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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  • 1960s

    David Hinson Hill

    – BA’62, LLB’65

    Spring 2023

    The family are sad to report that David Hinson Hill, C.M., Q.C., one of the co-founders of the prestigious law firm of Perley Robertson, Hill & McDougall LLP, passed away on Nov. 18, 2022. He was 82.

    The son of the late Dr. Hinson and Gertrude (nee Bathgate) Hill, David leaves his wife, Carolyn Elizabeth Hill; his son, Michael David Hill; his two step-children, Sheryl Louise Teasell (Scott) and Trevor Charles Beck (Bobbi); and five step grandchildren, Philip Teasell, Rebecca Teasell, Elizabeth Teasell, Spencer Beck and Brandon Beck.

    Born Nov. 27, 1939, at what was then the Ottawa Civic Hospital, David has been a lifelong resident of Ottawa. He graduated from Queen’s with an undergraduate History Bachelor of Arts Honours degree, as well as a degree in law. 

    He was a founding partner of Perley-Robertson, Hill & McDougall LLP and helped build the firm from the four original partners to become a major regional law firm with over 60 lawyers and a practice that is international and national in scope. David was known for excellence in the practice of law and a deep commitment to his clients. He lectured extensively and was a published author. He was a strong believer in professional integrity and ethics and brought to his practice a personal empathy and compassion for his clients.

    A Member of the Order of Canada and a Queen’s Counsel, David was involved in a large number of volunteer activities, holding directorships and officer positions at all levels – national, provincial and local – particularly in fields of health, law enforcement, education and politics.

    David was the recipient of multiple honours, including: the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond and Golden Jubilee Medals; 125th Anniversary of Confederation of Canada Medal; Canada Volunteer Award Certificate of Merit; Ottawa United Way Community Builder Award; Gordon F. Henderson Award of the County of Carleton Law Association; and many others. He was an Honourary Life Member of the Canadian Cancer Society and of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police.

    David will be missed greatly by his friends, family, and former colleagues.

  • Mary Doyle before she passed away.

    1980s

    Mary R. Doyle

    – BA'84

    Spring 2023

    Mary Rose Doyle, (nee Powell) passed away on Sept. 3, 2022. She was predeceased by her son, John; sister, Bridie; and brother, Paddy. A dearly loved wife, mother, and grandmother, she will be sadly missed by her loving husband Des (Arts'69); sons, Desmond (Artsci84, Ed’89) (Cathy), Christian (Artsci'85) (Kim), Noel, and daughter Rosemary; grandchildren, Thomas, Patrick, Jacqueline, Caroline, Amethyst, Maccleson, and Pressman Crowe; sister, Dolly; sister-in-law, Lorna; and extended family and friends.

  • 1950s

    Gerald (Gerry) Robert Browning

    – BSc’56

    Spring 2023

    Gerry passed away on May 3, 2022. 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, 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 out buildings, where he and Ruth hosted countless family gatherings until eventually moving into Ottawa for condo living. They travelled with family and friends throughout Canada, the U.S., 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 traveled 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!

    We will all miss seeing the knowing twinkle in his eyes, receiving his wise advice on almost every topic, and sharing family gatherings with him.

  • Carl Bresee before he passed away.

    1970s

    Carl Bresee

    – BA’71, BEd’72

    Spring 2023

    Carl Edwin Bresee passed away on July 21, 2022. He was 73. He is survived by his wife Colleen; his children, Mark (John), Kristine (Nate), and David (Christa); his grandchildren, Rosie, Maxwell, Jasper, Bennett, and Jupiter; his siblings, Dennis (Deb), Wayne (Donna), Donna and Julie; and his sister-in-law Maureen (Jeff). He is also survived by his nieces and nephews, Caitlin (Jake), Sara, Chris, and Paul (Julie). Carl was predeceased by his parents, Rose and Don Bresee; and his brother-in-law, Ross.

    Carl graduated from Queen's with degrees in Education and Political Science. Carl was an educator with the Limestone Board of Education for 30 years. He spent 19 years in municipal politics serving on the councils in Loyalist (Ernestown) Township and spent several years as a realtor before leaving Amherstview and moving west to be closer to his children and grandchildren.

    He loved spending time with his grandchildren, walks with his Shelties in the forests or along the oceans, canoe trips in Algonquin Park, playing cards, reading, following the Argos and Blue Jays, and winter visits to Palm Springs.

    Despite being diagnosed with Alzheimer's in the last two years of his life, Carl always had a ready smile and a handshake for those who visited him. 

  • John Maguire before he passed away.

    1950s

    John A. Maguire

    – BASc’54

    Spring 2023

    John A. Maguire passed away on Dec. 3, 2022. He was 94. John is survived by his wife, Shirley; three children, Catherine, Stephen and Sheila; their partners; and five grandchildren. He was predeceased by his parents, Art and Florence; his sister, Rosemary; son, Peter; and grandson, John.

    Born on March 30, 1928, he grew up in Carleton Place and Ottawa. After attending Carleton and Queen's universities, his work as a mechanical engineer took him to Connecticut, U.S., Montreal and then back to Ottawa, where he changed careers and taught at Brookfield, Rideau and McArthur High Schools. His nirvana was his beloved cottage on O'Brien Lake, which he used until mobility issues made visiting impossible. He loved nature and the outdoors, and the family room was a recovery room for every injured bird and mammal found in the area. 

  • Walter Downes before he passed away.

    1950s

    Walter Edward Downes

    – BA’56

    Spring 2023

    Walter passed away on Jan. 25, 2023. He was 90. Walter is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Kathryn Downes (née Thorn); and by his children, Heather (Artsci’87, Meds’91) (David Skarsgard), Karen (BNSc’89) (Peter Heysel), and Stephen (Claire Todd). He was the beloved grandfather of Chris Heysel (Sc’14, MASc’16) (Breanne), Jack Heysel (Sc’16) (Ruby Komisar), Matthew Skarsgard (Sc’18), Fiona Heysel (Sc’20) (Alli Christensen), Peter Skarsgard (Olivia Quinn), Liam Downes, and Sarah Downes. He will be greatly missed by his brother-in-law, Allan Thorn (Patricia, predeceased), and by his many nieces and nephews. 

    Walter was predeceased by his parents, Walter Henry and Ruby Downes (née Brown); and his siblings, Vera (Mel Holden), Stanley (Mary), and Ruby (Owen Amundsen), all predeceased. 

    Walter was born at home on Sherbrooke Street in Peterborough. Growing up, he was influenced, not only by the scarcity and losses experienced by his working-class neighbourhood during the Depression and the Second World War, but also by the sense of community created during these lean years. Walter’s mother was an accomplished pianist, and his father was a singer and an opera lover. Together, they instilled in Walter an early love of music, and it filled the house during uncertain times.