In Memoriam

Remembering Queen's alumni.

Those Who Have Passed

Sharing memories of friends, faculty, and colleagues - In Memoriam helps you honour those who have recently passed.

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  • Bruce Findlay in his boat

    1950s

    Bruce Harper Findlay

    鈥 BA'57

    Summer 2023

    Bruce Harper Findlay passed away on Jan. 14, 2023. He is survived by his children; Jennifer (Tim), Richard (Diane), Allison, Alexandra (Rick), Janet (Joel), Alana, and Trish; his grandchildren, Marston (Synthia), Ryan, Nelson (Veronik), Colin, Taylor (Cory), Colter (Cody), Hannah, Brad (Emily), Erika, Nick, Emme, Ircia, Tyvan, Jakob, Emily, Hayden, Logan, Holly, and Megan; and his great-grandchildren, Isaac and Axton.

    Bruce was one of a kind. He grew up on Park Street with his parents; Alexander and Mary (nee Kerr); his two brothers, Dave (Jeannette) and Ron; and his sisters, Patricia Huntus (Hoit) and Judy Favreau (Bud). His family shaped the strong values he stayed true to throughout his life.

    His early years in the militia and the reserves led to a military-like discipline in his life from his ship-shape boats to raising his family and running a busy law office. He was famous for his beret; a life-long signal that those military days were never far away.

    Bruce was a Queen鈥檚 man through and through, trying to talk each of his children and then the grandchildren into following in his footsteps.

    It was while he was at Osgoode Law School in Toronto that Bruce was introduced to Eileen Haffey. They were married in January 1959 and had their first child in October of that same year. Bruce graduated from law school with two children and another on the way. He supported his growing family and his education with a wide array of jobs, including: railroading, construction, transport truck driving, and the pipeline.

    In 1962, he and 鈥淣een鈥 headed to Kenora to build their life. He loved his time in Toronto and always had an attachment to city life, but also valued the importance of growing up in a small community.

    The law was a perfect fit for a man with such strong principles and a gift for twisting a tale to convince the jury, his family or anyone else who was listening. He was a force to be reckoned with in and out of the courtroom. He built his law firm from a one-person practice to a multi-lawyer firm with offices in Dryden and Fort Frances. The family has fond memories of the many law students who passed through and became a part of our lives, and the long-term staff, especially Shirley Tresoor and Carolyn Johnson.

    In 1968, Bruce and Neen purchased a camp on Coney Island. The neighbours loved to tell the story of the lovely young couple and their new baby, who were going to move in next door. The reality hit when the family arrived that first summer, landing at the dock and swarming up and over the hill like an army. The family became firm friends with the Inman鈥檚 from that moment and became part of the extended Coney Island family. The departure of Bruce means that another elder Coney Island statesman is gone. The family lived at Coney for three months each year and, in 2000, Bruce and Neen built their year-round home and retired full time to the island. The property holds many great family memories of beach days and family dinners for three generations.

    It was at Coney that Bruce learned to make the porridge he was famous for, as all the grandkids and visitors to the camp were served porridge with maple syrup for breakfast.

    Bruce was a man who loved to spend time messing about with boats, starting with 鈥渢he pontoon boat鈥 and later the 24鈥 Grew, the 30鈥 鈥淩ussian Boat鈥 hydrofoil, and the 40鈥 Nord Ouest, all driven at 鈥淏ruce speed.鈥 His years with Power Squadron served him well and he navigated the Nord Ouest to adventures throughout the Lake of the Woods, including annual trips to Warroad and often following LOWISA. Stories about adventures on the Nord Ouest will be told for many years to come. He instilled this love of the lake in all of us.

    After Neen鈥檚 death in 2014, Bruce experienced some health issues and lost his zest for life, until he met Loretta Edlund in 2016. Loretta gave him love and laughter again. The two of them spent hours together laughing, playing bridge, telling stories, and enjoying the peace and nature at Coney. It has been so good for us to see Bruce happy again and we love having Loretta as part of our family.

    Bruce鈥檚 final life transition happened in September 2022, when he moved to Pinecrest. He understood he could no longer get in and out of a boat the way he used to and that life on the island needed younger legs. He took Pinecrest by storm and made an impact for the short time he was there.

