Herbert Francis “Gus” Shurvell passed away on Nov. 16, 2022. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Irene; daughter, Joanne (Paul); and sons, David (Laura) and Andrew (Michelle). He will also be greatly missed by his grandchildren, Ellyn, Jade, Torin, baby William Gus; new great-grandson Archie; and by his friends all over the world.

Gus was born in London, England in 1934 and lived in London through the Second World War. After leaving school at age 16, he worked in the coal/gas manufacturing and chemical byproducts industry in the U.K. He then attended Exeter University from 1956 until 1959. During this period, he first came to Canada, where he worked as an inspector on gas pipeline installations in Southern Ontario. After he graduated in 1959, he again came to Canada where he worked on pipeline installations, followed by a year in Toronto as a food packaging material chemist. It was during this time that he met and married Irene. They then moved to Vancouver, where Gus began his graduate studies.

Gus Shurvell joined the Queen's Department of Chemistry in 1965 as an assistant professor. During his first two summers as a professor at Queen’s, Gus had the opportunity to work in Harold Bernstein and future Nobel Laureate Gerhard Herzberg’s spectroscopy laboratories. Like most, Gus lectured at all undergraduate year levels, however he also prepared specialized spectroscopy courses (e.g. vibrational spectroscopy for RCMP forensic scientists). He was a big fan of in lecture demonstrations and he carried his “ingredients” around in a cardboard box labeled “have lab. Will travel.” Dr. Shurvell also authored a number of scientific articles and books, including Introduction to Organic Spectroscopy. 

Gus took an early retirement package in 1996, but he was definitely not finished with science. In spite of being retired, he went to Queensland University of Technology in Australia as a Visiting Research Fellow, where he worked on the high-resolution IR spectroscopy of raw diamonds. He then embarked on a ‘new career’ at Queen’s, as an Adjunct Professor of Art Conservation, where he provided instruction and advice on research projects to students in the Master of Art Conservation Program. Gus will be sorely missed by the Chemistry and Art Conservation Community at Queen’s!

Alexander (Alec) Rutka passed Aug. 25, 2022. Alec is predeceased by his parents, Nick and Kate Rutka, and his siblings, Victor, Jean, Steven, George, and Sophie. He is greatly missed by his children and their spouses, John (Marilena), Jim (Mari), and Margaret; his six grandchildren and their spouses, Jacob (Alison), Daniel (Lupe), Fiona (John), Hana, Lauren, and Marissa; his two great-grandchildren, Henry and Teddy; and his siblings, Vera, Nick (Janet), and Shirley (Bob). 

Always proud of his humble beginnings, Alec was born Dec. 21, 1924, in a barn on his parents’ farm in Tapleytown, Ont. His mother, Kate Nychka, hailed from Ashville, Man., and his father, Nicholas Rutka, from Chernivtsi, Ukraine. Alec was the second oldest of nine brothers and sisters. He received his early education in a one-room schoolhouse in Tapleytown before attending and graduating from Saltfleet High School in Stoney Creek in 1943. At high school, he excelled at football and track and field. During the summers and throughout the years in high school, he helped out on his parents’ farm with raising livestock and with the annual Concord grape harvest.  

Alec became the first in his family to attend university, where he studied civil engineering at Queen’s. While there, Alec worked as an engineering assistant with the Department of Highways Ontario (DHO) in the soils laboratory during the summer. He then applied to and was accepted for a full-time position as a soils engineer in the soils branch of the DHO in 1947. In 1950, Alec married the love of his life, Janet Rutka (nee Bartkiw, of Welland, Ont.). Together, they made their early homes in Toronto, living on Fulton Avenue and Edinburgh Drive. Alec became the principal soils engineer, then materials and research engineer, and ultimately the head of the materials and testing unit of the newly named Ministry of Transportation and Communication (MTC). In 1959, he received the President’s Medal from the Canadian Good Roads Association at their annual convention for the best research paper presented, entitled “Evaluation of Road Performance Over Muskeg in Ontario.” Alec continued to work at the MTC until 1983, at which time he retired at age 59.  

He continued to do consulting work and stayed actively involved in organizations such as the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) and the Roads and Transportation Association of Canada (RTAC), from which he received the Distinguished Service Award in 1984.  

In 1987, Alec was diagnosed with a benign brain tumour (meningioma), which was removed successfully, allowing him to return to his normal state of health and to lead a productive and long life, living into his 98th year.  

