In Memoriam

Remembering Queen's alumni.

Those Who Have Passed

Sharing memories of friends, faculty, and colleagues - In Memoriam helps you honour those who have recently passed.

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  • 1950s

    Dr. David William Hurst

    – MD’56

    Fall 2022

    Dr. David William Hurst passed away June 17, 2021. He was 90. He was predeceased by his parents, Helen Miller and Richard Rankin Hurst; his beautiful wife, Janet (Davidson); his brother, Richard; and his twin sisters, Muriel and Marjorie. He is survived by his beloved BarBar (Barb Kooy of Colorado); cherished and revered by his four daughters: Nancy Savage (Mike Savage), Carolyn Hurst (Grant Westcott), Laura Roome (Tim Roome), and Valerie McMurtry (Armando Mano); adored by his eight grandchildren: Kate Carolan (Josh) and Ian Stephenson, David, Thomas and Matthew McMurtry, Jeffrey and Christopher Roome, and Charlotte Westcott; and was delighted by the recent arrival of his first great-grandchild, Louise Carolan.

    Born in Charlottetown in 1931, a much-loved child of the Great Depression, David made his way west to “Upper Canada” to attend Queen’s and graduated Meds‘56. He completed three years of postgraduate surgery training in Kingston, and then received a fellowship to study abroad for three additional years in Liverpool and London, U.K. He completed his surgical training at Montreal General Hospital, and was admitted to the Royal College of Surgeons (Canada) in 1963. He became a fellow of the American College of Surgeons in 1977, and later in his career served a five-year term as a governor of the American College of Surgeons. David served as a consulting general surgeon at Port Colborne General Hospital and Welland General Hospital for over 35 years. Even after his “retirement” he continued to assist in surgeries and be available “on call’ into his 87th year.

    A true Renaissance man, David had a full and interesting life outside of his work in medicine. He learned to play the piano as a child and carried his love of music throughout his life. He was the life of the party, leading impromptu piano singalongs and Christmas Eve celebrations. As the devoted son of a Presbyterian Temperance League mother, he never discovered wine until he was in his 30s — and then never more than a glass. “Everything in moderation...including moderation.” He learned to ski in Europe in his 30s and took it up with a passion: Canadian Rockies heli-skiing, European summits, and later Colorado with his beloved BarBar. He loved reading Second World War historical non-fiction, playing and watching golf, and playing and listening to jazz. He led a successful jazz series for many years at the Roselawn Theatre. He was a community activist and fought to save trees in his hometowns of Fonthill and later Port Colborne.

    He was ahead of his time by bringing laparoscopic surgery and solar roof panels to Niagara. He loved a good party and hosted many. His most favourites were for the Welland Hospital O/R nurses and the epic annual laser regattas on Camelot Beach. He learned to fly in his 50s, earned his IFR rating and had flying adventures all over North America. He was invited to sit on the Civil Aviation Tribunal of Canada and Aviation Licence Tribunal of Ontario. He was team doctor for the Welland Jr. Hockey team and travelled with the team to Russia and Yugoslavia in the early ‘80s.

    Undaunted by the task of raising four daughters, he proceeded to raise them like the sons he never had. Always a man of his word, he delivered on his promise to provide for each the following: straightened teeth, a good pair of skis and the ability to use them, a university degree (undergrad only), and one wedding each. Not a penny more — ok, except maybe for his baby, Valerie (Artsci’88), who wisely chose his alma mater, Queen’s. The things he loved the most helped him through the past two years of tough times. The Toronto Maple Leafs (he held on as long as he could!), Canada Dry Ginger Ale, The Globe and Mail, BarBar, and his adoring daughters.

    A heartfelt thanks goes to so many people who helped dad through these last days, his many, many friends and colleagues, and especially the kind and caring staff at Lookout Ridge.

    “Then leaf subsides to leaf, So Eden sank to grief, So dawn goes down to day, Nothing gold can stay” — Robert Frost.

  • 1950s

    Alan Hart

    – MD'58

    Fall 2022

    Dr. Al Hart passed away on March 23, 2022. He was 87.

    Al was a proud member of Meds’58, regularly attending their reunions including their 60th in 2018. Al came from a family of Queen’s graduates including his mother, Hazel Michael (Arts’20); children, William Alan (Law’84) and Jocelyn (Artsci’83); and granddaughter, Catherine (Artsci‘15).

