from Spruce Falls in 1991 as the president and CEO. Retirement years were spent travelling, volunteering, playing golf, skiing, and enjoying his family. He made soup and jam, tended his vegetable and flower gardens, played bridge, and made folk-art birdhouses with hand tools. A lifelong supporter of Queen’s, Fred will be remembered for a life lived to the fullest, with kindness, understanding, curiosity, and joy.