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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  • Barbara Diane Dodd, obituary

    1960s

    Diane (Hodgston) Dodd

    – Arts’68

    Spring 2023

    Barbara Diane Dodd slipped away peacefully at home surrounded by her children and the embrace of their love on the morning of Jan. 1, 2023.

    Diane is predeceased by her husband David. She will be greatly missed by her loving children: Mary (Com’84) and husband, Dan Dederer (Sc’85); Michael (Com’86); Brian (Dana) and Theresa (Caleb); and also by her six grand-daughters, including: Claire (Sc’19) and Leigh (Sc’21) Dederer.

    Diane was born in Kingston in 1940. An outstanding student, she skipped two grades and attended Queen’s in 1958 at the young age of 17. There she met her beloved husband David (BASc’60), and married in 1960. With her marriage, Diane dedicated her life to being a fantastic mother, creating a welcoming home full of love, learning, and many, many pets. She was the foundation of her family for over 60 years and a second mother to many others.

    Diane and David moved numerous times in the early years of their marriage. During this period and with three children under the age of seven, Diane continued her university studies via correspondence, proudly receiving her Bachelor of Arts from Queen’s in 1968. Once her children reached school age, Diane embarked upon a career as a teacher, where her kindness, patience, and talent made her a gifted and celebrated teacher.

    In the last two years of her life, Diane met the challenge of cancer with courage, fierce determination, and a forward-looking love of life. Supported by her family, her inner strength was an inspiration to everyone and allowed her to fully participate and take joy in every day.

    Email your condolences and memories.

  • 1960s

    Dr. Francis Kenney Tindall

    – BA’64, MD’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’s Degree in Commerce and Economics. He proudly played football for Queen’s and was coached by his father. Following in his father’s 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’s 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’s three children, Heather, Christopher and James, with Heather’s 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

    – 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 (née Bradley). He was the loving father of Susan, Sc’80 (Mark); John, Sc’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 – father Elwin, mother Gretta, and brothers Jack and Bob (Arts'66) – followed their construction-foreman father to job sites at some of Canada’s major infrastructure projects of the mid-20th century throughout Canada — he attended 12 schools by high school graduation. Eventually, he returned to Pembroke, where his father’s family was from and where Bill always considered home. 

    He was a proud 1952 graduate in electrical engineering, working summers as an electrician’s helper on major hydroelectric dams at Des Joachims (“The Swisha”) 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 – notably Alcan, Stone and Webster, Kilborn, and Giffels – 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

    – BSc’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’48); and sister, Margaret.

    George was born in Deloro, Ont. He was a very proud graduate of Queen’s. 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’s alumni travel trips and homecomings.

  • 1960s

    James Michael Bennett

    – BSc’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.

  • 2000s

    Michael B. Vladescu

    – MBA’20

    Spring 2023

    Michael B. Vladescu passed away May 3, 2022 at 53. He is survived by his wife, Caroline and children, Nadia, Alexandra, and Nicholas, as well as extended family, friends, and colleagues.