Hillfield Strathallan College Lives Lived

Alumni

William Holton Young ’35, successful businessman and former CEO of the Hamilton Group Limited, member of many boards including McMaster Medical School and Stratford Festival, graduate of Royal Military College in military science, husband of Joyce (née Ferrie) ’43, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, memorialized as caring most about “his family, his community, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and a good martini”; former HSC Board Chair, Patron, Builder and HSC Corporation life member. On April 21, 2017, at 98.

Alec Zealand Beasley ’37, longtime Hamilton lawyer and proud descendant of Captain Edward Zealand, who sailed with Lord Nelson and was killed in 1869 by a runaway heifer on James Street North, husband of Anne (deceased) and father. On Jan. 28, 2018, at 96.

Harriet Hilton Sprague ’37, avid bridge player, enthusiastic opera fan, intrepid world traveller; lifelong Hamilton resident whose greatest love was Pointing Pines, the family cottage in Muskoka where “over decades, family, friends, pets, and chipmunks enjoyed her generous spirit and gracious hospitality,” according to her family; wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother. On November 15, 2019, at 99.

Georgina “Babs” Willmot Woods (née Young) ’38, HSC Head Girl (1937-38) who drove 18-wheeler trucks for the Women’s Army Corps in the Second World War, mother of five with husband Blakeney (deceased), grandmother and great-grandmother, sister of William Holton Young (above); HSC Corporation member. On March 30, 2017, at 95.

William Robert “Bill” Macgregor ’39, husband, father, grandfather, greatgrandfather; HSC Corporation former member. On April 22, 2018, at 94.

Jane Ross Howell Spears ’39, teacher, volunteer and sportswoman who loved skating, tennis, golf and the Ti-Cats; wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother. On February 24, 2019, at 96.

Jane Simpson “Penny” Welch (Née Coyne) ’39, vivacious arts lover and history buff; graduated in fine arts from the University of Toronto in 1944; coauthored Nurturing Yesterday’s Child: A Portrayal of the Drake Collection of Paediatric History in 1994, highlighting items relating to children’s care dating to Greek times collected by the co-inventor of Pablum, Toronto’s Dr. Theodore Drake; helped work on the collection at the Academy of Medicine in Toronto; enjoyed poetry, art and theatre; remembered as “beautiful and stylish, a vibrant dresser [who] loved parties—hosting and attending”; wife of Dr. Robert “Bob” Welch (deceased), mother, grandmother. On October 5, 2018, at 96.

Letitia May Fraser (née Jackman) ’40, a former social worker in Hamilton and Oakville, wife of Arthur Wallace (deceased) and Craig Fraser (deceased), mother, grandmother and great-grandmother; HSC Corporation former member. On Feb. 14, 2018, at 94.

Charles Douglas “Doug” Boothe ’41, industrial engineer at Stelco for 25 years; Second World War naval veteran; church elder for 49 years with Central Presbyterian Church and board member for Boy Scouts of Canada and Hamilton Civic Hospitals; skier and sailor; husband of Pat (67 years), father and grandfather. On August 19, 2018, at 94.

Patricia “Pat” Dyke (Née Hobbs) ’41, librarian and “bridge player extraordinaire”; wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother. On May 17, 2018, at 93.

Thomas William Gallagher ’41, former chairman of Hamilton industrial fabric firm Soper’s; avid traveller and sportsman who enjoyed skiing, golfing and sailing; husband of Joan (née Rumney) ’41, father, grandfather, great-grandfather; HSC Corporation former member. On January 22, 2019, at 89.

Gwenyth Eleanor “Gabby” Holton (Née Webster) ’41, wife for 58 years of former HSC Governor and Trustee Charles “Chick” Holton ’41 (deceased); mother, grandmother, great-grandmother. On January 29, 2019, at 95.

Grant Warner Howell ’42, lawyer for 53 years, farmer and active member of the Hamilton community; proud of his United Empire Loyalist roots and legal advisor to the Hamilton branch of the United Empire Loyalists’ Association of Canada; also affiliated with the Hamilton Conservation Foundation, Amnesty International and the Hamilton Program for Schizophrenia; husband of Pat (61 years), father, grandfather; HSC Corporation former member. On March 8, 2018, at 91.

