EASON
EAST
EASTEP
EASTICK
EASTON
EASTWOOD
EASON o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2007-09-20 published
MacDONALD,
Katherine
Constance (née
MacLEOD)
92, Halifax, passed away on September 17, 2007, in Saint Vincent's
Nursing Home. Born in Taiwan in 1915, she was a daughter of Rev. Duncan
and Constance
(EASON)
MacLEOD.
She is survived by sons, Ian (Jane,)
Fredericton, New Brunswick; Edward (Jane
HENSON), Halifax; daughters,
Sharon, Halifax; Carol (Russell)
HAZELDEN, West Dover; son-in-law,
Bill PLASKETT,
Halifax.
Also surviving are grandchildren, Andy
(Circe) and Jennifer
MacDONALD,
Joel
(Rebecca
KRAATZ) and Anna
PLASKETT,
Andrew and Russell
HAZELDEN, and Katie
MacDONALD; numerous
nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband, Robert
Murray MacDONALD; sister, Ruth; brothers, Donald, Ian and Bonar
MacLEOD.
She came to Canada (Manitoba) at the age of 11 and later
attended high school and university in Toronto, graduating with
a B.A. from Victoria College, University of Toronto in 1937.
She entered nursing and graduated as a Registered Nurse in 1941
from Toronto General Hospital where she met her husband, Bob,
when he was a visiting medical officer serving in the Royal Canadian
Navy during the Second World War. Settling in wartime Halifax,
she quickly involved herself in church and community life. Because
of her unique background, she had a special connection with members
of the Chinese community. For 25 years she served as the honorary
president and advisor of the Dalhousie Chinese Students' Society,
which originated in her home. She had been a member of the Chinese
Society of Nova Scotia since its inception in the 1970s. She
served in leadership and executive positions in many organizations
over the years. At St. Matthew's United Church, she was a founding
member of the Ross Auxiliary, United Church Women, ran a children's
mission band, started up the Sunday nursery, served on a committee
to support a Vietnamese family, and volunteered at the St. Andrew's
Church Sunday suppers. She also served for a time on the selection
committee of Pine Hill Divinity College, interviewing candidates
for the ministry. In the late 1940s and early 1950s she was very
active with the Young Women's Christian Association as a board
member and chair of the world service committee and gave occasional
radio talks. She was a founding member of Women for Music, the
Dalhousie-Kings Reading Club and the Halifax Canadian Federation
of University Women. She served in Home and School Associations
at the elementary, junior and senior high levels, and was often
asked to give slide talks to classrooms on international topics.
Over the years, Katherine canvassed for a number of charities,
drove for 10 years for Meals on Wheels, kept up her contacts
with Toronto General Hospital alumnae, and was a member of the
Clan MacLeod Society. She met weekly for decades with a group
of close Friends (the 'bag-lunch ladies'). She took an active
interest in her husband's professional life at the university
and together they hosted faculty and students, and participated
in the International Students' Association. In the early days
of the Indo-Canadian Society, she was invited to join the organization
as an executive member. She took a refresher course and returned
to nursing for a time in the 1970s. Whenever she and Bob traveled
internationally, they visited former colleagues and students
and Katherine maintained those Friendships worldwide. Katherine
lived a rich life of service and will be missed by family and
Friends. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, September 22,
at 10: 30 a.m. in St. Matthew's United Church, 1479 Barrington
Street, Rev. Ross Bartlett officiating. A family burial will be
held at a later date in Hardwood Hills Cemetery, Sydney. In lieu
of flowers, donations may be made to The Katherine and Robert
MacDonald Scholarship, c/o The School of Nursing, Dalhousie University
or any charity of choice. Heartfelt thanks to the staff of Saint
Vincent's, the QEII, the Bedford Berkeley and Doctor Marilynne
Bell. E-mail condolences may be sent to: condolences.snow@ca.ns.aliantzinc.ca
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EASON - All Categories in OGSPI
EAST o@ca.on.grey_county.owen_sound.the_sun_times 2007-11-03 published
JESSON, Lenora "Nora" Caroline Elizabeth (née
EAST)
Mrs.
