Flags on campus currently lowered for Geoff Lockwood will remain lowered to honour Professor Emeritus Ronald G. Weisman and Lawson Bruce Cronk, a former member of University Council.

Dr. Weisman completed his undergraduate and PhD degrees at Michigan State University. He was a post-doctoral fellow at the University of California from 1965-66. In 1966, he joined the Department of Psychology at Queen’s. Later, he obtained a cross-appointment to the Department of Biology.

Dr. Weisman was fond of saying that he worked at Queen’s “as both man and boy.” Following approximately 35 years of service, he retired from Queen’s as professor emeritus but his prolific research career continued up to a few short months before his death. His research interests included animal learning, comparative cognition and evolutionary biology. Dr. Weisman was cofounder of the Conference on Comparative Cognition and cofounder and co-editor of its electronic journal, Comparative Cognition & Behavior Reviews.

Dr. Weisman’s memorial celebration will take place on Saturday, Feb. 21 from 2-4 pm at the Kingston Yacht Club (1 Maitland St.) His family invites people to post on Facebook or email condolences, stories, anecdotes, one-liners, pictures and moments that celebrate his life. Anyone wishing to become a friend of Dr. Weisman’s on Facebook, so they may post a message about him, can send a friend request and Mitchell Weisman will accept and update those requests on a regular basis. 

Memorial donation suggestions include OXFAM Canada, NPR and PBS.

Dr. Cronk possessed remarkable affection for Queen's

Dr. Cronk, Meds’47, built an illustrious career in medicine after graduating from Queen’s. He was fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Canada, a fellow of the American College of Physicians and a fellow of the American College of Cardiology. During his practicing career he was chief of medicine and president of the medical staff of Belleville General Hospital on recurring occasions, and a consultant to the Picton, Trenton, Campbellford, and Cobourg hospitals, as well as the CFB Trenton base hospital. He was involved in numerous community service projects during his lifetime. 

A cornerstone of Dr. Cronk’s philosophy was his tremendous dedication to education and its institutions generally, and medicine in particular. His remarkable support and affection for Queen’s spanned his adult life. He was permanent president of the Class of Meds’47, graduating with the gold medal in surgery; the W.W. Near and Susan Near Prize for the second highest standing throughout his medical degree program; and the Hanna Washborn Colson Prize for Proficiency in Clinical Diagnosis in Medicine, Surgery and Obstetrics. He was president of the Queen’s Aesculapian Society (the undergraduate body of the School of Medicine), and a member of the Queen’s Alma Mater Society executive. He was recipient of the Queen’s Tricolour Society Award and played three seasons with the Golden Gaels football team.

He was a faculty member in the School of Medicine as a clinical assistant, then lecturer, then assistant professor, from 1953 until his retirement in 1988. He was a life member of the Queen’s Grant Hall Society and a member of Queen’s University Council. In 2013, Queen’s established the Dr. Bruce Cronk Distinguished Lecture Series in his honour. This endowed annual event is designed to host eminent scholars involved with all areas of medicine. 

Visitation will be held at the John R. Bush Funeral Home (80 Highland Ave., Belleville, Ont.) on Friday, March 6 from 1-7 pm. A celebration of life ceremony will be held at Bridge Street United Church (60 Bridge St. East, Belleville, Ont.) on Saturday, March 7 at 2 pm with Rev. David Mundy officiating. It was Dr. Cronk’s wish that any donations in his memory be made to Bridge Street United Church, Doctors Without Borders or the charity of your choice.