Donald “Don” MacArthur (BCom) passed away Nov. 21 in Calgary, aged 87. He worked for London Life Insurance in Calgary, Regina, Kingston and London prior to returning to Calgary upon his retirement. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Lois (MacLennan) and children Carol (Gordon) Ryley, Blair (Deborah) and Paul (Jann), as well as seven grandchildren, his brother Peter, BSc’60, (Rosemary), and his large extended family.
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Garth Webb (BCom) died May 8 in Burlington, ON, aged 93, on the 67th anniversary of VE (Victory in Europe) Day. Most famously known as the founder and driving force behind the creation of the Juno Beach Centre in France, he was also a devoted father (of Susan, Andrew and Peter), grandfather and great-grandfather.
As Lieutenant Webb, he landed on Juno Beach in Normandy with the Canadian 14th Field Artillery on the morning of D-Day, June 6, 1944. His unit experienced significant casualties shortly after leaving the beach, but continued their advance that fateful day to begin the liberation of Europe. After the war, Garth resumed his Queen’s Commerce studies. Upon graduation, he embarked on a successful career as a real estate broker and appraiser in Toronto, married Camilla (Cunningham) (BA’44—deceased, 1992) and raised a family.
In June 1994, for the 50th anniversary of D-Day, he returned to the beaches of Normandy with many of the veterans from his unit. The group realized there was little for their children and grandchildren to see there in commemoration of the Canadian involvement in World War II. As a result, Garth and his partner Lise Cooper spearheaded an initiative of Canadian WWII veterans, widows and children of veterans to perpetuate the memory of Canada’s wartime contributions, especially the D-Day sacrifices.
After years of raising awareness and funds ($10 million), the Juno Beach Centre was officially opened at Courseulles-sur-Mer, France, on the 59th anniversary of D-Day in 2003, with then Prime Minister Jean Chrétien and his French counterpart Jean-Pierre Raffarin in attendance, along with hundreds of veterans. Garth continued to serve on the Centre’s Board as President of the Association until his death.
In addition to his many commendations and military medals, he also received the Meritorious Service Cross, presented by the Governor General in 2003 in recognition of his contributions to the Centre. He was honoured by the French government in 2005 with the Legion of Honour Medal and was proud to learn that a new school in Halton Region that opened in September had been named after him.
Visit www.junobeach.org to read more tributes, including one from broadcaster and writer Ted Barris.
Published in: Winter 2013
Memories Of BCOM'43 - 65th Annversary Of A Class Forged In War Garth Webb, BCom’47, is on a mission. The World War II veteran and member of the 14th Field Regiment was among those Canadian soldiers who stormed the beaches of Normandy on D-Day, June 6, 1944. He was among the lucky ones who returned home from the fields of battle, but he can’t forget his Commerce classmate who wasn’t so fortunate. Dick Stewart was a member of the Class of 1943. “He was a leader,” Garth recalls. “He was the best athlete in the class and an honour student.” Dick enlisted along with friends fromhis Glebe Collegiate days in Ottawa who also went on to graduate from Queen’s Commerce Class in 1943: Ian Alexander, who served in the Canadian Navy, and then-fighter pilot Jim McCallum. A third friend fromGlebe and Commerce’43 was Fraser Elliott, who founded the renowned Toronto law firm Stikeman Elliot. Dick was on assignment from his Canadian unit to the Royal Highland Regiment (the famous Black Watch) when he was killed in action just months before the end of the war in Europe, in February 1945, in a small town in Germany’s Hochwald Forest. Garth has kept alive the memory of Dick Stewart and countless other Canadian WWII veterans through his commitment to the Juno Beach Centre. This privately operated Canadian military museum opened in Courseulles-sur-Mer, France, on June 6, 2003, the 59th anniversary of the D-Day landings. After his retirement from a career in real estate appraisal and consulting in Toronto, Garth became actively involved in getting the Centre off the ground. Now, as President of the Juno Beach Centre Association based in Burlington, ON, he continues to play a pivotal role in its ongoing promotion and fund-raising activities. And his mission? To never forget. To honour the memory of fallen comrades, both unknown and those fondly remembered. To that end, he visited Groesbeek Canadian Cemetery, near Nijmegen, Holland, in May and placed a Canadian and a Queen’s flag on the grave of his old friend, Dick Stewart. For information about making a donation, perhaps in memory of Dick Stewart, someone else on Queen’s Honour Roll, or another WWII veteran, visit Juno Beach Center.
