DONALD o@ca.on.grey_county.owen_sound.the_sun_times 2004-12-31 published
DONALD,
Jean
Elizabeth (née
BRIGGS)
Jean DONALD, our beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother,
passed away in Ottawa on December 24th, 2004, after a long and
very happy life. Born in Owen Sound, Ontario in 1910, Jean was
the widow of Robert Stuart
DONALD, of Owen Sound. Cherished mother
of Catherine
CLARK
(Ainslie,) of Ottawa, Ellen
MONAGHAN (Bill,)
of Millarville, Alberta and Robert
DONALD
(Judy,) of Austin,
Texas.
Beloved grandmother of M.J.
McLEAN
(Stephen,) of Yellowknife,
Drew CLARK, of Ottawa; Leith and Kip
MONAGHAN, of Millarville
and great-grandmother of Victoria and Justin. Joyful in her strong
faith, Mom honoured "Be doers of the word and not hearers only"
(James 1: 22). She was always the quiet, tireless volunteer in
the background, a pillar of gentle strength for many people.
Her lifelong contributions were recognized with a Lifetime Membership
in the United Church Women of Canada. A true lady, Mom's greatest
passion was for her family and we shall deeply miss her. A celebration
of Jean's life was held at the Central Chapel of Hulse, Playfair
and McGarry, 315 McLeod Street, Ottawa, Ontario, at 2: 00 p.m.,
Wednesday, December 29th, 2004. Interment will follow at a later
date at Rideau Memorial Gardens, Dollard des Ormeaux, Quebec.
In lieu of flowers, Friends who so wish may make a donation to
The Ottawa Mission or to the Stephen Lewis Foundation for A.I.D.S.
Africa. (www.stephenlewisfoundation.org). "This is the day which
the Lord hath made: we rejoice and be glad in it" (Psalm 118:24)
Condolences, donations, tributes: mcgarryfamily.ca 613-233-1143.
Page A2
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DONNELLY o@ca.on.middlesex_county.london.london_free_press 2004-12-31 published
Man freezes to death
The family of Millar
CAMPBELL wants answers to why he was left
in the cold.
By Marissa
NELSON,
Free
Press
Reporter
An 87-year-old London man, who overcame a brain injury to live
a productive life, froze to death outside a closed seniors' centre
on Boxing Day night after he was dropped off there by a cab driver.
And while police say a criminal act was not committed in the
death of Millar
CAMPBELL and a cab company insists its driver
did nothing wrong, grieving family members are left wondering
how an elderly person could be left in the cold at night, outside
an empty building on Hamilton Road in the dead of winter.
Temperatures that night dipped to -21°C, with windchill values
as low as -28°C.
London police Det.-Insp. Buzz
BEZAIRE called
CAMPBELL's death
"an unfortunate comedy of errors."
CAMPBELL was to return home from Christmas celebrations at his
granddaughter's home on December 26 about 7 p.m., but instead
got out of an Aboutown cab at the Hamilton Road Seniors' Centre
just a few blocks from his retirement home, Maple Village.
Police found his body outside the community centre's back door
the next day.
CAMPBELL had spent the last day of his life with his granddaughter,
Danielle BARRINGTON of London.
As she left a funeral home yesterday after visitation, she said
she didn't understand how the tragedy could occur.
"I just held his hand now and it was cold. I just said, 'I'm
so sorry. You're as cold now as you probably were outside that
night,' BARRINGTON said.
BEZAIRE said this is how the tragedy unfolded:
- CAMPBELL was picked up by a cab at
BARRINGTON's
Dundas
Street
home about 7 p.m. and asked to be taken to a Hamilton Road address.
- When the cab arrived at that address,
CAMPBELL told the cabbie
it wasn't the right place. He asked the driver to head farther
east on Hamilton Road.
- When the taxi got to the seniors' centre,
CAMPBELL told the
driver it was the right place.
- The driver asked
CAMPBELL if he was sure -- because the centre
was dark -- but
CAMPBELL reassured the driver and got out.
- The next day, staff at Maple Village retirement home -- where
residents are free to come and go as they please -- called police
to report CAMPBELL missing. Police later found his body.
BEZAIRE said although he's awaiting the autopsy report, it's
believed CAMPBELL died of exposure and no foul play is suspected.
"It is sad,"
BEZAIRE said. "Nothing criminal happened. He wasn't
kicked out of somewhere or turned away by the cab."
Jim DONNELLY, president of Aboutown, said he's satisfied the
driver did what he should have.
"This is a terrible tragedy, particularly around Christmas...
Our sympathies go to the family.
"With the elderly, there should be more information,"
DONNELLY
said, noting some family members even ride with their relatives
or give specific instructions to drivers.
But BARRINGTON said the taxi driver was told where to take
CAMPBELL
and that she put $10 in her grandfather's pocket for the ride.
"What the hell was (the taxi driver) doing?" she asked, tears
streaming down her face. "Why would you let him go? I don't understand
why any of this happened."
CAMPBELL's nephew, Robert
SMITH, from Collingwood, questioned
why anyone would leave an elderly man at a closed centre in frigid
weather.
"Seniors fall between the cracks too often," he said. "It can
just take a series of carelessness and it costs someone his life...
There are a number of people who need to answer some questions."
CAMPBELL suffered a serious head injury when he was a young man,
SMITH said. A truck tire exploded and part of the metal rim went
into his head. But
CAMPBELL worked hard to recover and went on
to work for the postal service.
CAMPBELL's wife died several years ago. He also was predeceased
by his wife's son, whom he helped raise.
BARRINGTON said the last day she spent with her grandfather was
a joyous one.
"He was very funny and very caring. He loved me large," she said.
"He wouldn't let go of my hand."
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