He will always be remembered for his kind and caring nature, his friendliness and warm laugh. In retirement, he was always available to help with driving grandchildren to school and activities, performing maintenance repairs at his home or the homes of his children, finding the best bargains at garage sales, being the official family photographer, chopping wood well into his nineties, and assisting the neighbours on Montressor Drive, the street where he and Janet lived for 54 years. To many on the street, he was affectionately known as the “Mayor of Montressor” for the many good deeds he did to assist the neighbours. A self-taught handyman, Alec single-handedly built an extra bedroom in their home and demonstrated considerable “do-it-yourself” abilities with plumbing, electrical work, carpentry, and masonry skills.  

Alec and Janet lived a charmed life and travelled the world together in retirement, visiting China, Norway, England, Japan, South Africa, and numerous states throughout the U.S. with their timeshare. A favourite highlight was going to the milestone reunions of his Queen’s class, now in its 75th year! But his greatest love and passion was in supporting Janet and his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren with their many interests and causes. The happy memories of numerous holiday and family gatherings with Alec, where he often made poignant and heartfelt speeches at the homes of his children, will always be remembered. His family is very grateful for the care provided by the doctors and nurses at Glynnwood Revera Assisted Living, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, Advent Valleyview Residence, and Humber River Hospital, where he spent his final year recovering from a fractured hip.

Colin McEachern passed away Sept. 17, 2022. He was 98. He is survived by his wife, Melba (nee Baird); children, Malcolm (Janice), Bonnie, Cameron (Sheila), and Isla (David); grandchildren, Brock (Natasha), Eleri, Niall, Carly, Kyle, and Skye; and great-grandchildren, Hayden, Carson, and Korbin. 

Colin grew up in Kingston with brother George and sister Elsie, children of Donald and Marie (nee Paterson) from Glasgow, Scotland. He graduated from Queen’s, as well as the University of Toronto, and made his career in social work. He counselled the blind, veterans, struggling couples; led the Family Services Bureau of London, Ontario, for 20 years; facilitated amalgamation with the Children’s Aid Society; and led human resources at London’s Family and Children’s Services for 15 years. Colin was instrumental in establishing a model outreach program at the East London Crouch Public Library, a project he found especially meaningful. 

Colin was a devoted husband to his love, Melba, with whom he recently celebrated 71 years of marriage, and he was a devoted father to his four children. He was dedicated to the community, giving attention especially to Elmwood Avenue Presbyterian Church, to the London United Way, and to very many friends. Together with Melba, Colin maintained many enduring friendships from childhood; classmates from a year at the Brantford School for the Blind; university comrades; professional colleagues, including those from a sabbatical in Britain; still more at church; the many relatives on both sides of the family; and among neighbours, wherever he lived. These friendships and family, including six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, were all paramount to him through retirement years. 

Colin revelled in his Scottish heritage; played blues, boogie-woogie, folk, and sacred music on the piano; loved boats and home and garden maintenance; and listened closely to radio for news, music, and baseball. In his 99th year, he knew his time was up and let go peacefully. The world quietly lost a gentleman. 

Mary Crichton Vibert Douglas passed away on March 15, 2022, surrounded by family and her devoted longtime caregiver, Cynthia Bagcal. Mary was predeceased by parents Olga and George; siblings Elizabeth and John; sisters-in-law Audrey and Marie-Claire; niece Anne; and nephews Paul and Alexander. She is survived by her brother, Patrick Douglas (Audrey); nieces, Sarah (Tom), Marianne (Chad), Krystyne (Deji), and Isabel (Matthew); nephews, John (Lilith), Stephen (Valerie), and Daniel (Caroline); and 15 great-nephews and great-nieces: Ainé and Brendan (Martin); Orion (Cleasby); Vivien, Hannah, and Gareth (Endicott-Douglas); Naomi, Nadia, James, Sophia, and Sami (Douglas-Najem); Isaac (Akinniyi); Aaron, Reuben, and Benjamin (Abogado). She is loved and fondly remembered by many close family and friends in England, Ireland, North America, and throughout the world. 

Born in Dublin, Ireland, Nov. 2, 1926, Mary was the second daughter of four children to Olga Crichton and George Vibert Douglas. The family lived briefly in England, for three years in Spain, and for two years in Zambia, and then moved to Halifax in 1932, where her father was professor of geology at Dalhousie University. She attended Mount Allison School for Girls, then enrolled at Queen’s. She went on to do a master’s in geography at the University of Toronto, including a year at the Sorbonne. After some years working in Ottawa for the Arctic Institute – encouraged by her aunt, Dr. Allie Vibert Douglas – she enrolled at Queen’s in medicine, and in 1960 fulfilled her lifelong dream of earning her medical degree. She specialized in family medicine, partnering with Dr. George Burrows at his practice at Jackson’s Point, Lake Simcoe, for more than 25 years. She worked for four years in Saudi Arabia and later did locums in Newfoundland, northern Ontario, and British Columbia, often working for the United Church. She retired to Hamilton and continued to volunteer in community hospices. 