    Al grew up in Oshawa with older siblings Elizabeth (Buffy) and John, where the family operated the Oshawa Dairy. Al achieved his childhood dream when he went to Queen’s and was accepted into medicine. He was a member of Medical House and was living there when Boo Hoo the bear – the real bear cub – came to stay. He was a Queen’s cheerleader and part of the Queen’s contingent that marched in the Macy’s parade and was profiled in Life Magazine in the mid-1950s.

    Al met Leonor Haw (Arts’57) while at Queen’s and they married soon after graduation. Al interned at Kingston General Hospital and took a year of internal medicine in Kingston. He completed a residency in pediatrics at the Toronto Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) and a fellowship in endocrinology at The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore.

    Al, Leonor, and their four children – William Alan, Jocelyn, Timothy, and Paul – settled in Hamilton where Al was a pediatrician at Chedoke Hospital, St. Joseph’s Hospital and was a consulting pediatrician with McMaster University Medical Centre after it opened in 1972. Al was a faculty member at McMaster’s School of Medicine and a founding director of Dawn Patrol, a group home for children and youth.

    Al’s love of medicine and helping children, along with his connection to Queen’s, took him to Moose Factory’s hospital in the late 1970s and early 1980s, where he cared for Indigenous children, their mothers, and families. Al spoke fondly of travelling to the nursing stations up the James Bay and Hudson Bay coasts and he cherished the soapstone carvings he received as thanks for his care. Queen’s medical services program in Moose Factory started in 1965 with four pediatricians and the Faculty of Health Sciences continues to partner with the Weeneebayko Area Health Authority.

    Al later settled in the North Bay area with his wife Hallie and was on staff at St. Joseph’s General Hospital until his retirement. Al lived his final years in Burlington, close to three of his children.

  • Photo of a woman outside – her hair is blowing in the wind and she is wearing a green blazer.

    1980s

    Susan Diane Hall (neé Hands)

    – BA’84

    Fall 2022

    Susan Diane Hall passed away in May 2022, at the age of 58. She is survived by her parents, Clare and Dave Hands, and her twins, Spencer Barnet (Com’21) and Jacqueline Clare Hall (Com’21). After graduating from Queen’s, Susan joined Wood-Gundy Investments in Kingston ahead of its acquisition by the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce. She moved to Toronto to join CIBC World Markets, earned her CFA designation, and specialized in marketing fixed-income products. She accepted an opening in Singapore, running debt capital markets for Southeast Asia, where she became a student of Asian culture. Her twins, to whom Susan dedicated the rest of her life, were born in Singapore. With CIBC World Markets, Susan moved to Tokyo for two years before returning to Canada, making her home in Vancouver. During this time, she earned her MSc in banking and financial services from Boston University; founded 3PM Partners, a philanthropic consultancy; and taught accounting and business at the British Columbia Institute of Technology. When Jacqueline and Spencer enrolled in Queen’s, Susan relocated to Toronto, where she worked with Coast Capital Credit Union Bank, assisting them in establishing a commercial banking business. When her twins graduated from Queen’s and returned to Vancouver to begin their careers, Susan closed the loop, returning to Kingston, where her working career had begun. Her fondest hope was to work with her beloved Queen’s. Sadly, her declining health would deny her that opportunity.

    Susan was a fearless adventurer: she learned to ski at three, was an accomplished competitive gymnast by the age of 12, and had developed a passion for business before graduating high school. She was passionate about her kids, her worldwide network of friends, and personal philanthropy. At Telus, she worked to establish their National Day of Service and, through her 3PM Partners consultancy, advised high-net-worth clients to support good causes. She was a generous donor, giving her time and financial resources freely. She was an exceptionally dedicated mentor through Junior Achiever programming and coaching young women in finance. More recently, she resumed studying at Queen’s, earning credits in Aboriginal Law, International Law, and Patent and Copyright Law.

  • 2010s

    Kyla Graham (Stigter) and (her baby) Maaike

    – BSc’14, MSc’17

    Fall 2022

    Kyla Graham and her baby, Maaike, both passed away on May 7, 2022. Kyla was 30 years old and Maaike was eight months old. Kyla and Maaike are survived by their loving and proud husband and father, Justin; parents and grandparents, Joyce and John and Marla and Doug; and a very large, loving, and caring extended family too numerous to mention.

    Kyla was a very loving, kind, gentle, caring, generous, and thoughtful person. She was a very devoted wife and mother and always made sure everyone was well taken care of. Kyla was born in Calgary on Aug. 18, 1992. She was the third of four children and was very much an achiever. Kyla attended the Medicine Hat Christian School from Kindergarten to Grade 9. She was the valedictorian of her class. She graduated high school at Crescent Heights in 2010, again valedictorian. From there, she attended Queen's, where she graduated with a master’s in molecular biology.

