������Ƶ

Claire died at home surrounded by family at the age of 50, following a courageous battle with advanced gastric cancer. Claire would tell us she didn’t lose; she just ran out of innings. 

Claire was the beloved wife and soulmate of George Goodall, Sc'96; adored mom to Findlay (“Finn”, 18), Sydney (16), Grady (14), and Matilda (“Tilly”, 11); daughter of Art and Mary Jane Crooks (Lethbridge, Alberta); sister to Morgan (Aimee) of Madison, NJ, and Hew (Kate) of Fairfield, CT; daughter-in-law to (late) Bill and Betty Goodall of Sault Ste. Marie; sister-in-law to Rhys and Carol Goodall of Toronto; and the “cool” aunt to (late) Charlie, Crawford, Mary, Riley, Andrew, Shaen, and Evan. 

Claire spent her early years in Pembroke, Ont., but grew up in Lethbridge. She traveled to Vancouver Island to attend Brentwood College School, an institution whose informal motto – grit and joy – perfectly matched her approach to life. The friends and experiences gained during her time there were incredibly formative, and it was on a (possibly under-supervised) trip with her Brentwood field hockey team to Bermuda that she first met her future partner George. During high school, Claire represented Canada with Harambee!, a group of dancers selected from every country of the Commonwealth to tour and perform across New Zealand ahead of the 1990 Commonwealth Games. 

Claire started a new chapter when she attended Princeton University, finding joy and community in sports like rowing, rugby, and skiing. Princeton gave Claire friends from around the planet confidence in her emerging identity as a scholar, as well as her life’s mission – to improve the emotional lives of children. 

She returned to Canada for graduate school, earning a Masters and PhD from Queen’s, where she felt fortunate to be supervised by (late) Dr. Ray Peters. Dr. Peters remained a mentor throughout Claire’s career, providing a model for how to lead community research, act as a supervisor, and balance the demands of academia and family. 

While at Queen’s, Claire renewed her relationship with George; the two were married in 2000. The couple later moved to Winnipeg for Claire’s clinical internship, with plans to continue moving west. Only one thing could keep Claire from moving to the mountains – the opportunity to work with exceptional new mentors. She accepted a post-doctoral position to conduct clinical work with Dr. Peter Jaffe, then at the London Family Court Clinic, and research with Dr. David Wolfe, then at Western University’s Centre for Research on Violence Against Women. 

Claire continued to work with both through her time at CAMH and Western University, where she became a professor in the Faculty of Education. Her focus was to use a data-driven approach to improve youth mental health, with emphasis on the most vulnerable populations including Indigenous and newcomer communities. She believed strong mental health could be taught just as other academic subjects, with behaviours and strategies designed to improve mental health on an ongoing basis, rather than picking up the pieces when things were broken. The cornerstone program that she co-developed (with Drs. Jaffe and Wolfe and educator Ray Hughes) – The Fourth R – has been deployed successfully in over five thousand schools in Canada and around the World. Claire established the Centre for School Mental Health at Western, which became the leading and largest such centre in Canada, and she published numerous books and peer-reviewed articles. Claire was a force of nature, a rare combination of intelligence, energy, humour, and kindness. Her global impact included her extensive work in northern Canada, her training of U.S. judges, and her work with Ukrainian and Czech psychologists coping with traumatized refugees from the Ukraine conflict. 

She was named to the Order of Ontario earlier this year, her nomination acknowledging that Claire “inspired a national movement to address youth mental health.” Her immense professional accomplishments were nevertheless dwarfed by her commitment as a steadfast friend and devoted mom. Claire had many happy places where she loved to spend time with her family, including the cottage on Gloucester Pool and the ski condo at Big White (where, in her memory, we will continue to sing Thunder Road while skiing Born to Run). Probably the most hours were spent happily in the family’s unheated backyard pool – no matter the weather or water temperature – but any place would do for Claire to be there for her kids, with her boundless energy and wicked sense of humour. 

Shortly before her death, and despite being in overwhelming pain, Claire on June 21 accepted investiture to the Order of Ontario from Lt. Governor Edith Dumont, in a hastily convened ceremony at Victoria Hospital. Following the presentation, Claire somehow rose painfully to her feet and delivered impromptu remarks that were humble, funny, grateful, and hopeful. She then attended her own afterparty. Everyone present was astounded, but nobody who knew her was surprised. According to Claire, “Celebration before sorrow; there will be time for tears tomorrow.”

Claire will remain an inspiration for all of us on how to live fully and well, and how to die with courage, grace, and dignity.

William Stanley Edwin Chown (Bill) passed away peacefully on Oct. 14, 2024, in his 97th year. Bill will be lovingly remembered by his four children, Louise (Rob Sampson), Diane (Keith Yuhr), Rob/Bob (Carolyn Crang) and Roger (Nancy Gowans); his five grandchildren, Gordie, Allie (Evan Lielkalns), Tom, Nick (Kristen Daly), and Katie (Mike Blain); and his two great-grandchildren, Olivia Eleanor Sampson, and Charles William Blain. 

