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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  • Glenn Yungblut, In Memoriam

    1950s

    Glenn Yungblut

    – BSc’54

    Spring 2026

    Glenn Yungblut passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, August 16, at the age of 93 years. He will be lovingly remembered by his wife, Jean Yungblut (nee McLennan); children, John Yungblut and Jennifer (Chris) Shaw; nine grandchildren: Jackie Yungblut and Joseph Nafziger, Dylan and Vanessa Yungblut (nee Rae), Alex Riley, Brittany Riley-Yungblut, Jade Yungblut and Sydney (nee Mytrunic), Lauren Lapointe-Shaw and Lucas Chartier, Raye Mckinnon, Sigourney Shaw and Gerry Churchill, Pelly Shaw; and 15 great-grandchildren, ages 16 to 1-1/2 years: Jordyn, Ashton, Lily, Jacob, Arya, Jet, Eloise, Florence, Carter, Mia, Theo, Finley, Scarlet, Lelya, and Marsali; and his brother, Bob (Moira) Yungblut. He was predeceased by his brother, Don; and his wife, Margaret.

    After graduating from Queen’s in 1954 with an honours degree in Mechanical Engineering, Glenn accepted a position with Shell Canada in Calgary. Starting as a drilling engineer in the geologically complex foothills he subsequently was involved in developing and testing equipment for Gulf of Mexico deep-water drilling operations and ultimately in managing drilling operations on floating drilling platforms off of both the west and east coasts of Canada.

    In 1971 Glenn transitioned to a government role being responsible for developing drilling and production regulations for offshore production and regulatory oversight for drilling operations in the Canadian northern territories as well as Arctic and East Coast offshore areas.

    In 1980 he became a founding partner of EPI Resources providing drilling and production consulting services to companies operating in the Canadian Arctic and east coast offshore areas inclusive of the Venture gas field and Hibernia oil field.

    From 1989 to 1996 Glenn returned to regulatory operations including working on a joint Canada-U.S. task force focusing on pipeline security and safety. He retired from the NEB in 1996. From 1996 through to 2005 he was chairman of the Canada Nova Scotia Offshore petroleum Board.

    Concluding 54 years in the oil and gas industry Glenn served as the Canadian representative on a Canada-U.S. task force focusing on pipeline security and safety from 2005 to 2007.

    On December 16, 1961, Glenn married Jean Yungblut whom he had met while she was working as a secretary at Shell Canada before taking a position with the Nickel Daily Oil Bulletin, a key publication for industry news. Their marriage may not have been possible if Jean had remained with Shell, as most industry companies discouraged romantic relationships among employees.

    Jean has been Glenn’s partner throughout his many assignments and changing work locations, together having established homes in Calgary, Houston, Victoria, Halifax, Ottawa, and finally back in Calgary.

    Glenn’s calm, kind, caring demeanor permeated everything he undertook. He was known in the family as the baby whisperer and was popular with all the children in his life.

    He loved to ski in Banff and did so well into his 80s. He loved a good game of pickleball or squash or a golf game as long as there were friends to golf with and a beer and peanuts waiting at the end.

    He was happiest on his bike on Ottawa’s many bike paths, in Calgary’s Fish Creek Park or just about anywhere else in the world with a bike path to be explored, and he explored many! Some of his first bicycling trips to Europe were with Jim Eickmeier, who has been a close friend for 65 years. Glenn biked across Canada with longtime neighbour and biking buddy Michael Romano and in many countries in Europe with a bigger crew including: brother Bob, Michael, Ed Chillak and occasionally accompanied by Jean, Moira, Jennifer, and Chris.

    He spent many years volunteering at Red Pine Camp starting on the Operating Committee in the 1970s and ending as chairman of the board of directors in the 1990s when his position with the National Energy Board took him to Calgary. At camp he could be found playing paddle tennis, leading a team in the water regatta, sailing or reading a book on the bluff overlooking Golden Lake.

    Thank you to the many care workers who helped care for him at home and at the Foothills Hospital in the last few months. Donations can be made in Glenn’s memory to the Prostate Cancer Centre at Rockyview General Hospital.

  • William Meredith Macdonnell, In Memoriam

    1960s

    William Meredith Macdonnell

    – BA’68

    Spring 2026

    William Meredith Macdonnell died in Ottawa, on Dec. 31, 2025, at the age of 80. Meredith was part of the fourth generation of the Macdonnell family at Queen’s, having been predeceased by his father, Daniel James Macdonnell, BA’32, MA ‘33; by his grandfather, George Frederick Macdonnell, MA’1893; and by his great-grandfather, the Reverend Daniel James Macdonnell, MA’1859.