Published in: Summer 2008
1946
Barbara Rogers (BCom) died Nov. 8, aged 88, in hospital in Kingston, after a long illness with cancer. She is survived by Arnold, her husband of 64 years; children Gregory (Leianne) and Grant (Joanne); and grandchildren Jason, Kate, Erin and Jonathan. Her interests included finance and community education affairs, travelling, playing bridge and making some 300 dolls for needy children around the world.
Published in: Winter 2014
Donald Cameron, BCom, died on June 25 at age 97. Don spent his career working at Jones Heward and Company in Montreal, serving as president and deputy chairman. He was a director on many boards in Canada and the U.S., as well as a member of the Investment Committee at Queen’s. Don is survived by his children, Donald, Bruce, and Jean, as well as his grandchildren and extended family.
Published in: Fall 2020
1945
Donald Gordon Mathieson (BCom) died May 15 in Kingston, aged 88. Born in Winnipeg, Don returned there following graduation to work at the Great West Life Assurance Co. There he met his wife Dorothy and stayed until his retirement in 1983. A computer pioneer, he became the company’s manager of computer education. As early as 1966, he had predicted the arrival of personal computers, long before such devices existed. He was passionate about his work, loved jazz and was an authority on his favourite musician, Duke Ellington. Retiring to Kingston, Don consulted for a short time with Empire Life before retiring completely and continuing his travels with Dorothy throughout North America and Europe. Predeceased by Dorothy, he is survived by sons Peter (MBA’94) of Kingston, Evan of Vancouver, and grandchildren Heather, Courtney and John.
Published in: Summer 2013
John Edmund “Jack” Thexton (BCom) died Dec. 8, 2010, in Toronto. He was predeceased by his wife Betty and four of his siblings, including sister Eunice, BCom’52. Proud father of two, grandfather of seven, and great-grandfather of three. Jack was a member of Queen’s distinctive “Peterborough Gang”—‘regular’ and Summer School grads who formed their own kind of alumni “branch,” becoming close friends and very loyal alumni. His 40-year career was with Ontario Hydro.
Published in: Summer 2011
1944
Helen Emily (McCaffrey) Ramin (BCom) died in Kingston on May 20. Predeceased by her husband Bob, she is survived by her children Jeff, Jane, and Charlie, five grandsons, and one great-grandson. After graduation from Queen’s, Emily travelled in Europe, then worked for IBM, first in Winnipeg, and then in Toronto, where she met Bob. They married in 1952 and moved to the Windsor area, where they lived until Bob’s retirement in 1982. There, Emily was an active member of the University Women’s Club, All Saints’ Anglican Church, the United Way, and the YM/YWCA, where she served on the Board of Directors, including a term as President. Emily played piano and was an active golfer, tennis player and bridge player who also enjoyed skiing, hiking and sailing. An avid reader, she was instrumental in making books available in the communities where she lived.
Published in: Winter 2013
1943
Ralph Irving Bishop, BCom, died on Aug. 30, 2017 in Barrie, ON. He was 98. Ralph was the father of Cheryl, Brett (Pam), Donna Pfundt (Bela) and Stephen (Janis); grandfather of six and great-grandfather of 11; and sibling of John and Frances (deceased). Ralph became a chartered accountant in 1948 and held various positions within the automotive sector and, later, in hospital administration.
Published in: Winter 2018
Preston Reid “Jerry” Cook (BCom) died on Jan. 7, 2009, in Thunder Bay, ON. He was 85. Jerry was a 50-year member of the Lake Superior Scottish Regiment: an active serviceman in WWII, Commanding Officer 1962-65, and then Honorary Colonel. He was President of Barnett-McQueen Construction for 35 years and CEO of the Thunder Bay Harbour Commission. Jerry will be dearly missed by his wife Marie (Bain), son Grigor, Sc’72 (Janice, Artsci’72), daughter Gail Johnson (Neil), four grandsons, a great-grandson, and extended family.
Published in: Spring 2009