  • 1940s

    M. Phillis Smith

    鈥 BA'41

    Summer 2023

    Margaret Phillis Smith (nee Archibald) died peacefully in her 103rd year on March 3, 2023 in Belleville. 

    She was a lifelong member of the United Church of Canada and a long-time member of Eastminster United Church. She worked tirelessly on countless committees.

    Phillis was a proud graduate from Queen鈥檚. She worked for the inspection board of the U.K. in Canada in 1942-43 inspecting anti-aircraft guns for the army. She was the first woman elected to the Hatley Township Council in the Eastern Townships of Quebec in 1970. She was a member of the Canadian Federation of University Women in Belleville. 

    Flower gardening, playing bridge and reading were lifelong pleasures. Her smile, ready laugh, energy, and love will be greatly missed by her two daughters, her son, and grand-children.

  • 1960s

    Dr. Francis Kenney Tindall

    鈥 BA鈥64, MD鈥68

    Spring 2023

    Dr. Francis Kenney Tindall passed away peacefully at home on Jan. 15, 2023. He was 83. He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Heather Tindall Sr.; six children, Heather Jr., Christopher, James, Zachary, Renee, and Allie; his brother, Chuck, and his wife, Linda; along with his nephew, Ian, and niece, Jen. He is also survived by eight grandchildren: Kylie, Maddie, Parker James, Regan, Hunter, Nick, Kenley, and Emma. Frank was predeceased by his parents, Mary and Francis.

    Frank was born on Jan. 4,1940, to Mary G. Kenney and Francis G. Tindall Sr. of Syracuse, New York. After graduating high school, he went to Queen's, where he earned a Bachelor鈥檚 Degree in Commerce and Economics. He proudly played football for Queen鈥檚 and was coached by his father. Following in his father鈥檚 footsteps, he became the head football coach of the Royal Military College (1963-1964) and also earned All Canadian End recognition.

    During the 1961 Yates Cup Championship game against McGill, he was tackled and fractured his cervical spine, which became his inspiration to be a doctor. He went on to be president of his medical class in 1967 and graduated from Queen鈥檚 in 1968. As an orthopedic resident in Kingston, he created the first sports medicine clinic in Ontario and also organized the first medical coverage for high school football games in the province. In 1974, Frank started his medical practice in Brockville, where he established the first orthopedic practice for the region.

    He moved to Phoenix, A.Z., in 1985, where he established Arizona Bone and Joint Specialists, which focused on orthopedic surgery and sports medicine. Frank quickly entrenched himself in the community and joined forces with then Scottsdale mayor, Herb Drinkwater, to connect Kingston and Scottsdale as sister cities. He also worked with numerous sports teams, including Arizona State University, the Arizona Coyotes, and served on the anti-doping board for the U.S.A. Track and Field Association.

    In 1993, Frank met Heather and they fell fast in love, travelling the world, sailing, scuba diving, and wine tasting. They married on Nov. 9, 1996, at sunset in their backyard and combined their families, bringing together Frank鈥檚 three children, Heather, Christopher and James, with Heather鈥檚 three children, Zachary, Renee and Allie. Together, Frank and Heather were active on the John C. Lincoln board, helping to raise money annually for various charities.

    In 2020, Frank retired after almost 50 years in medicine and spent his remaining time hosting friends and family, strumming his banjo, telling dad jokes and soaking up Arizona sunsets with Heather and their dog Penny. He took his last trip to La Jolla, C.A., for well-needed family time and one last ocean sunset.

    Throughout his life, he notoriously cracked jokes with his grown children, made silly faces with his grandchildren, and even pulled some light-hearted pranks on the nurses. He had a great ability to make others smile and his sense of humour will be missed.

    George was a husband, father, grandpa, surgeon, football legend, banjo player, joke teller, and cigar aficionado. His laugh and spirit will be sorely missed by his family and friends, as well as thousands of patients he worked with over his medical career.

