�鶹��վ

On May 2, Katherine Dinner, lover of public health, teller of stories, and Queen’s Life Science class of 1978, passed away in Ottawa. 

After leaving Queen’s, Katherine went on to achieve her Master’s in Nursing from McGill and from that point on never stopped helping others. She was a devoted public servant, working for Health Canada for over 20 years and becoming a champion and mentor for the rookies on staff. She was a proud recipient of the Queen’s Jubilee Medal in 2012. She was a loyal friend, who would regale those close to her with stories of her past lives as a student burning her nose hair out after smelling chemicals in the lab, or from her time on reserve as an RN for Indigenous communities in the north to her always captive audiences. She was our family’s inaugural member of the Queen’s cult, a legacy continued by Laura Dinner (BComm'82), William Rooney (Artsci'17) and Trish Rooney (Artsci'20). 

Kathy was imagination. She was a loving aunt, an eldest sister to the very end, a favourite cousin and niece, and a daughter who will, more than anything, be so happy to be reunited with her mom and dad. 

In her final act of selflessness, her lungs were donated in a living organ transplant. She simply couldn’t leave this world without giving a piece of herself to one more person, one last time. She will be so missed.

John Peter Dufton, age 81, died in Almonte, Ont., on Feb. 18, 2023, after a long illness. Peter is survived by his wife, Marilyn; his children, Jennifer Dufton (Paul) and John Dufton (Monique); and his sister, Carol Russell (Glen). He will be sorely missed by his grandchildren: Daniel, Alexandra, Finn, Jasper, Jasmine, Megan, Hannah and Everett.

Peter will be remembered for his love of life, his exuberant personality, his infectious laugh and engaging smile. Behind the smile lay an intelligent, witty, loyal and creative man. He and his wife Marilyn, enjoyed nearly 60 years of marriage as best friends, partners, and parents.

Peter attended Queen’s (Engineering). This led to a career in telecommunications research at Automatic Electric in Brockville and Microtel Pacific Research in Vancouver. During his 30 year career, several patents for his work were registered in his name. 

Post retirement, Peter’s second professional career was with an Ottawa Company, where he developed simplified code for performing radiation shielding calculations.

Peter was an avid curler — a lifelong passion. While growing up in Montreal, he discovered the game and every winter, until well into his 70s, he could be found on the curling rink with his team and many good friends. 

In quiet times, he spent endless hours researching the Dufton family tree and the history of Bedford Mills. Peter loved gardening, working with wood, renovating and rebuilding, as evidenced by his many projects at the family cottage on Devil Lake. There he enjoyed an outdoor lifestyle with his cousins and friends. Summers with his children and grandchildren were the highlight of every year.

Carol Ann “Annie” Hillock (nee Smith) passed away May 23, 2023 at the age of 61. She is survived by her husband, Kevin; daughter, Sarah; and son, Stephenson; sister, Lorna Winstone (Smith) (Artsci/Ed’86); brother-in-law, Trent Winstone (MBA’88); as well as nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends.

Annie was instrumental in keeping her nursing class together throughout the years with the biannual “Anecdotal Note” nursing newsletter and key in coordinating the class alumni reunions. Her infectious spirit was evident, as she loved to see people connected through nursing, sports activities, crafts, and community-minded projects. In 2010 she was elected to the Queen’s University Council as an alumni representative. For the last six years she was chair of the nominating committee, overseeing the election of alumni to the council.

She will be sorely missed by her family and friends.

J. Robert "Bob" Clark’s long battle with cancer ended on April 28, 2023. He passed away peacefully with loved ones at his side. He was 89.

Bob was the beloved husband of Mary Ellen (Monaghan) for 69 years; the loving father of Meri-Sue, Michael, Mark, and Margaret (John Conroy); the grandfather of seven and the great-grandfather of seven. He was the brother of Barbara Tuff (late Ken), Bill (Patti), and the late Bevin and Barry.

The son of the late Stanley and Agnes (McCallum) Clark, Bob spent his early life in Dutton, Ont., and enjoyed frequent visits to his McCallum grandparents' farm in Cowal. He started his education in Dutton Public School. The Clark family moved to St. Thomas, Ont., where Bob continued his education at Scott Street Public School and St. Thomas Collegiate Institute. He then attended Queen's, where he studied Civil Engineering.

Bob's professional career in the railway industry, which included 38 years with the New York Central Railroad and its successors, began with three summers as an undergraduate working with the division engineer's office of the New York Central in St. Thomas. As a new graduate, he joined that same office as an instrument man. Subsequently, he forged a path to become assistant vice president – engineering at Conrail in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Bob was honoured to be elected president of the American Railway Engineering Association for the 1989-1990 term. His very successful career was recognized by his selection to the North America Railway Hall of Fame, aptly headquartered in the old St. Thomas railway building where he launched his career.

Following his retirement from Conrail, Bob consulted on railway projects from Australia to Mexico until well into his 80s.

Bob enjoyed traveling with Mary Ellen and spending time with his family. He was an excellent and competitive athlete in his youth and a lifelong sports fan. All who knew him will miss his unfailing drive, sense of humor, and generosity.

Lynne Thompson, née Melinda Jean Klein, passed away on Nov. 4, 2022, at the age of 73. She was the daughter of the late William Joseph Klein and Betty Ann Klein (née Grieve). She leaves behind her loving husband, Eric Callum Thompson and their two children: Jennifer Erin Thompson-Croft (Jason Croft) and Benjamin Andrew Thompson (Victoria Ulloa-Caldwell Thompson); and beloved grandchildren, Alden Callum Croft and Scotland Grace Thompson. She was predeceased by her brother, Michael Klein (Lou Klein), and leaves behind her brother David Klein (Janet Klein), as well as many nieces, nephews, and of course their four-legged fur baby, Freckles.

Lynne was born in St. Thomas, Ont., but, with her father being a bank manager with the Bank of Montreal, the family lived in various communities in southwestern Ontario, including Tara, the town she always called home. The family built a cottage outside of Bobcaygeon when Lynne was growing up and this became the Klein homestead in retirement. Lynne had many fond memories of the property known as Rocky River Retreat. 

She attended Waterloo Lutheran University (later Wilfrid Laurier University), where she met Eric, who was her English literature professor. The two married in 1970 and moved to Chicoutimi, Que., where Eric was a professor until his retirement. Lynne worked as a librarian at the English school in the area, until she ventured back to attend pre-law studies in 1991, before ultimately completing her law degree at Queen’s. 

She practiced as a criminal defense lawyer until 2017 in Burlington, Ont., where she and Eric lived together until 2020, when they relocated to Ottawa, Ont. They shared an interest in travel, and together cruised around the world through Eric’s retirement with many memories of excursions and exploring different cultures.

Lynne will be remembered by all who knew her as full of life, fiercely loyal to her family, with a wonderful sense of humour and humanity.