Mary was known for her sense of adventure, her warm and generous spirit, and her deep love for her family, friends, and community. Out of her lifelong quest for spiritual understanding through meditation and peaceful, loving connections, she forged deep and meaningful friendships with people from all over the world. Mary was the consummate host, and frequent gatherings at her “places” were convivial and delightful occasions for her family and friends. Reading, poetry, sailing, hiking, and journalling were among some of her many interests. She was a great traveller of the world and skied avidly in the Alps, the Rockies, the Appalachians, and of course Quebec and Ontario. With her Aunt Allie, she traversed the Khyber Pass (Pakistan) twice in one day. She also loved Cape Breton and bought a house near Cheticamp, close to many friends and family.

John Stanley Trotter passed away suddenly at Peterborough Regional Health Centre on Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022, in his 93rd year. John was the beloved husband of the late Mildred Trotter (d. 2021); loving and devoted father of Bradley (Com’90) and his wife Beth, and Dwight (Sc’92) and his wife Michelle (Artsci’92). Cherished grandfather of Jackson, Madeline, Eva, Alyse, Sean, and Liam; son of the late Stanley Trotter and Mary Liscombe; dear friend to countless many.  

John was a longtime engineer and manager with Canadian General Electric, avid tennis player, curler, and sports enthusiast. John enjoyed time at the lake with family and his friends and made their world a better place through his care, actions, and thoughtfulness. John’s family would like to thank the staff of Princess Gardens for their years of kindness and support.

Robert Judson Fulton passed away peacefully at Mississauga Hospital on Dec. 6. He was 87. He was the beloved husband of 63 years to wife Anne Fulton (nee Morrall). He was predeceased by his parents, Fraser F. Fulton and Iris A. Fulton; sister, Josephine Anne Fraser (husband Malcolm) of Gibsons, B.C.; and daughter, Katherine Fulton Crofts. He was the cherished father to Susan Churchill, Fraser Fulton (May), and Heather Sundin (Eric); dear uncle to Fred, Doug, and Carol Fraser; much-loved grandfather to Trevor (Cassandra), Natalie (Chris), Cassandra (Ryan), Patricia Sundin, and Neil Churchill; and great-grandfather to Elijah Churchill, Audrey, and Coast Sundin.

Gerald (Gerry) Robert Browning passed away on May 3, 2022, at the Ottawa Hospital, Civic Campus, 10 days after experiencing a severe stroke. He will live on in the hearts of his loving wife, Ruth; his brother, Peter (Donna); his four children, Tanis (Andy), Marla (DJ), Mark (Cynthia, and former wife Karen), and Jodi (CG); and his 11 grandchildren. He will be fondly remembered by cousins Marian and Bill Patterson (Patti) and several nieces and nephews. 

Gerry was a bit of a wunderkind. He began his life in Lavant Station along the K&P Railway, and in Lanark, Ont., where he was raised by his mother, Florence, who worked as a nurse, and his grandparents, William and Clara. He entered the civil engineering program at Queen’s as a young teen. He graduated with the science class of ’56 (age 20) and began a 34-year career with MTO, progressing from chainman to southwestern regional director. Gerry’s work building Ontario’s highways and bridges moved his growing family all over the province.  

For more than 63 years, Gerry and Ruth made a terrific team. They were partners in life and at the bridge table. They joined, managed, and owned duplicate bridge clubs in several towns over the years, making amazing friends along the way. Gerry was a sapphire – nearly diamond – life master, who taught and directed the game, but his favourite partner was always Ruth. He was her biggest champion. 

Gerry was a gifted young athlete who sprinted, played baseball, and curled. Later in life, he sailed his Laser and golfed. He curated a massive stamp collection, followed every sport, puzzled prolifically (especially cryptic crosswords), and read voraciously. He designed and conducted renovations on their many homes and at their cottage (later their summer residence) on Robertson Lake. With a little help from his kids and their partners, he took the tiny Browning cabin and turned it into a full-sized home with multiple outbuildings. There, he and Ruth hosted countless family gatherings before eventually moving into a condo in Ottawa. They travelled with family and friends throughout Canada, the U.S., the U.K., and the Caribbean, and enjoyed a community of bridge friends and neighbours in Vero Beach, Florida, where they wintered for nearly 20 years. But there was nothing they loved more than puttering around Robertson Lake on an early summer’s eve in their pontoon boat.  

