In Memoriam

Russell Delbert "Del" McKnight, M.D., age 88, of Palm Coast, FL., passed away peacefully at home on Feb. 8, 2021. Dr. McKnight was born in Toronto, Canada, to Elgin and Ethel McKnight of St. Catharines, Ontario. He graduated from Queen's University Medical School (MD'60), Kingston, Ontario, Canada, and became Board certified in Psychiatry.
Dr. McKnight practiced Clinical and Administrative Psychiatry in Canada and subsequently immigrated to the United States with his family. Retiring from private practice in Morristown, TN, he and his wife relocated to Palm Coast, FL. He enjoyed the arts, travel, and engaging in conversation with people.
His wife Catherine survives him, sons Darcy and Peter, daughter Christine, four grandchildren: Péter, Mikaela, William and Toby McKnight, and brother Eric McKnight (and wife Judy). He is predeceased by his brother Gerald McKnight (survived by his wife, Joan). A private memorial service will be held in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada, at a later date. Arrangements are in the care of Craig Flagler Palms Funeral Home, Flagler Beach, FL.

On May 2, 2021, at the age of 90, D. Ian Fraser passed away in Toronto. Born in Perth, Ontario on Feb. 20, 1931, only child of Donald and Doris Fraser. Survived by his wife of 65 years, Patricia and daughters, Pamela Valentine, Alison Abou-Heif Ovenell, Margot Withey, and Jill Fraser.
After obtaining his degree from Queen’s University, he joined The Canada Life Assurance Company, retiring in 1995 as an executive vice-president and secretary of the company. He then served for 10 years as secretary-treasurer of the National Sanitarium Association, continuing on the Board of Trustees for a further five years.
While enjoying success in his business career, the focus of his life was always his family. Ski weekends in the winter and cottage life at Steenburg Lake in the summer were the foundation of his family life. Always an enthusiastic sportsman, he participated in football, hockey, squash, tennis, hiking, skiing, and canoe trips.
Ian and Pat traveled to many countries and loved to share their favourite travel spot, Bermuda, with their family. Throughout his life, Ian was involved in various areas of community service, including Eglinton St. George's United Church and Senior Peoples' Resources in North Toronto. He helped deliver Meals on Wheels well into his 90th year.
The time he spent at the University Club included lunches, squash games and fitness classes, which eventually turned into a book club and lunches at the round table with his close circle of friends. Ian was a devoted family man who demonstrated warmth, humility, generosity and kindness in his daily life. He was always interested and involved in the lives of his four daughters and nine grandchildren. He kept up with them by attending their sports events and social functions and staying current with the latest social media.
Beloved husband of Pat, cherished father of Pamela, Alison, Margot, and Jill. Dear father-in-law of Scott Valentine, Phil Ovenell, Rich Withey, Richard O’Brien and the late Frank Abou-Heif. Loving grandfather of Andrew (Sara Valentine) and Peter Valentine, Justine (Yassine Khechim) and Charlotte Abou-Heif, Erica, Richard, and Thomas Withey, and Madeleine and Alexander O’Brien. Dear great-grandfather of Lucy and Samantha Valentine and Mateo and Paloma Valentine.
We are grateful to have had him in our lives for so long. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to The Fraser Family Scholarship at Queen's University, The Temmy Latner Centre for Palliative Care, Child Haven International or the charity of your choice would be appreciated. A celebration of his life will be held at a later date. Condolences may be forwarded through Morley Bedford Funeral Services. 

It is with heavy hearts that the family of Frances announces her passing on Sunday January 3, 2021. Frances was a loving wife to the late Hedley and older sister to brother Edward Flynn. A wonderful mom and mother-in-law to Laurie Tilley, Kerry and Sue Cross and Marni and Peter Stone. Treasured nana to Erin, Jay, Jeff, Allison, Patrick and Jennifer. Great-grandmother to Hudson and Silas.
She was born in Montreal but raised in Kingston, Ont. She met her future husband at Queen's University, then moved west to settle in a small town called Oakville where she lived her entire married life on Gloucester Ave. Frances was a lifelong friend to many and enjoyed numerous social activities such as, playing bridge well into her 90s, gourmet luncheons, university women's club, sailing, curling and cottage life on Lake Mazinaw. Her affiliation with Knox Presbyterian Church, where she was an active member of the choir, spanned many years. Travel abroad to visit with family was also something she always enjoyed. Friends and family came together for a joyous celebration of Frances's 100th birthday — she passed just shy of her 104th. We would like to thank the entire team at Creekway Village, especially the staff on Lakeshore for their kind and caring ways with "Frannie" over the past 9 years. A private family memorial took place in the springtime. Online condolences can be left at Kopriva Taylor Community Funeral Home Inc.