Lenora
(Nora) Caroline Elizabeth
JESSON, age 94, of Kitchener
passed away peacefully at the Grand River Regional Hospital on
Monday October 29, 2007. Born in Stratford, daughter of the late
Percy EAST and the former Ida
COPP.
Nora and her husband Bert
lived in Stratford until moving to Goderich in 1961 and then
to Kitchener in 1977. Beloved wife of the late Barrett (Bert)
JESSON whom she married on August 10, 1935 and who predeceased
her on February 23, 2004. Loving mother of Donald
JESSON of Abbotsford,
British Columbia. Grandmother of Troy and Tracy. Also survived
by nieces Elizabeth
BROWN and Nancy
COOK, nephew Ron
BROWN.
Predeceased
by daughter-in-law Ethel
JESSON, sisters Irene and Hazel, brother
Clarence. A Graveside was held at Avondale Cemetery, Stratford.
As expressions of sympathy, memorial donations may be made to
the Heart and Stroke Foundation or to the Canadian Cancer Society
through the W.G. Young Funeral Home, Stratford. wgyoungfuneralhome.com
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EAST o@ca.on.middlesex_county.london.london_free_press 2007-01-09 published
GOFF,
Marguerite
L.
Peacefully at her residence on Sunday, January 7, 2007, surrounded
by her family, Marguerite L.
GOFF of London in her 88th year.
Beloved wife for 67 years of Charles
GOFF and dearly loved mother
of Cheri (Joseph)
PITTMAN and Karen (Gerry)
BLACKWELL of London
and Jim GOFF of Strathroy. Predeceased by a daughter Joyce Marie
EAST.
Loved mother-in-law of Arthur
EAST of London. Marguerite
will be sadly missed by 5 grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren
and 6 great-great-grandchildren. Predeceased by a sister Lorraine
and brother Ralph. Friends will be received at the Forest Lawn
Memorial Chapel 1997 Dundas Street, E. (at Wavell) London on Friday,
January 12, 2007 from 12: 30-1:30 p.m. where the Funeral Service
will be held at 1: 30 p.m. with Rev. Jim
EVANS officiating. Interment
Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens. Donations to the charity of choice
gratefully received. McFarlane and Roberts Funeral Home, Lambeth
519-652-2020 in care of arrangements.
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EAST o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2007-06-16 published
FROST,
John
James
Born August 10, 1947. Passed away while playing squash on Thursday,
June 14th at the age of 59. Much loved by his wife
Robin
KINGSMILL,
and family: Brenna
FROST,
Kim
AGAR, Jim and Wendy
FROST, Max
and Frances
FROST,
Karen and David
BARRETT, Patti and Mike
EAST,
Carol KINGSMILL and Dave
POLE, and kindred sporting spirit Ruth
KINGSMILL.
Friends may call at Neweduk Funeral Home, (1981 Dundas
St. W. Mississauga) Monday, June 18th 7-9 p.m. A memorial service
will be held in the chapel on Tuesday, June 19th at 10: 30 a.m.
If desired, memorial donations can be made to World Wildlife
Fund, 245 Eglinton Ave. E. Suite 410, Toronto, Ontario M4P 3J1.
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EAST - All Categories in OGSPI
EASTEP o@ca.on.grey_county.owen_sound.the_sun_times 2007-10-19 published
HUDDLE,
Shirley
Mae (née
SPENCER) (June 14, 1934-October 18,
With grace and dignity Shirley Mae
HUDDLE (née
SPENCER) went
to be with her Lord on October 18, 2007, at Lisaard House, Cambridge.
