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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  • 1960s

    Dr. Francis Kenney Tindall

    鈥 BA鈥64, MD鈥68

    Spring 2023

    Dr. Francis Kenney Tindall passed away peacefully at home on Jan. 15, 2023. He was 83. He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Heather Tindall Sr.; six children, Heather Jr., Christopher, James, Zachary, Renee, and Allie; his brother, Chuck, and his wife, Linda; along with his nephew, Ian, and niece, Jen. He is also survived by eight grandchildren: Kylie, Maddie, Parker James, Regan, Hunter, Nick, Kenley, and Emma. Frank was predeceased by his parents, Mary and Francis.

    Frank was born on Jan. 4,1940, to Mary G. Kenney and Francis G. Tindall Sr. of Syracuse, New York. After graduating high school, he went to Queen's, where he earned a Bachelor鈥檚 Degree in Commerce and Economics. He proudly played football for Queen鈥檚 and was coached by his father. Following in his father鈥檚 footsteps, he became the head football coach of the Royal Military College (1963-1964) and also earned All Canadian End recognition.

    During the 1961 Yates Cup Championship game against McGill, he was tackled and fractured his cervical spine, which became his inspiration to be a doctor. He went on to be president of his medical class in 1967 and graduated from Queen鈥檚 in 1968. As an orthopedic resident in Kingston, he created the first sports medicine clinic in Ontario and also organized the first medical coverage for high school football games in the province. In 1974, Frank started his medical practice in Brockville, where he established the first orthopedic practice for the region.

    He moved to Phoenix, A.Z., in 1985, where he established Arizona Bone and Joint Specialists, which focused on orthopedic surgery and sports medicine. Frank quickly entrenched himself in the community and joined forces with then Scottsdale mayor, Herb Drinkwater, to connect Kingston and Scottsdale as sister cities. He also worked with numerous sports teams, including Arizona State University, the Arizona Coyotes, and served on the anti-doping board for the U.S.A. Track and Field Association.

    In 1993, Frank met Heather and they fell fast in love, travelling the world, sailing, scuba diving, and wine tasting. They married on Nov. 9, 1996, at sunset in their backyard and combined their families, bringing together Frank鈥檚 three children, Heather, Christopher and James, with Heather鈥檚 three children, Zachary, Renee and Allie. Together, Frank and Heather were active on the John C. Lincoln board, helping to raise money annually for various charities.

    In 2020, Frank retired after almost 50 years in medicine and spent his remaining time hosting friends and family, strumming his banjo, telling dad jokes and soaking up Arizona sunsets with Heather and their dog Penny. He took his last trip to La Jolla, C.A., for well-needed family time and one last ocean sunset.

    Throughout his life, he notoriously cracked jokes with his grown children, made silly faces with his grandchildren, and even pulled some light-hearted pranks on the nurses. He had a great ability to make others smile and his sense of humour will be missed.

    George was a husband, father, grandpa, surgeon, football legend, banjo player, joke teller, and cigar aficionado. His laugh and spirit will be sorely missed by his family and friends, as well as thousands of patients he worked with over his medical career.

  • 1950s

    William (Bill) Gerald McGaughey

    鈥 BSc'52

    Spring 2023

    Bill passed away peacefully Dec. 29, 2022, at Humber River Hospital in Toronto. He was 93. He leaves behind his beloved wife of 67 years, Joyce (n茅e Bradley). He was the loving father of Susan, Sc鈥80 (Mark); John, Sc鈥82 (Astri); and David (Ingrid); and the proud grandfather of Anna, Kate, Clara, Matthew, Michael, Katrina, Hewitt, and Graeme.

    Born in Vancouver, Oct. 22, 1929, just before the stock market crash and Great Depression, Bill lived to see the 20s in two centuries. He had a peripatetic childhood; his family 鈥 father Elwin, mother Gretta, and brothers Jack and Bob (Arts'66) 鈥 followed their construction-foreman father to job sites at some of Canada鈥檚 major infrastructure projects of the mid-20th century throughout Canada 鈥 he attended 12 schools by high school graduation. Eventually, he returned to Pembroke, where his father鈥檚 family was from and where Bill always considered home. 

    He was a proud 1952 graduate in electrical engineering, working summers as an electrician鈥檚 helper on major hydroelectric dams at Des Joachims (鈥淭he Swisha鈥) and Niagara Falls Sir Adam Beck II. He began his career as a young engineer with General Electric in Peterborough, Baie Comeau, Tobique Narrows, and Toronto, where he met and married his love, Joyce, in 1955. They moved to Montreal and Ottawa, before settling permanently in Toronto in 1964. Bill was a consummate and proud engineer, working for major industrial and consulting firms 鈥 notably Alcan, Stone and Webster, Kilborn, and Giffels 鈥 for much of his career as chief electrical engineer, responsible for the electrical power design of major industrial sites.

    In his well-deserved and long retirement, Bill and Joyce enjoyed their grandchildren, spent summers at their beloved cottage on the Ottawa River near Pembroke, and cruised the world, notably including their family of 14 children and grandchildren on five separate occasions. Bill loved reading and spending time watching the Toronto Blue Jays, having given up on his childhood favourite, the Maple Leafs.