Kathryn Emily Cook (Artsci’79), 63, died Saturday, Feb. 13, 2021. She was a great-great-granddaughter of the Rev. John Cook, the first Principal and Chancellor of Queen’s University. She is survived by her husband, Andrew Faulkner (Artsci’82), daughter Gwyneth, and her sisters, Nancy Cook Bruns (Meds’79), and Carolyn Cook.
Kathy was on the Queens Track Team from 1975-1979, and excelled in the 400-metre sprint. After graduating with BSc in Biology she worked in Jerry Wyatt’s lab in Kingston before she joined CUSO International and spent three years in Papua New Guinea, where she met Andrew. After returning to Canada, she completed her MSc in Soil Sciences at the University of British Columbia in 1994. In Victoria, Kathy worked in a federal lab, taught soils sciences, and with Andrew ran their IT consultancy. Kathy was active in the United Church, and the broader community, as a volunteer on many environmental, community, and social justice issues. She campaigned for the preservation of the Peace River Valley. Most recently, she supported refugees from Afghanistan, The Gambia and Syria.
The family would appreciate donations to the Kathryn Emily Cook Ovarian Cancer Research Fund, Queen’s University, Kingston. Alternatively, a cheque made payable to Queen’s University (with a memo note with the fund name), can be mailed to Queen’s University, Gift Services, Old Medical Building, 99 University Avenue Kingston, ON K7L 3N6.

Joan died Jan. 31, 2021, in Ottawa. Daughter of the late Colin E. Macpherson (BCom’26), and the late Joan (Hamilton) Macpherson of Kingston, she was known as Libby. Beloved wife of Eden Cloutier, (MBA’68, PhD’84), loving mother of Gillian Smith (Artsci’96), of Toronto and Alison Cloutier (PhD, University of Toronto) of Ottawa. Predeceased by her infant son, Peter Colin. Nana to darling granddaughters Aurélie and Clémentine Smith, and fond step-grandmother to Arnaud Smith (Artsci’18). Dear sister of Catherine Fee (Artsci’91), of Kingston and Barbara Lisson of Victoria.
Libby grew up in Kingston, always considering it home. In her last year at Queen’s, Libby met dashing RMC cadet Eden. They married on Dec. 15, 1962 and went on to spend their early years at RCAF stations in the Prairies. They returned to Kingston so that Eden could pursue his MBA and Libby worked in the periodicals section of Douglas Library. After working in Montreal, they returned to Kingston for Eden’s PhD. Eden’s career took them to Ottawa where they raised their family. Her family and friends will dearly miss her newsy letters, always filled with curated, underlined clippings.

Helen (Armstrong) Bronskill, 92, widow of Eric Bronskill (BCom’48) (1999) died peacefully at the Kingston Health Sciences Centre on Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020. She is survived by her five children, Richard (M.Mus. U of T), Reginald (BA Queen’s), Kathryn (BA Queen’s), Alan (Env. Waterloo), Anne Enns (BA & B.Ed. Queen’s), her grandchildren, Adrick, Caelan, Kathryn, Tegan, Nicolas, Camille, Emerson, Elliot, Ainsley, and Simone (BA Queen’s); and her three great-grandchildren, Lucas, Kezia, and Ryan.
She was an avid weaver, opera lover, and supporter of the arts in Kingston & community programs such as Lunch by George. In 1943 at age 16, she became a Farmerette when the farm labour shortage was acute during WW2; she said it was one of the best experiences of her life. She was famous for her knitted baby clothes.
A memorial service will be held in Kingston at a later date. Funeral arrangements entrusted to Robert J. Reid & Sons Funeral Home, 309 Johnson St., Kingston, ON, KL 1Y6. Donations in her memory may be made to Lunch by George, the University Hospitals Kingston Foundation or another local charity. Online condolences may be made at Reid Funeral Home.