Beloved wife of David
HUDDLE of Waterloo; cherished mother and
best friend of Cheryl
HARNACK and her husband Tony, of Annan,
Ontario; Kenneth
COULL and his wife
Karen of Cambridge; devoted
Mom of Jessica at home, and her fiancé Rick
EASTEP of Elora
proud Nana of Shelley
COTGRAVE and her husband Mark of Newmarket
and Shannon
HARNACK of Owen Sound. Special Nana to great-granddaughter
Brooklyn Mae
COTGRAVE; dear step-daughter of Reta
SPENCER of
Cambridge; loving sister of Kenneth
SPENCER and his wife
Lorna
of Cambridge and Florence
SMITH and her husband Jack of St. George.
Predeceased by her father Henry
SPENCER (1987,) mother Florence
SPENCER (née
HEATH) (2006) and sister Marilyn
ELVIN (2003.) Shirley
will also always be remembered by her nieces, nephews and many
Friends. Friends are invited to share their memories of Shirley
with the family during visitation at the Erb and Good Family Funeral
Home 171 King Street South in Waterloo on Sunday, October 21,
2007 from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. The funeral service to celebrate Shirley's
life and faith will be held at Waterloo Pentecostal Assembly,
395 King Street North, Waterloo, on Monday, October 22, 2007
at 11 a.m. with Pastor Marshall
EIZENGA officiating. Following
the service, Friends are invited to join the family in the Church
Fellowship Hall for refreshments and a time to visit. Interment
in Parklawn Cemetery, Cambridge. Condolences for the family and
donations to Lisaard House, cancer hospice, Cambridge, can be
arranged through the funeral home - 519-745-8445 or www.erbgood.com
In living memory of Shirley, a tree will be planted through the
Trees for Learning Program by the funeral home.
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EASTICK o@ca.on.grey_county.owen_sound.the_sun_times 2007-10-25 published
FISHER,
Dorothy
Margaret (née
LEPPARD)
With loving memories, the family announce the passing of Dorothy
Margaret FISHER
(LEPPARD) in her 88th year at Maple View Nursing
Home on October 23rd, 2007. Dorothy was the beloved wife of Charles
FISHER for 60 years. Mother to Faye
FISHER and husband David
GRAHLMAN, Sandra and Barry
KEARNEY and Donna
FISHER-
POTTER and
Tom POTTER.
Proud
Grandmother to eight grandchildren, Chris
WEBBER
(Amberley), Adam
WEBBER, Kristina
KEARNEY-
RICHARDS (Mark), Colleen
KEARNEY-
JANSSENS (Jerry), Ryan
EASTICK (Katherine), Kyle
EASTICK
(Jessica,) Graham and Garrett
POTTER and great-granddaughter,
Emma RICHARDS.
Fondly remembered by Barry
MOLE (Dorothy) and
Jean GATEMAN and family. Dorothy was predeceased by her parents,
Thomas and Margaret
LEPPARD and her sisters, Laura
McGIRR,
Jean
MILLER and Sadie
HARBOTTLE.
Friends may call at the Brian E.
Wood Funeral Home, 250 - 14th Street West, Owen Sound (519-376-
7492) on Thursday evening from 7: 00-9:00 p.m. A service to celebrate
Dorothy's life will be held in the Funeral Home Chapel on Friday,
October 26th, 2007 at 11: 00 a.m. with Father Ed
WAGNER officiating.
Interment in Greenwood Cemetery. Donations may be made to the
Parkinson Society of Canada. Condolences received at brian@woodfuneralhome.ca.
An elegant and multi-talented lady who loved her family, gardening,
animals, music and art; Dorothy's final canvas is now complete.
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EASTON o@ca.on.middlesex_county.london.london_free_press 2007-01-08 published
LENNON,
Marion
Ellenor (née
IRWIN)
Marion passed away peacefully in her 91st year at Chatham-Kent
Health Alliance, Sydenham Campus in Wallaceburg on Wednesday
January 3, 2007. Marion was predeceased by her loved husband
Art (1986) and beloved son Dick (1976). She leaves her son Reg,
sister Eileen
EASTON and brother Ken
IRWIN.