    Bill was known to all who knew him as a quiet man of integrity, who loved and supported his family, and was unfailingly kind and honest. He will be greatly missed.

  • George R. Cheeseman

    1950s

    George R. Cheeseman

    鈥 BSc鈥52

    Spring 2023

    George R. Cheeseman passed away on June 8, 2021, in Edmonton, Alta. He was 92. George was survived by his wife, June Simon (Cheeseman) of 67 years; his daughter, Laura (Peter) Cheeseman-Frigon; and grandson, Robert (Megan) Frigon. He was predeceased by his parents, Sidney and Myrtle Cheeseman; brother, Roy (BSc鈥48); and sister, Margaret.

    George was born in Deloro, Ont. He was a very proud graduate of Queen鈥檚. He worked as an engineer throughout Canada. George finished his engineering career with Krupp Canada and Polysius Corp in the U.S. and India, retiring in 1983.

    A lifelong bird watcher and world traveller, he enjoyed participating in Queen鈥檚 alumni travel trips and homecomings.

  • 1960s

    James Michael Bennett

    鈥 BSc鈥63

    Spring 2023

    James Michael Bennett passed away on Feb. 17, 2023 in Peterborough, Ont., at the age of 83.

    He is survived by his wife, Sandy; his four children, Erin Bennett, Jeanne Bennett, Martha Bennett, and Rhys Bennett; and his stepdaughters, Sherry and Heidi; his five siblings, Bill Bennett, Kerry Sharp, Bishop Robert Bennett, Sally Bennett, and Neil Bennett, his 11 grandchildren; and one great grandson.

    Mike was such an accomplished person. He was a Professor Emeritus, a true scholar, an author, researcher and dean. He pioneered online course development, accreditation, and delivery in computer science, and engineering and was a gifted lecturer and teacher.

    He set an example of hard work, honesty, love and caring of others for his children and grandchildren, academic colleagues, and students. He was a man of faith and humility and truly lived what he believed. As is often the case, the brightest among us are often the most humble.

    Everyone loved Mike with his dry and witty humour and outstanding intellect. He was so well read and well-travelled, with exceptional knowledge of classical music, the sciences, history, geography, seven languages, and literature.

    He will be remembered for his love of his family, the numerous lives that he touched, and the kind and generous life that he lived.

  • 2000s

    Michael B. Vladescu

    鈥 MBA鈥20

    Spring 2023

    Michael B. Vladescu passed away May 3, 2022 at 53. He is survived by his wife, Caroline and children, Nadia, Alexandra, and Nicholas, as well as extended family, friends, and colleagues.

  • Jeffrey George Witt at homecoming

    1980s

    Jeffrey George Witt

    鈥 BSc'85

    Spring 2023

    Jeffrey George Witt passed away on Dec. 6, 2021, surrounded by love at his home in Dundas, Ont. Jeff fought a heroic battle and lived every day to the best of his abilities, despite a cruel brain cancer diagnosis received in September of 2021. Jeff鈥檚 pride and joy were his family, including his adored children and their spouses, Jennifer and Kevyn Murray, Jordan and Katelyn Witt, and Stacey Witt. His family was expanded in 2007 to include his cherished partner, Pamela Mirehouse (Artsci'83), and her daughters and their spouses, Kirsten Brown and Michael Gropp, and Hana and Evan Eckert. In 2016, their beautiful family began to grow even more and now includes much loved grandchildren that called him 鈥楶apa鈥: James Murray, Lillian and Madelyn Witt, and Aubrey and Oscar Gropp. Jeff lived a life supported by his loving parents, Florence and Elden Witt and his dear sisters, Katherine Waldron (Harry) and Patricia Baptista (Eddie-2011) (BNSc'80). Uncle Jeff (UJ) showed that same love and support to his many nieces, nephews, and their families. Jeff was close with his cousins and cherished the time he spent with them. 

    Jeff was proud to have been born and raised in Pembroke, Ont., where he spent much of his early years with his large extended family, creating joyful and lasting memories. His love of sports also began early on and he became well-known for his athletic ability, excelling in hockey, basketball, football, refereeing, and more. He graduated in 1985 from Queen鈥檚 with a degree in applied science. Jeff was a true engineer at heart and would go on to spend his entire 35 year career at ArcelorMittal Dofasco in Hamilton, Ont., taking on many different roles. Throughout his career, Jeff had a relentless energy to continuously improve anywhere he went. He leaves behind a legacy of improvement throughout multiple areas of the company, and he also applied these same principles in his daily life. He was known amongst his peers as 鈥淢r. Dofasco鈥 and was truly proud to have worked for this company. 

    He happily retired in late 2020 from his last role as the coach in the Transformation Office. Jeff was an avid supporter of the Dundas and Hamilton community and volunteered through his work and other organizations. A true lover of food, he was always on the lookout for new restaurants to try, breweries to visit, and attractions to see. He was a regular blood donor and made a personal commitment to giving life to someone else in need, exceeding 75 donations throughout his life. A man of the people, he would run into an old colleague, friend, or former classmate everywhere he went. His active lifestyle kept him busy at home and he was always working to improve his and Pam鈥檚 award-winning garden. Jeff lived life fully as a leader, traveller, storyteller, family man, and during his journey he touched many lives as a good friend, well respected mentor, and will be missed by many.