    Kyla was active in many sports and achieved many awards and medals, especially in competitive swimming. She loved to bake, cook, knit, garden, volunteer, sing, and share her many gifts with others. Kyla returned home in 2017 to find work at the Crop Diversification Centre. She met the love of her life, Justin, and they married in 2019. She was employed by Grasslands School Division at the Junior High level working with the students, where she shared her knowledge, gifts, and talents with many students. Their dogs were very important to Kyla. She loved going for walks with Potter and Winnie along the canal. Family was also very important to Kyla. On Sept. 14, 2021, they were blessed with a beautiful baby girl, Maaike Anne. Maaike was very active and curious, determined to achieve whatever she set out to accomplish. She was so cuddly, loveable, very happy, and content. Kyla was so proud and fulfilled to have a beautiful, happy family.

  • 1990s

    Matt Alan Edwards

    – BSc’96

    Fall 2022

    Matt Alan Edwards passed away on May 20, 2022. He will be forever missed by his wife, Robin; and their daughter, Teslyn; parents, Al and Glenys; brother, David Edwards (Laura); sister, Susan Rankin (Brett); parents-in-law, Tim and Sandi Kane; brother-in-law, Mark Kane (Caity); and nieces and nephews: Samson and Amber Edwards; Thomas and Juliet Rankin; and Annalise, Finn, and Madelyn Kane. His extended family includes: aunt, Ada Wynn (Glyn); uncles, Marshall Charchun and Trevor Quigley; and cousins: Jeff, Robb, and Kerry; Bob and Jenny; Janine, Jim, and John. Matt was predeceased by his nephew, Cole Edwards, and aunts, Nancy Quigley and Nevis Charchun.

    Born and raised in St. Albert, Matt was a brilliant athlete and a lifelong participant in sports, from the AAA and university levels to beer leagues. It was baseball, hockey, volleyball, and horseshoes where he showed his natural athleticism and created so many meaningful friendships. He was also incredibly creative: jamming on the drums or harmonica with friends; creating art, constructing games and events for family and friends; or being a wedding singer. And one knew everything would be done with a smile, a laugh and maybe rum.

    Matt earned a civil engineering degree from Queen’s and enjoyed a fulfilling career as a professional engineer because there was no problem his amazing mind could not solve.

    In 2000, Matt married his favourite person, Robin Kane, and in 2005, they welcomed the best part of their life, Teslyn. Matt cherished the privilege of being Teslyn’s dad. He loved coaching her, the family game nights, creating art together, visits to escape rooms, trying to catch waves in Mexico, and the newest hobby of paddle boarding. Matt, Robin, and Teslyn also loved their family vacation time in Mexico, Rhode Island, Jasper, and Robb.

    His kindness, intelligence, creativity, sense of humour, charisma, and his laugh are some of the many things that we will always remember. Especially that laugh. Oh, that laugh.

    While at the ballpark, Matt was 2 for 2 with a double and triple, when he passed away suddenly, surrounded by his team and family, doing what he loved.

  • 1990s

    Dean Lawrence Edgar

    – B.Ed’92

    Fall 2022

    Dean Lawrence Edgar passed away on Dec. 15, 2021. He will be forever missed by his wife, Lisa; their two incredible children, Chris and Cassie; and their dog, Charlie. He will be remembered with love by his parents, Gillie and Larry (Kim); his brothers, Tom (Alexis) and Billy (Jamie), and sister Jodi (Burke). His absence will be felt by his in-laws, Sandra and Graham and Dave (Jane) and their family; grandma Kay; and countless aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews. Friends and colleagues will always remember his kindness.

    Dean shared his strength, love, and support for others constantly. Dean loved and enjoyed almost all sports, either as a player, a coach, or a fan. He could often be found watching three games simultaneously and chatting about stats the whole time. He loved coaching and watching his teams win, but character and fairness were the most important things to Dean. An award was recently created in his name that will be presented yearly to the football player who best represents dedication, bravery, perseverance, and outstanding display of character — all traits that Dean showed throughout his life.

    Dean was a rock for his family and friends, always offering to help others, even when he was dealing with his cancer diagnosis. He always put others first. Dean loved to laugh, particularly when recalling stories from the past, and he loved to tease others.