Marion will be sadly
missed by her nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews and
dear friend Blanche Herman. Marion was born and raised in Toronto
and moved to Dresden with her husband Art in the 1940's. They
made Dresden their home and raised their two sons there. Marion
was an avid bowler and mentor with Youth Bowling Council and
loved her church and community. She gave much of her time and
love to her community and she will be fondly remembered by many.
Marion coached bowling for many years and in 1996 she was inducted
into the Sports Hall of Fame in both Wallaceburg and Dresden.
The family wishes to thank the staff at Sydenham Residence, Wallaceburg
who provided kind and compassionate care to Marion in her final
years. Visitation will take place at the Thomas L. DeBurger Funeral
Home, 620 Cross Street, Dresden on Friday, January 12, 2007 from
6: 00-8:00 p.m. and Saturday, January 13, 2007 from 1:00-2:00 p.m.
The funeral service will be held from the chapel of the funeral
home on Saturday, January 13, 2007 at 2: 00 p.m. with Rev. Andrew
SONG officiating. Interment in Dresden Cemetery followed by a
reception at St Andrew's Presbyterian Church, St. George Street,
Dresden. In keeping with Marion's wishes, in lieu of flowers,
donations may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society or Ontario
Heart and Stroke Foundation. Online condolences and donations
may be left at www.deburgerfuneralhome.com
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EASTON o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2007-07-18 published
MacRAE,
Dorothy
Frances (née
EASTON)
Unexpectedly, but peacefully of leukemia on Tuesday, July 17,
2007, at Etobicoke General Hospital at the age of 79. Beloved
wife of the late Glen, loving mother of Larry and his wife Rose
and Bruce and his wife Debbie. Dearest grandmother of Craig,
Ryan and Darren. She will be fondly remembered and missed by
her many Friends and family. A memorial service will be held
at St. Philip Anglican Church, 31 St. Phillips Road, on Friday,
July 20, 2007 at 11 a.m. Arrangements entrusted to the Turner and
Porter Yorke Chapel, 416-767-3153. In lieu of flowers, donations
can be made in Dorothy's memory to the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation
of Canada.
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EASTON o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2007-12-06 published
EASTON,
Edward
Ronald "
Ted"
It is with great sadness that Ted's family announces his sudden
passing on December 4, 2007 at the age of 75. Cherished husband
of Adrianne; loving father of Chris (Nancy) and Bryan; adored
Papa to Kate, Megan, Tala and Payta. Will be sadly missed by
his sister Joyce and brother-in-law Alex of Barrie and also by
his brother Billy and sister-in-law Joan of Northern Ireland,
and their families.
Ted was always an avid supporter of both Chris and Bryan; whether
it was their sporting pursuits in hockey and tennis, their careers
or their young families.
After retiring from International Business Machines Corporation
in 1990, Ted enthusiastically pursued many hobbies, including
golf and woodworking and he delighted in making gifts for his
four granddaughters. His passion for woodworking leaves his family
with many treasured memories.
Ted will be missed by his countless Friends, neighbours and extended
family members. He will be remembered fondly as someone who would
always go out of his way to help others.
A memorial service will be held at Central United Church, 131 Main
Street, in Unionville on Friday December 7th at 3: 30 p.m. A reception
will be held immediately following the service, at the church.
If desired, and in lieu of flowers, donations may be made in
Ted's memory to the Heart and Stroke Foundation at 2300 Yonge
Street, Toronto (416) 489-7100 or at
www.hsf.ca
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EASTON o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2007-12-18 published
ALLAN,
Dorothy (formerly
DOYLE, née
HOYLAND)
Born in Sheffield, England, Dorothy died peacefully in her sleep
on December 16, 2007 at Meighen Manor in Toronto. She was 87.
A loving wife, she was predeceased by her first husband Ronald
Edward DOYLE (father of her five children) and her second husband
Donald Sutherland
ALLAN.
