Jean Evelyn (Brown) Ellis (BCom) died Nov. 2, 2011, in Kingston surrounded by her family. She was 91. Wife of the late Lt-Col. William Henry Ellis, BSc'39, and predeceased by her children Jean and Katherine, BSc'75, Evelyn is survived by her children David, Sc'68, MSc'69, Gordon, Arts'71, Ed'73, Susan, Arts'74, Robert, Artsci'88, MA'90, PhD'96, Nancy, BCom'77, and Peter, Sc'83, MBA'92.
Alumni Notes
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Robert Judson Frost (BCom) died Jan. 18, 2011, in Victoria, BC, predeceased by his wife, Joy. In 1945, Bob commanded the Lawrence Park Collegiate Cadet Corps, and at 17 was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in the Royal Regiment of Canada. On graduation from Queen’s, he was commissioned as a Lieutenant and joined the PPCLI in Calgary, where he met and married Joy, with whom he spent 49 happy years together, raising their three children. Bob served with the PPCLI in the Korean War, and was also on attachment with the US Marines. He was a sportsman and conservationist and spearheaded conservation and habitat enhancement in Alberta.
Published in: Summer 2012
William (Bill) Gray, BCom, BA’41, died on July 24, in Winnipeg. Following his war service as an Officer in the Royal Canadian Navy, he began a distinguished chartered-accountancy career, retiring in 1980 as a partner at Price Waterhouse. Among the honours he received were the Chartered Accountants of Manitoba Lifetime Achievement Award and a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. His extensive community service included tenures as Chairman or President of the boards of the Canadian Foundation for Economic Education, Canadian Club of Winnipeg, Manitoba Chamber of Commerce, University of Manitoba’s Board of Governors, and The University of Winnipeg’s Board of Regents, among others.
In retirement Bill volunteered with Canadian Executive Services Overseas in Tuvalu, Lesotho, and Costa Rica, and participated in assignments with Price Waterhouse to East Malaysia and Bermuda. He was predeceased by his wife Helen and eldest son Bill and is survived by his children Ainslie; Nancy (Alla Smeall); Barbara, BA’76 (Ted Bigelow); Ian, BA’78; and Cari, BA’88, (John Canning); as well as 16 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Published in: Winter 2016
Jessie May (Shaw) Nickson (BCom), passed away June 5 in Ottawa after a defiant battle with ALS. May was elected to Ottawa City Council in 1954, the first woman alderman. She resigned after two terms to accompany her husband and children to Australia, then worked at Statistics Canada after the family’s return to Ottawa. Following her retirement, she and her husband Rex traveled extensively, often as volunteers with the Canadian International Development Agency. She also remained active with the Ottawa Council of Women and National Council of Women of Canada. May enjoyed spending time with her family, playing cards, debating politics, and was never one to miss ‘happy hour’ on the verandah.
Published in: Winter 2011
1937
Robert Armstrong, BCom, died in April in Toronto at the age of 98. He is survived by Dorothea, his wife of more than 71 years; children Michael (Linda), Brock (Lynn), Barbara (Geoffrey) and Robert (Paula); and his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Following his discharge after World War II, Robert enjoyed a distinguished business career, the last 15 years of which were spent at Rio Tinto as an Executive Director and at subsidiary Rio Algom as CEO.
Published in: Winter 2016
1933
Helen McNab (BCom) passed away peacefully in Ottawa on Feb. 26 in her 100th year. She is greatly missed by her niece Elizabeth McNaughton (BA’60), her nephew former Dean of Law Donald Carter (BA’63, LLB’66) and her grandnephews Scott McNaughton, Robb McNaughton (BA’91), Ian Carter (LLB’02), Colin Carter, and greatgrandnieces Alisa McNaughton, Madeleine Carter, and great-grandnephew Nathan Carter.
Published in: Summer 2009
Professor Emeritus Ted Neave died on Feb. 6 at Kingston General Hospital. He was 88. Ted joined the business school in 1971 as an associate professor, retiring in 2005. In 2009, Ted was inducted into Smith’s Faculty Hall of Fame. In 2014, shortly after his wife passed away, he established the Elizabeth Neave Fellowship for MSc students to support research that fosters social progress. Ted is survived by his two children and three grandchildren. In an email to the school, daughter Barb noted that “Queen’s was a huge part of Ted’s life for over 40 years, and I can confidently say that he loved belonging to Queen’s.”
Published in: Spring 2023