ODGERS o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2008-06-28 published
ODGERS,
Graham
James
Died peacefully in his sleep at home in Victoria on June 15,
2008 with his wife and children around him. Predeceased by his
son Anthony Graham McMahon of Melbourne, Australia in 2006. Survived
by his devoted wife of 59 years, Pamela, son Christopher, daughters
Katharine (Chris), and Patricia (Chris), cherished granddaughter
Sophie, beloved sister Margaret, nieces Julie and Lenore, cousins
Bill and Jenny and extended family in Australia. Fondly remembered
by Friends, relatives, and colleagues in Canada, France, Hawaii,
England, and Australia. Born in Melbourne, Australia on December 29,
1921, he was educated at the University of Melbourne (B.A. Hons.),
Cambridge University (M. Sc.), and the University of California
at Berkeley (Ph. D. in Astrophysics). He met Pam while attending
Cambridge; they married in 1949 and moved to Victoria where Graham
began working at the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory in Saanich,
where he remained throughout his career. His proudest career
achievement was his pivotal role in the planning, design, coordination,
and construction of the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope on Mauna
Kea in Hawaii, which opened in 1979. A Fellow of the Royal Society
of Canada, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the University
of Victoria in 1998.
Having lived through the hardships of the depression in Australia,
he retained life-long socialist convictions and always supported
the left even when he lived in the Uplands. He served his country
during World War 2 by working on the design and stress analysis
of Tiger Moth training aircraft; later at the Canberra Observatory
he predicted sunspots which would interfere with short wave radio
communications throughout the southwest Pacific theatre of war.
After immigrating to Canada, he served as a Lieutenant-Commander
in the Naval Reserve at H.M.C.S. Malahat. In this capacity he
took part in the Coronation cruise from Victoria to Portsmouth
and the Spithead Revue in 1951.
Graham was admired for his keen intellect, prodigious learning,
formidable memory, and quick and piercing wit. An Aussie to the
end, he was an avid player and follower of tennis and cricket
and could recite 60-year-old cricket scores at the age of 86.
A celebration of Graham's life will be held on Saturday, July 5
at 1: 00 p.m. at Goward House, 2495 Arbutus Road. Reception to
follow. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory can be made
to the Salvation Army, P.O. Box 428, Victoria, British Columbia
V8W 2N8.
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