Beloved mother of Patti (Steve
HASKELL)
of Waterloo, Dorothy (John
McGINN) of Stittsville, Kathy (John
BLACK) of Cookstown, Michael
DOYLE
(Gaston
COMEAU) of Crescent
Beach, Nova Scotia and Pam
DOYLE (Glen
EASTON) of Toronto. Cherished
Nanny of eight: Matthew (Brook) and Lindsay
McGINN;
Kate
EMMERSON
Kira, Alec and Michael
BLACK;
Megan and Drew
EASTON. She is survived
by her sister Joan
VICKERS, a life long friend and support.
Widowed at an early age, Dorothy was a tremendous role model
and inspiration to her young family. Throughout her life, as
a mother and educator, she set an example of service. She was
a teacher at Central Peel Secondary School in Brampton, Mimico
High School, Silverthorn Collegiate and Humber College in Toronto.
Dorothy and Don enjoyed sailing and lawn bowling at the Royal
Canadian Yacht Club. They were also members of The Graduates
Club and avid bridge players. The family would like to express
their appreciation to the Davis Wing staff at the Isabel and
Arthur Meighen Manor for the wonderful care provided for our
mother. A celebration of Dorothy's life, followed by a reception,
will take place Thursday, December 20th at 11: 00 a.m. at Turner
and Porter Funeral Home, Butler Chapel, 4933 Dundas Street West,
Etobicoke, Ontario M9A 1B6 (416) 231-2283. For those who wish
donations may be made in her name to your local Alzheimer Society.
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EASTWOOD o@ca.on.middlesex_county.london.london_free_press 2007-01-02 published
FORD,
Violet
Ruth
In loving memory Violet Ruth who passed away January 2nd, 1997.
To my best friend and dear sister If I knew 10 years ago today
When I hugged you and said goodbye That it would be our last
I never would have let you go. Always remembered, your sister
Vicki and Bob
EASTWOOD.
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EASTWOOD o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2007-01-05 published
MATTHEWS,
Harold
Smithson
(World War 2 Veteran, Prince of Wales Rangers; British Army Officer
5th Battalion)
Peacefully in Peterborough, January 1, 2007. Beloved husband
of Frances Mary (née
BELLEGHEM.)
Loving father of Cyndy and her
husband Jan
PACHL,
David and his wife
Jody, and Tim
MATTHEWS.
Cherished grandfather of Rebecca, Jordana, and Jamie
FRANCES.
Brother of Jack (wife Jane) and the late Gordon. Brother-in-law
of Berta HAMILTON (late husband Bill,) and the late Jack and Betty-Jane
BELLEGHEM. son of the late Gordon and Agnes (née
EASTWOOD.) A family
memorial service was held at Comstock Funeral Home and Cremation
Centre, Peterborough.
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EASTWOOD o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2007-10-29 published
Jack MATTHEWS, 79: Educator
Influenced by a sabbatical year spent teaching at Gordonstoun
School in Scotland, he saw education as a period when students
should spend as much time outdoors as they do indoors
By Alicia PRIEST,
Special to The Globe and Mail, Page S12
Victoria -- Jack
MATTHEWS believed that education - the right
kind of education - was the world's last great hope. An Ontario
private school headmaster steeped in British boarding school
traditions, he left a secure post at a time of great uncertainty
to become the founding director of British Columbia's Lester B.
Pearson College. Later, he went on to develop the Trent University
International Program.
Education under his watch meant spending as much time outdoors
- sailing, star-gazing and debating philosophy around a campfire
- as indoors. Students adored him for his open mind and for his
unflappable faith in what they could do.
To know Mr.
MATTHEWS, it helps to know a bit about Pearson College
and the global educational movement that spawned it. One of 12 United
World Colleges on five continents, PC, as the school is called,
is huddled on a forested bay about 30 kilometres west of Victoria
on Vancouver Island. Inspired by its namesake - former Canadian
prime minister and 1957 Nobel Peace Prize recipient, Lester B.
Pearson - the college offers an international baccalaureate diploma
for 200 students from about 100 countries. Students are selected
on merit alone and attend on full scholarship. Pearson aims,
like all United World Colleges, to promote international goodwill
by bringing together young people from every possible religion,
race and political persuasion in a community of respect, service
and outdoor activity.