Elizabeth Campbell (née Somerville) ’43, rancher, mother of seven sons raised with husband John Campbell (deceased) on their spread near Black Diamond, Alta., philanthropist, Boy Scout leader, grandmother and great-grandmother, described as “gentle yet rascally” with licence plate WKT WCH and cattle brand WWW for Wicked Witch of the West. On June 27, 2016, at 89.

Eric Phillip (Phil) Muntz ’46, professor emeritus of astronautical engineering at University of Southern California, holder of 25 patents, honoured Fellow of two academic societies, lectured around the world (and once flew with pilot wife Jan from Los Angeles to Europe in their Cessna 310), CFL halfback for Calgary Stampeders (1956) and Toronto Argonauts (1957-60), father and grandfather. On Aug. 1, 2017, at 83.

Richard “Dick” Maxwell Wood ’46, an engineer who spent most his career travelling the world for Cambridge-based Babcock and Wilcox Canada Ltd., served on the Cambridge Memorial Hospital Foundation board, husband of Susan, father and grandfather. On Dec. 31, 2017, at 87.

George Victor Vallance ’46, longtime professional engineer at Stelco; golfer and curler; enjoyed distributing fruit to friends and family from his 75-acre apple farm, Georgian Valley, near the Georgian Bay town of Thornbury; husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather. On February 11, 2019, at 88.

W. Michael McClemont ’48, strong athlete who became a revered track and fi eld coach in Sarnia, Ont., while working at the Shell refi nery; excelled in track, cross country, hockey, football and cricket at Hillfi eld School in the 1940s; played junior football in Edmonton and later ice hockey as well as becoming a longdistance runner; considered an innovative coach for the Sarnia Track & Field Club, training athletes year-round and spurring several to earn NCAA scholarships; an environmentalist as early as the 1950s; wrote short stories and poems; husband, father, grandfather. On October 16, 2019, at 87.

Anne Louise McDougall (Née Finch) ’48, strong-willed Hamilton native with a dry sense of humour, known for service to those with special needs though Famous People Players, Wheelchair Tennis, and Guide Dogs for the Blind; skilled organizer who ran many campaigns for P.C. candidates; founded a 20-year University of Ottawa scholarship program for Polish master of law students, in her late husband Barry’s name, for which she received the Knight’s Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland; wife, mother, grandmother. On May 6, 2019, at 88.

William Douglas Lionel Graham ’51, successful investment dealer, lover of the Canadian Horse and member of the Hamilton Tiger- Cats, 1953-60, who played on two Grey Cup championship teams; see profi le, page 22. On January 2, 2020, at 84.

Michael Moes ’54, longtime investment executive for RBC and TD Asset Management, early member (1972) of the Burlington Oldtimers Hockey Club, husband of Susan (née Peacock) ’57, father and grandfather. On July 8, 2017, at 79.

Joan Marie Lapp (nee Scarlett) ‘55, proud Strathallan Girl and graduate of the Class of 1955. Joan studied business in Toronto and following graduation, she married Clinton Husband in 1958 and Dr. Fred Lapp in 1976. Upon retirement, she moved permanently to her cottage at Scarlett Point and worked at the Glen Orchard store until age 82. Mother of Sheila Botting and John Husband and grandmother of 5 (including Megan Husband '10, Michael Botting (attended HSC grades 4-6), Jamieson Botting ’15, she had many friends and relatives within the HSC community. On May 11 2018. Donations can be made in her Memory to HSC.

John Roxburgh Smith ’56, former Ontario minister of correctional services (1975-77) and of government services (1977), Conservative MPP for Hamilton Mountain 1967-1977, Hamilton alderman in the 1960s; sat on the Immigration Refugee Board of Canada for four years; with friends founded The Mountain Fund To Help The Boat People during the late 1970s exodus, a charity that brought hundreds of Vietnamese men, women and children to Canada over a period of 14 years; ordained later in life into the Reformed Episcopal Church (Anglican) and served as rector of St. George’s Hamilton for 10 years, remaining as archdeacon; husband, father, grandfather. On December 6, 2018, at 82.

