In Memoriam

Al died peacefully on Oct. 22 in the presence of Joan, his wife and best friend. Al immigrated to Canada from Trinidad as a young man to pursue his studies as a chemical engineer at Queen’s. After graduation, he eventually made his way to Montreal and spent most of his working life at Seagram Distilleries, where he met Joan. Al and Joan enjoyed a loving and wonderful life together for 44 years, travelling on exotic adventures, playing golf and bridge, enjoying their garden and cherishing their time with close friends. Al’s intelligence, charm, diplomacy, gentle disposition, memorable belly laughs, and his insatiable appetite for vanilla ice cream will be greatly missed by his family and many friends.

Gilbert died Oct. 25, two days after celebrating Mole Day. While at Queen’s, Gilbert’s sister, Mary, set him up on a blind date with Ardeth Justus, Arts’52. They married in 1956. In 1965, Gilbert began his career as a clinical biochemist at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. He was a pioneer in laboratory automation and became biochemist-in-chief. He simultaneously rose through the academic ranks at the University of Toronto in what is now the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology. He was recognized with a lifetime honorary membership in the Canadian Society of Clinical Chemists in 2011. Gilbert retired from SickKids in 1995 and took on a second career in medical informatics. Gilbert was an advocate for conservation and an enthusiastic naturalist. His kindness, sincerity, integrity, and calm presence made him an excellent teacher and mentor, and the best father that anyone could hope for. Gilbert was predeceased by his brother Donald, BASc’50. He is survived by his wife, Ardeth; his children Margaret, Janet, Artsci’90, PhD’95 (David Palmer, Artsci’89, PhD’95), and Andrew, Sc’91; his younger sister Mary Summerby, Meds’55; and many nieces and nephews.

Margaret died Feb. 20, 2020, in Toronto, aged 85, with her four children by her side. She was predeceased by her husband, Bob Heilig, BASc’55, in 2017, and by her sister Mary in 2019. She is survived by children John, Katherine, Nancy, and Michael, her sister Kathleen Satchell, Arts’51, and extended family. Margaret and Bob met at Queen’s, where they made lifelong friendships. They were happily married for 58 years and their proudest accomplishments were raising their four children and spending time with their 10 grandchildren. Margaret went back to school while raising her children and completed a specialist degree in history from the University of Toronto. Her interest in history led her to work at the Toronto Mackenzie House, and her nursing education to work at The Gage as a health educator. Margaret spent many years as a Girl Guide leader in Henry Farms, cultivating young women to be independent and caring, and to love the outdoors. Her energy and optimism and love of adventure were what drew people to her. It was her caring and nurturing ways that kept them close. She is greatly missed.

Bob died at home on Dec. 3. He is mourned by his wife, Marilyn Hood, Arts’70, MEd’76; their combined family of children (including Darcie Greggs, Artsci’80, and Jonathon Greggs, Artsci’83) and grandchildren; and by Cooper the dog. Bob was predeceased in 1997 by his first wife, Robin (Howland), BA’54, and dogs Shandy, Georgie Girl, Tamworth, Candy, MacDuff, Tory, Casey, and Terra. Bob pursued knowledge all his life. He earned his BSc in geology from Queen’s, then advanced degrees from UBC, before returning to Queen’s as a professor of geological sciences. His expertise in sedimentary geology inspired many of his students as well as his own children (with both Darcie and Jonathon becoming geologists). Bob was known for his early work in the Canadian Rockies, on horseback no less, and for detailing the strata around southeastern Ontario. After leaving Queen’s, Bob moved west to work in the energy industry in Calgary until he retired.

Lois died Sept. 18 after a lifetime of community service and unrelenting advocacy for the underserved. Lois was a fierce, tenacious woman before it was cool. She was a natural athlete from childhood, excelling on the basketball court, in the pool, and even on the ski jump. As a young woman, she obtained her private pilot’s licence. As assistant director of water safety services for the Red Cross in Toronto, Lois noticed a failing in the national swimming badge system that resulted in children abandoning instruction. She redesigned the program, keeping kids in swim programs across the country, and thus saving countless lives. In 1980, Lois began her 23-year tenure as CEO of the Fort Erie YMCA. Once a small storefront organization, the Fort Erie YMCA became, under Lois’s ambitious vision and perseverance, a state-of-the-art facility complete with daycare centre, running track, and even a waterslide. The building owed its existence to the “Lois Factor,” her dedication to the community, and her ability to convince people to open their wallets and contribute. The Lois Factor, of course, extended to her home life, with husband Joseph Barker, Sc’60, and children Karen, Artsci’86, and Kim. She encouraged her daughters to try everything. She taught them that there were no limits on what they could achieve. She inspired them to make volunteering an essential part of their lives. As a mother, friend, and employer, Lois was as tough as she was giving. She often saw more potential in others than they saw in themselves and she never gave up on helping them achieve it. She changed the lives of many. She will be missed.