Bill was the son of Murray and Laura Chown, predeceased, and brother of Eleanor and Margaret. Born in Renfrew, April 25, 1928, Bill attended RCI before moving on to Queen’s, where he obtained a chemical engineering degree in 1950. As part of the war effort, he spent his university summers training on naval ships with the University Naval Training Division on both coasts. In 1953, he married a cute little nurse, Eleanor Louise Croxall, from Orillia (predeceased in 2004). As a new graduate of Osgoode Hall Law School, he joined a downtown Toronto law firm and settled down with Eleanor in Toronto to start a family.

However, Renfrew roots pulled him back to the town that he loved, and he became the third generation of Chown lawyers, joining his father, Murray, in the Chown Law Office in 1961. His grandfather, S.T. Chown, started the law office in Renfrew over 100 years ago. Bill’s commitment to his clients was unwavering, and he always put their best interests first. Bill was truly dedicated to his clients and cherished the relationships he built with his staff, who contributed greatly to the success of his practice.

Over the years, he volunteered his time and legal expertise to many Renfrew organizations, including Trinity St. Andrews United Church, Renfrew Public School Board, and was one of the founders of Renfrew Hospice, for which he was a strong moral and financial supporter.

But Bill was happiest in the outdoors, trimming trees and splitting wood on his Hurds Lake property, making maple syrup in the spring and on the annual fall hunting trip spent with his friends Bill Carriere and Bill Burwell (among others) at the Burwell farm. The “three Bills” were life-long friends.

In 2008, Bill became reacquainted with Margaret Stevens, a family friend he had gone to RCI with. They were married in 2010 and enjoyed many trips to her winter home in Mexico and vacations in Europe and the Canadian West Coast.

The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the incredible staff at Quail Creek Retirement Home where Bill resided for the past two and half years, the Homecare staff in the LHIN program, the nurses from Bayshore and the dedicated RVH physicians and staff for their outstanding care and compassion.

Valarie was born June 30, 1956, and passed away Sept. 27, 2024, at the age of 68 after a short battle with cancer. Valarie will be forever missed by her children, Lisa Miller (Scott) and Ryan Byford (Raymond). Also mourning her passing are her brothers, Paul Asselstine (Joanne) and David Asselstine, and many nieces and nephews. Predeceased by her parents, Stan and Jean Asselstine; and sister, Sheila Murphy (Mike). 

Valarie had a beautiful soul and a massive heart. Her love for all animals was evident to all who knew her, but her heart was never happier than when she became a grandmother, aka “Other Grandma”, to Brayden and Kylee. Valarie’s family would like to thank all extended family and friends for their continued love and support during this difficult time. 

Duncan John Currie passed peacefully in Sidney, B.C., June 15, 2024. He will be missed by his wife of 65 years, Pat Currie (nee Switzer, Arts’58); his daughter, Lisel Currie (Artsci’83, Sc’84); son, Malcolm Currie (Artsci’88) and his partner, Donna Fraser; and grandchildren, Morgan, Siena, and Alec. 

Duncan was born in Kingston in 1935 to William Archibald Currie (“Archie”, BA’29, BComH’30) and Madeline Currie (nee McNeely, BA’31). His sister, Helen Margaret Currie (BA’60, MD’63), was born three years later. Duncan attended Rolph Road Elementary School and Leaside High School in Toronto before spending his first year of undergraduate studies at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. He transferred to Queen’s, where he enjoyed playing the clarinet in the Queen’s Pipe Band, teaching Scottish country dancing and studying art under Andre Bieler. After receiving an honours degree in chemistry, he obtained a master’s degree from the University of Toronto and doctorate from the University of Leeds. 

Duncan was a research scientist at the Defence Research Establishment Suffield, Alberta, from 1962 until 1975. In later years, he entered management and was a valued mentor for many of the young staff under his supervision. He was involved in field research relating to chemical warfare and was a technical attaché to federal representation on the UN Committee on Chemical and Biological Warfare. From 1975 until his retirement in 1990, Duncan worked at the Alberta Research Council in Edmonton, where he was head of the chemistry section and later vice president of development and planning. Because of his federal background in diplomacy, he was appointed the Alberta Research Council’s representative to FIGA (Federal & Intergovernmental Affairs). A highlight of his career was facilitating collaboration with scientists from Edmonton’s sister city, Harbin, China. 

Duncan was a talented artist and contributing member of the Ralston Art Club and Alberta Potters’ Association. All of his drawings and sculptures, even the most abstract, were done from life, which gives the pieces a realism unique to the particular model. The “humour of our imperfection” was a constant theme in his figures, which were shown in juried exhibitions and at Butchart Gardens. They may be found in private collections in North America, Europe, and Asia. Duncan was an avid canoeist, sailor, hiker, backpacker, birder, and world traveller. He shared all of his adventures with his wife, Pat. Together, they welcomed many friends to their rustic cottage on Lake Wabamun, where they served wine and hors d’oeuvres on their sailboat, Metanoia. At “the cottage”, they also hosted visiting scientists from Harbin, China, introducing them to ice fishing. 

In 2000, Duncan and Pat moved to Vancouver Island, where they continued to share their warm hospitality with family and friends, new and old.