Dr. Joseph Nicholas (Mickey) Sole ’56, owner and operator of Victoria Gardens Long Term Care in Hamilton for nearly 50 years with his late wife Rosslyn; husband, father, grandfather. On November 27, 2018, at 80.

William Ellsworth “Bill” Holton ’58, retired stockbroker whose father, William V. Holton ’32, was instrumental in the merger of Hillfield and Strathallan schools in 1962; husband of Marion ’63 (54 years), father, grandfather; HSC Builder and former Governor and Trustee. On November 12, 2018, at 77.

John McColl Braden ’59, environmentalist, languages teacher, world traveller who worked in Cameroon and Japan, author of a book on how to read Japanese and the recent e-book Because the Future Matters: Let’s Stop Letting Modern Economics and Our Energy Addiction Ruin Almost Everything!, husband of Judith Wolfe, father and grandfather. On June 23, 2017, at 75.

Sydney V. Hamber ’62, longtime Hamilton real estate executive, husband of Jane (née Margesson) ’68 and father; former HSC Governor. On Sept. 12, 2017, at 74.

Marion Wilson Holton ’63, widow of William Ellsworth Holton ’58 (above), whose family said her passing came “three short weeks after the loss of her soul mate Bill. She died of a broken heart”; mother, grandmother. HSC Corporation member. On Dec. 6, 2018, at 74.

Barry Scot Sanderson ’63, husband of Linda (née Jackson) ’65, father, grandfather. On January 23, 2019, at 73.

Kenneth Magee Hollinrake ’64, former security consultant known for his sense of humour and passion for life; in retirement used a wood lathe to make bangles from different woods mounted on surgical steel or copper cores; husband, father, grandfather. On February 13, 2019, at 74.

Robert “Bob” Innes ’64, mechanical engineer who moved on to recycling and waste management engineering and became an entrepreneur; spent much of his life restoring old homes and working on his self-made cabin in Bancroft, Ont.; lived by the motto “waste not, want not” and loved finding innovative uses for old things, such as used tires for his roof garden or used panels for his solar projects; active in politics as a member of various smaller parties, including the Canadian Action Party and the Family Coalition Party, liked debating controversial issues and regularly posted on social media; husband, father. On January 28, 2019, at 72.

William “Bill” George Vallance ’64, retired Stelco employee, husband of Betty, father and grandfather. On March 25, 2017, at 73.

Judith 'Judi' Lynne Banting (nee Webb) ’65, worked as an assistant glove and handbag buyer for Eaton's. Judi and David moved to London, Ontario in 1970. London has remained their home for 50 years and during that time Judi made many lasting friendships through Dental Wives bridge, the Bridge Ladies bridge group, and neighbours who she met in the three areas of north London where she lived.

Alan Edward Bowler ’66, a landscape architect whose work is visible in green spaces throughout the greater Hamilton area, passionate scuba diver and instructor, husband of Janet, father, and grandfather. On Aug. 19, 2017, at 70.

Murray Scott Dobbie ’66, an executive with Dobbie Industries who grew up in the Dobbie family’s former textile business in Cambridge, husband of Cynthia and father. On Oct. 23, 2017, at 70.

Douglas Ramsey Evans ’68, Air Canada pilot for 33 years and passionate about aviation; remembered by cockpit colleagues as a generous mentor and a “true gentleman”; husband of Donna (38 years), father, grandfather. On November 2, 2018, at 69.

Maxine Anne Brandon ’69, psychiatric nurse and social worker; former HSC Prefect and Tay sports captain who went on to the University of Guelph; loved animals, always sided with the underdog and marched to her own drummer.

On February 5, 2019, at 67.