    He is survived by his wife, Barbara Norman; his sister, Frances Buchan Macdonnell, Arts’69; his brother, James Fergus Macdonnell; his children, Kate and August; their mother, Gillian Purves Arts‘68, and his five grandchildren.

    Musician, artist, military historian, teacher, and civil servant 

    Having grown up in the Choir of Christ Church Cathedral, Ottawa, Meredith then sang in the Choir of St. George’s Cathedral, Kingston, during his years at Queen’s, travelling with them to England in 1965. 

    While at Queen’s, and for several years after, he also worked with the Fort Henry Guard. While in the Guard, he held the positions of both Staff-Serjeant [sic - historical spelling] and of ColourSerjeant [sic] Responsible to the Ensign for the Queens’ Colour; he then continued to work at the Fort as a history researcher.

    A well-known and respected semi-professional countertenor and choir director in Ottawa, he formed, conducted, and sang in a number of small choirs, both sacred and secular: notably, for several decades, the Men’s Voyces, a six-voice a capella group of male singers. 

    His military drawings and paintings of Canadian and British regimental dress were known for their historical accuracy and detail. His writings on military topics are being published.

    He was a popular teacher at Rosseau Lake School and then served for several decades in the Public Service of Canada.

  • Dennis Frederick Pitt, In Memoriam

    1970s

    Dennis Frederick Pitt

    – MD’72

    Spring 2026

    Dennis Frederick Pitt passed away peacefully on Feb. 19, 2026, at the age of 78, leaving behind a legacy of healing, learning, and devotion to helping others.

    Dennis was blessed with 48 wonderful years of marriage with his wife, Susan. He was a steady force for his four daughters: Laura (Sean Watson), Libby (Alan Mathew), Mary (Christopher Clarke), and Emily Pitt. He will be forever remembered and adored by his grandchildren: Aaliyah, Jacob, Oliver, Thomas, and Calvin. He will be missed by his sister, Lorna Doubt. His kindness is reflected in his love of the family dogs over the years.

    Dennis was a dedicated historian and an avid reader – a lifelong learner who never lost his curiosity for the world. A man of faith and community spirit, Dennis was a familiar face at MacKay United Church for 46 years, where he sang in the choir. He skied and biked regularly and played defence in senior men’s hockey at Potvin Arena for over four decades. His athletic aptitude and love for physical activity live on through those he coached and mentored. To those who knew him well, he was a writer and a candid storyteller, often sharing tales of his life and, perhaps most famously, his 45-year-old snowblower.

    Born in Kingston, Dennis graduated from Queen’s Medical School in 1972. He completed his surgical training at Western University and later earned a Master of Medical Education from the University of Dundee, reflecting his lifelong commitment to the art and science of teaching.

    Dennis practiced general surgery, with 44 of those years dedicated to The Riverside and The Ottawa Hospitals. As an associate professor at the University of Ottawa and an honorary member of the Canadian Medical Association, he shaped the futures of countless medical professionals. His impact on patient care continues through the Dr. Dennis F. Pitt Educational Scholarship, awarded annually to critical care nurses at The Ottawa Hospital. He was revered not only for his surgical skill but for a calm demeanor and bedside manner that brought peace to those in his care.

    Our family extends our deepest gratitude to the staff at The Ottawa Hospital for the exceptional care and respect shown to Dennis during his final days. Having dedicated so many years of his own life to these halls, it was profoundly moving to see him supported by the same community of healing he helped build. We are especially grateful to the care teams for their professional excellence and the quiet compassion that provided our family with such peace.

    Dennis is the author of Those Were the Days: An Anecdotal History of the Academy of Medicine Ottawa (2004) and has authored and co-authored numerous journal articles on medicine. A Journey in Surgery: The Memoir of a Canadian Surgeon (2026) is his second book and captures his life’s journey in his own words, available at dennispitt.ca.

  • Ronald (Ron) Lees, In Memoriam

    0s

    Ronald (Ron) Lees

    – Faculty/staff

    Spring 2026

    February 14, 1935 – March 8, 2026

    In Memory of Ronald (Ron) Lees, who passed away on March 8, 2026. Ron was the devoted husband of the late Millis Lees, and a loving father to his daughters, Karen English and Hilary Watson. He was cherished by his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, all of whom will carry his memory forward. Ron will be fondly remembered and deeply missed by all. 

    Ron was a compassionate and caring man who always placed the needs of his family and his patients above all else. As an Officer in the Order of St. John, he was committed to humanitarian and charitable work around the world. He will be remembered for his sound judgment, his steady voice of reason, and his seemingly encyclopedic knowledge of all things.

    Born in Carlisle, England, Ron moved to Glasgow, Scotland, as an infant. His lifelong passion for Scotland was part of his fabric, and he was a devoted Scot to the end, despite having lived much of his life in Canada. 