Raised in Peterborough, Ontario, Mr.
MATTHEWS was the youngest
of three boys. His father, Gordon
MATTHEWS, ran a meat-packing
company. His mother, Agnes
EASTWOOD, was a homemaker. A close,
active and conservative family, they spent summers on Chemong
Lake in Ontario cottage country. Competitive sailing, swimming
and canoeing became an integral part of young Jack's being, and
his love for wind and water would take him far and years later
inspire his own children (son Tam
MATTHEWS crewed on three Canadian
Olympic sailing teams).
In the 1940s Mr.
MATTHEWS' two older brothers went to war, while
he, because of age, sought adventure closer to home. A natural
athlete, he played football and basketball at Western University
where he studied sciences, planning a career in medicine. But
after graduation he completed a second degree in business, aiming
to work in his father's company. In 1951, he married his high-school
sweetheart, Jane
GILLESPIE.
The following year, their son Angus
was born. Two years later, he was asked to teach one session
of chemistry and coach football at nearby Lakefield College School
- a private boys' school then known as The Grove. Dynamic, energetic
and devoted to his charges, he stayed stay on and subsequently
obtained a teaching certificate. In 1955, his son Tam arrived.
The pivotal moment in Mr.
MATTHEWS's professional life came in
1963. While on sabbatical from Lakefield to teach at Gordonstoun
School in Scotland, he met the school's founder, the German educational
philosopher Kurt Hahn. A fierce critic of the Nazis, Mr. Hahn
had fled Germany in the 1930s and had gone on to establish the
Outward Bound Schools, the Duke of Edinburgh's Award and the
United World Colleges movement. At the time, there was only one
United World College - Atlantic College - in Wales. Distressed
by the devastation wrought by two world wars, Mr. Hahn believed
that people in their formative years would learn to see others
as individuals rather than as aliens or adversaries if they faced
mental and physical challenges together. It was a philosophy
that Mr. MATTHEWS came to fully embrace.
Although he returned to Lakefield the next year and was immediately
appointed headmaster, Mr.
MATTHEWS remained bound to the idea
of promoting world peace through education.
Soon thereafter, he became enmeshed in discussions about where
and how to establish a United World College somewhere in North
America. Prominent United World College committee members included
Canadian Senator Donald Cameron, Mr. Pearson and Lord Mountbatten,
war hero and member of the Royal Family. Lord Mountbatten also
served as president of the United World College organization.
Without knowing how the college would come about, they chose
Mr. MATTHEWS as designate headmaster. That decision, says retired
Canadian senator John Nichol, proved instrumental in ensuring
PC's success.
"If you wanted to make a movie about this kind of educational
institution, regardless of the plot, and you went to central
casting to pick the director, you'd pick Jack," says Mr. Nichol
who became Pearson College's chairman of the board. "He was strong.
He was wise. He was fair. He was theatrical. He loved his role
with the students and he was intellectually and physically courageous."
The following year - in 1971 - Mr.
MATTHEWS resigned from Lakefield
to devote all his energy to United World College efforts. It
was a risky move. No funding, let alone a location for the college,
had been secured. At one stage, it came perilously close to being
set up in the United States.
Mr. MATTHEWS once described the tension in the room during one
critical meeting in Britain where that choice was made.
"Lord Mountbatten," he recalled, "had an unusual way of running
a meeting, but in his mind it was completely democratic. He listened
to what everyone said, arrived at his own decision for action,
and stated that decision in a most forceful way. He then paused
for 30 seconds and, unless someone objected, he assumed it to
be a unanimous decision."
After an enthusiastic presentation by the American committee,
Lord
Mountbatten turned to Mr.
MATTHEWS and said, "Jack, I want
you to run the school in Vermont for five or 10 years and then
you can start the school in Canada. Now, that's all decided."
A 30-second pause followed, at the end of which Mr.