Peter A. Tinsley ’69, retired lieutenant-colonel in the Canadian Armed Forces and international war crimes prosecutor; served in Canada and overseas in the Offi ce of the Judge Advocate General during his 28-year military career; appointed director of Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit for fi ve years after retirement; went on to become war crimes prosecutor with the United Nations in Kosovo and international prosecutor in the Special War Crimes Department of the new State Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina; on his return to Canada in 2005, appointed chair of the federal Military Police Complaints Commission; ran as a federal Liberal candidate in 2011 in the then constituency of Prince Edward-Hastings; husband of Merry (née Grundy) ’69, father, grandfather. On April 26, 2019, at 68.

Lois Anne Lockwood (Née Miller) ’75, Hamiltonraised,

Calgary-based marketing and communications executive and founder of Scout Communications; listed in 2014 as one of the W100: Canada’s Top Female Entrepreneurs by PROFIT and Chatelaine magazines (her advice then: “Keep your own counsel. Don’t

talk about everything with everyone. Get a small circle of trusted confidantes and stop there.”); master’s program instructor at University of Calgary for 10 years; animal lover known for her sense of humour and joy in life; mother; Alumni Award of Distinction and Alumni Hall of Excellence; HSC Corporation former member. On March 18, 2018, at 61.

Doug Jacques ’76, a retired teacher with Halton District School Board who spent his career in Outdoor Education and particularly the Bronte Creek Project leadership program for Grades 11 and 12, husband of Valerie Atkinson and father. On Oct. 12, 2017, at 59.

Jeffrey Campbell Digby ’77, Brantford-born lumber executive for Macmillan Bloedel and Weyerhauser in Vancouver and Athens, Georgia, a black belt in Taekwondo, husband of Lolita. On Aug. 30, 2017, at 58.

Edward Palonek ’78, entrepreneur, philanthropist, founding donor of Hamilton’s Eva Rothwell Resource Centre (named for his mother), a major donor to its Larry Paikin Literary Express project, founder of FoundMoney.com (now defunct) to track unclaimed assets, appeared twice on The Oprah Winfrey Show, former husband of Angela and father. On June 14, 2017, at 58.

Peter Tomlins Hogarth ’84, owner of multiple Tim Hortons and Wendy’s franchises, philanthropist active with the Hogarth Family Fund as well as the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption and the Tim Horton Children’s Foundation, husband of Maggie and father. On May 18, 2017, at 52.

Maigen Elizabeth Bundy (Née Black) ’89, speech language pathologist with a passion for helping her clients and people in her community; practised around southern Ontario, most recently at Peterboroughbased Five Counties Children’s Centre; sister of Drew Black ’89; wife, mother. On December 14, 2019, at 48.

Robert Ross-Todd ’96, a longtime employee of Pioneer Family Pools, loved paintball and gaming. On March 1, 2018, at 40.

Peter (Pete) Palmer Jr. ’99, Hamilton landscaper with a passion for the outdoors and anything to do with nature; son of Peter Palmer ’61 and former HSC governor Rose Marie Palmer; husband, father. On July 3, 2019, at 39.

Leah Battista ’15, talented, outgoing student in her third year at Queen’s University majoring in Global Development with minors in Spanish and Business, passionate about singing, foreign languages and writing, first-year scholarship winner for the highest mark in Spanish, recipient of Ontario Gold Medal in voice from Royal Conservatory of Music in 2008, Dean’s list, dancer, foodie, active volunteer (including Me to We), known as a kind, empathetic and funny. On Nov. 4, 2017, of an undiagnosed pulmonary embolism, at 20.

Faculty

Bryan Wylie, teacher of Latin, English and drama at HSC from 1969 to 2002, Head of Senior School from 1983 to 1993, Senior Master from 1993-2002, innovative educator whether in the class, on the stage or conducting walking tours in Venice (“He made it all so vivid,” remarked TVO’s Steve Paikin ’78 in 2000), winner of the 1989 Marshall McLuhan Distinguished Teacher Award, known in retirement for work with Philpott Memorial Church and a highly successful Hamilton lecture series on arts and culture. On Jan. 30, 2018, at 70.