  • 1950s

    William (Bill) Gerald McGaughey

    鈥 BSc'52

    Spring 2023

    Bill passed away peacefully Dec. 29, 2022, at Humber River Hospital in Toronto. He was 93. He leaves behind his beloved wife of 67 years, Joyce (n茅e Bradley). He was the loving father of Susan, Sc鈥80 (Mark); John, Sc鈥82 (Astri); and David (Ingrid); and the proud grandfather of Anna, Kate, Clara, Matthew, Michael, Katrina, Hewitt, and Graeme.

    Born in Vancouver, Oct. 22, 1929, just before the stock market crash and Great Depression, Bill lived to see the 20s in two centuries. He had a peripatetic childhood; his family 鈥 father Elwin, mother Gretta, and brothers Jack and Bob (Arts'66) 鈥 followed their construction-foreman father to job sites at some of Canada鈥檚 major infrastructure projects of the mid-20th century throughout Canada 鈥 he attended 12 schools by high school graduation. Eventually, he returned to Pembroke, where his father鈥檚 family was from and where Bill always considered home. 

    He was a proud 1952 graduate in electrical engineering, working summers as an electrician鈥檚 helper on major hydroelectric dams at Des Joachims (鈥淭he Swisha鈥) and Niagara Falls Sir Adam Beck II. He began his career as a young engineer with General Electric in Peterborough, Baie Comeau, Tobique Narrows, and Toronto, where he met and married his love, Joyce, in 1955. They moved to Montreal and Ottawa, before settling permanently in Toronto in 1964. Bill was a consummate and proud engineer, working for major industrial and consulting firms 鈥 notably Alcan, Stone and Webster, Kilborn, and Giffels 鈥 for much of his career as chief electrical engineer, responsible for the electrical power design of major industrial sites.

    In his well-deserved and long retirement, Bill and Joyce enjoyed their grandchildren, spent summers at their beloved cottage on the Ottawa River near Pembroke, and cruised the world, notably including their family of 14 children and grandchildren on five separate occasions. Bill loved reading and spending time watching the Toronto Blue Jays, having given up on his childhood favourite, the Maple Leafs.

    Bill was known to all who knew him as a quiet man of integrity, who loved and supported his family, and was unfailingly kind and honest. He will be greatly missed.

  • George R. Cheeseman

    1950s

    George R. Cheeseman

    鈥 BSc鈥52

    Spring 2023

    George R. Cheeseman passed away on June 8, 2021, in Edmonton, Alta. He was 92. George was survived by his wife, June Simon (Cheeseman) of 67 years; his daughter, Laura (Peter) Cheeseman-Frigon; and grandson, Robert (Megan) Frigon. He was predeceased by his parents, Sidney and Myrtle Cheeseman; brother, Roy (BSc鈥48); and sister, Margaret.

    George was born in Deloro, Ont. He was a very proud graduate of Queen鈥檚. He worked as an engineer throughout Canada. George finished his engineering career with Krupp Canada and Polysius Corp in the U.S. and India, retiring in 1983.

    A lifelong bird watcher and world traveller, he enjoyed participating in Queen鈥檚 alumni travel trips and homecomings.

  • 1960s

    James Michael Bennett

    鈥 BSc鈥63

    Spring 2023

    James Michael Bennett passed away on Feb. 17, 2023 in Peterborough, Ont., at the age of 83.

    He is survived by his wife, Sandy; his four children, Erin Bennett, Jeanne Bennett, Martha Bennett, and Rhys Bennett; and his stepdaughters, Sherry and Heidi; his five siblings, Bill Bennett, Kerry Sharp, Bishop Robert Bennett, Sally Bennett, and Neil Bennett, his 11 grandchildren; and one great grandson.

    Mike was such an accomplished person. He was a Professor Emeritus, a true scholar, an author, researcher and dean. He pioneered online course development, accreditation, and delivery in computer science, and engineering and was a gifted lecturer and teacher.

    He set an example of hard work, honesty, love and caring of others for his children and grandchildren, academic colleagues, and students. He was a man of faith and humility and truly lived what he believed. As is often the case, the brightest among us are often the most humble.

    Everyone loved Mike with his dry and witty humour and outstanding intellect. He was so well read and well-travelled, with exceptional knowledge of classical music, the sciences, history, geography, seven languages, and literature.

    He will be remembered for his love of his family, the numerous lives that he touched, and the kind and generous life that he lived.