Over the past 22 years, Gerry and Ruth (Papa and Nana) have been active participants in supporting the activities, milestones, and educations of their grandchildren North and Sydney Shelp; Britney, Jaryd, Foster, and Raegan Lund; Gabriela and Nadia Browning; and Hudson, McKenzie, and Grace Stephens. They travelled frequently to attend everything from ballet, piano, and theatre performances to hockey, soccer, and baseball games; swimming, archery, and equestrian events; graduations; and more. Gerry’s grandkids were a source of enormous pride for him. 

The knowing twinkle in his eyes, his wise advice on almost every topic, and his presence at family gatherings will be missed.

Dan Moziar passed away at his home on Oct. 8, 2022, following a long journey with Alzheimer’s disease. He is survived by his loving wife of 59 years, Susan Moziar (nee Hinton) and his sister Rose Dandridge (Tony). He was the proud and loving father of Caroline, Daniel, Michelle, and Elizabeth Ciaravella (Domenic); his children and grandchildren were his pride and joy. He was G-Pa to Gianmarco and Sofia Ciaravella and Felicity Moziar. He was predeceased by his brother, Michael Moziar. 

Dan was born in Thunder Bay (Port Arthur) to Alex Moziar and Rosalia Moldoweic, Ukrainian immigrants. He attended Jumbo Gardens School and Port Arthur Technical, before heading off to Queen’s. He graduated in electrical engineering in 1958 and following graduation went on to graduate studies at the School of Business at the University of Toronto. He received his Professional Engineer designation in 1960. 

He was accepted into the Junior Engineering Program at Ontario Hydro. At about that time, the computer industry was emerging. He came to Guelph in 1969 and was appointed associate director of administrative systems and programming at the University of Guelph. After nine years, he moved to Halifax to assume the position of divisional manager, information processing division. Later he was appointed vice-president and manager of management and information systems at Midland Capital Corporation and he returned to Toronto. 

Dan spent over 40 years in the management and delivery of information technology services in a variety of industries. He was mentioned in the 1980 edition of Who’s Who in Data Processing. 

His experience in the energy industry included two major power generating and distributing companies: the former Ontario Hydro, and the former Nova Scotia Power Corporation. He served as the chair of Guelph Hydro up to the critical restructuring under the Energy Competition Act of 1998. As chair of Guelph Hydro, he oversaw a period when the utility invested in technology and reduced operation costs, to the benefit of consumers. In this period, the utility was recognized with two industry awards, recognizing the improved operational performance and the contribution to the industry. 

As chair of the former Municipal Electric Association (MEA), he was deeply involved in the dialogue with the Ministry of Energy on industry restructuring issues and the Energy Competition Act. He also was involved in the restructuring of the MEA into the Electricity Distributors Association to better support the demands of the restructured industry. 

He was fully conversant with the issues facing the industry and the economic importance of energy to Ontario. 

He was involved for many years with the federal and provincial Liberals. 

Dan ran for Guelph City Council and was elected Councillor for Ward 2 for two terms in 2000 and 2003. He was appointed Returning Officer for the riding of Guelph in the 2007 Ontario provincial election. 

At the urging of his friend and classmate Jim Bennett, a former director of Queen’s Alumni, Dan founded the Guelph Branch of the Queen’s Alumni Association. Along with the late Frank Maine (BSc’59), the two of them established the Guelph Alumni Entrance Award, which was to be awarded to a deserving student in Wellington Country. For this accomplishment, Dan received the Herbie Award from the Queen’s Alumni Association. 

Dan loved his farm in Eramosa Township, and he was never happier than while working in the fields on his tractor, raising chickens, turkeys, or cattle. He underwent hip surgery in 1985 and that brought an end to his farming days. He traded in the farm for a cottage on William’s Lake in exchange for a more leisurely lifestyle and spent many happy hours there. 

Dan had quite the gift for poetry and would often put some words together for a birthday, wedding anniversary, or retirement. He was also talented at making up songs on the fly. 

He enjoyed travelling and visited the Caribbean several times, Egypt, England, Europe, and Eastern Europe, including: Yugoslavia, Romania, Hungary, and Ukraine. The last trip was a cruise through the Panama Canal.  

For 38 years, he looked forward to participating in the gathering of the Gourmet Group. It was always a time for good food, good friends, and often heated conversation. 

Leonardo (Leo) Dagum passed away peacefully with his family by his side on Dec. 24, 2021, after a 22-month battle with metastatic melanoma. He is survived by his mother; wife; three daughters; and brothers, Alex and Paul. After leaving NASA, Leo served as vice-president of engineering for several companies in Silicon Valley. He was a phenomenal surfer, skier, and mountain biker, who enjoyed playing his guitar as well as camping and hiking with his family and friends. He cherished his time at Queen’s and all the lifelong friends he made there. He was always willing to give a helpful hand to anyone in need. He was dearly loved by his friends, colleagues, and family, and will be deeply missed.