MATTHEWS
declined. "I am going to be headmaster of the Canadian college."
His decision was immediately seconded by then high commissioner
for Canada Jake Warren who spoke on behalf of Mr. Pearson. Lord
Mountbatten acquiesced.
Over the next two years, Mr.
MATTHEWS,
Mr.
Pearson and others
struggled to construct a unique educational institution from
scratch. That meant raising funds to buy a site, build a campus,
find faculty, and provide full scholarships for students from
around the world. In the midst of these efforts, in late 1972,
Mr. Pearson died. However, his death helped to spur the college's
development because it became a way to honour his memory.
"Dad tapped into an enthusiasm for Canada when he tapped into
Mike
Pearson's
Friends," son Angus
MATTHEWS says.
As founding director, Mr.
MATTHEWS scrambled to find instructors
capable of teaching English-as-a-second-language, French, German,
Spanish and Mandarin Chinese. But languages were just the basic
requirements. They also needed people who were sailors, scuba
divers, foresters, marine biologists, mountain climbers, musicians,
dramatists, artists and who, above all, were willing to live
in an intimate multicultural village where they would be called
on by students day and night. After advertising in newspapers
worldwide, he received 2,700 applications for 12 positions. The
college opened in 1974, and for the next 10 years Mr.
MATTHEWS
moulded a campus culture far removed from his White, Anglo-Saxon,
Protestant roots - no uniforms, no prefects and few rules.
"It was a freeing up of the traditional British boarding-school
regime," says former PC secretary, Judy Scott, who recently retired
after 33 years. Yet, Ms. Scott says, Mr.
MATTHEWS "tried to instill
in the students a respect for one another and for human kind&hellip
quite a challenge when you are 16 and 17 years old."
The first few years were a mixture of chaos, exhilaration, near-disaster
and triumph. There were floods, fires and fierce winter storms,
but Mr. MATTHEWS loved a challenge and expected others to do
likewise. Confident and calm, he rarely lost his temper.
For all that, University of Montreal professor Patrice Brodeur,
a PC graduate of 1981, recalls one winter day when the headmaster
went ballistic. Along with some other Western students, Mr. Brodeur
had decorated a Christmas tree in the common room and, in jest,
hung it upside down. Mr.
MATTHEWS crossed the campus in record
time.
"We had trespassed the line of the acceptable in terms of youthful
experimentation," says Prof. Brodeur, who teaches religion. "Jack
was firm and clear that respecting each other's symbols was part
of learning how to practice international understanding, starting
with our own culture."
Despite the obvious satisfaction he enjoyed from steering PC
safely through stormy seas, Mr.
MATTHEWS served for just 10 years.
Years later, Angus
MATTHEWS recalls why: Sitting in his office
one day, his father saw four animated first-year students coming
his way. They burst into his office and excitedly proposed something
they wanted to do at the college.
"That's a great idea," he replied. "But we tried that three years
ago and it just didn't work." The students seemed to accept his
decision and left, yet their body language had totally transformed.
He leapt out of his chair, ran out the door and brought them
back.
"You know, that didn't work three years ago and the reason it
probably didn't was because you weren't here to make it work,"
he told them. "Let's give it a try."
That night he told his wife that it was time to move on. "I'm
in a pattern," he said. "I'm starting to not see the new things."
In 1984, Mr.
MATTHEWS returned to Ontario and for the next seven
years helped to develop the Trent University International Program.
From there, he officially retired but kept involved by becoming
a board member of the Canadian Canoe Museum in Peterborough and
worked toward its opening on July 1, 1997. Happier outside than
in, he raced sailboats until a few years ago when failing health
shut the door of his favourite classroom - the rivers, lakes,
mountains and seashores of Canada.
Jack MATTHEWS was born in Peterborough, Ontario, on April 6,
1928. He died peacefully in his sleep in Lakefield, Ontario,
on September 7, 2007. He was 79. He is survived by his wife,
Jane, and by sons Angus and Tam. He also leaves numerous grandchildren.
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