    Ron was accepted to Medical School at the University of Glasgow at the age of 17 where he obtained his degree in medicine in 1958. He joined the merchant navy for two years and then continued to travel the world as ship’s surgeon on the Circassia (Anchor Line) and the Orion (P and O). Ron met his wife in 1961. They married the same year and moved to the West Indies shortly thereafter. Formerly chief medical officer to the government of St. Lucia, and physician with the Rockefeller Foundation of New York, Ron later moved his family to Scotland before emigrating to Canada where he joined the Faculty of Medicine at Queen’s in 1969. There, Ron continued his medical practice until his retirement in 2001. His work took him to the U.K., Egypt, Australia, and the United Arab Emirates on extended projects and sabbaticals.

    For his work in tropical medicine, Ron was awarded a Fellowship in the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene in 1965. Ron was invested into the Order of St. John in 1968 and became an Officer in the Order in 1972. He gained Fellowships in the Royal Colleges of Physicians of the United Kingdom, the Royal College of Physicians of Canada, and the College of Family Physicians of Canada. At Queen’s Ron was a member of the Department of Community Health and Epidemiology and the Department of Family Medicine from 1977 until 1995, when he became director of occupational health and safety, and consultant physician to several corporations. Ron was actively involved with examination committees of the Medical Council of Canada for several years and served on several committees for both the governments of Ontario and Canada. Upon his retirement in 2001, Ron was named Professor Emeritus in the Faculty of Medicine at Queen’s. He was proud that his wife and his daughters were all graduates of Queen’s. 

    A lover of the outdoors, Ron spent his youth climbing in Scotland, his early adulthood traversing the great oceans of the world, and laterally sailing the calmer waters of Kingston, Ontario. Ron enjoyed cultivating the beautiful gardens he and Millis created together and harvesting their fresh vegetables. Ron instilled in his daughters, from an early age, a lasting appreciation for nature and a fondness for all creatures, great and small. With a dog at his heel and a pipe at the ready, he entertained family and friends with his gift for storytelling and his terrific sense of humour. He loved to sing, dance, play the spoons, and he never turned down an opportunity to Address the Haggis. 

    In retirement Ron took great pleasure in volunteering at the Kingston Marine Museum, where he quickly bonded with a group of likeminded, would-be mariners.

    A funeral service will be held at James Reid Funeral Home (1900 John Counter Blvd.) on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at 11 a.m.

  • 1960s

    Delbert J. Campbell

    – BSc’61

    Spring 2026


    Del passed away on December 12, 2025, at the Guelph General Hospital.

    He is survived by Susan, his wife of 65 years, and his two children, Stephanie (Jordan) and Graeme. He leaves a brother, Wayne (Louise), and is pre-deceased by a younger brother,

    Dave (Donna). All four Campbell men, proud Queen's Alumni.

    Del was born at Parry Sound, Ont., and moved with his family in 1946 to Deep River, Ont. the townsite for the new Chalk River Nuclear Laboratories. Del attended public and secondary school in Deep River, followed by Queen's, where he graduated with a degree in Metallurgical Engineering in 1961.

    Del's career as an engineer began at Atomic Energy of Canada, where he spent the next eight years – first as the supervisor of chemical operations laboratory and finally as welding engineer in charge of electron beam welding.

    In 1970 Del enrolled in the master’s degree program in welding and metallurgical engineering at the Cranfield Institute of Technology in England.

    After graduation, Del was offered a job in Gateshead with Northern Engineering as a group leader in welding metallurgy. During the next three-and-a-half years, Del also worked as a technical specialist travelling to their 10 divisions making recommendations.

    In 1975 life and much European travel was interrupted when Del brought the family back to Canada on the Alexander Pushkin, a memorable experience.

    Del took a position in Edmonton, where he was attached to the Canadian Welding Development Institute as an associate professor at the University of Alberta.

    Deciding that teaching was not where he wanted to be, Del next moved the family to Montreal where he spent three years working for Bombardier-MLW in their nuclear heat exchanger division as supervisor of welding and materials technology. In late 1979, Bombardier decided to exit the heat exchanger business. It was necessary for him to seek a new job immediately and found Babcock and Wilcox of Cambridge to be his workplace until retirement in 2000. Del became manager of welding and materials technology and later of fossil products manufacturing.

    Del enjoyed many adventures throughout Europe with the family and for his work, including business trips to Japan and China. Twenty years owning a cottage near Perth, Ont., and Caribbean cruises provided happy holidays with friends and extended family members.

    During retirement years, Del played golf, bridge, and read extensively in science and philosophy. He was a long-time member of the St. George Lions Club and lastly a member of the Royal City Mens Club in Guelph.

    A Celebration of Life Gathering was held in Del's memory at Gilbert MacIntyre & Son Funeral Home in Guelph on January 10, 2026. Interment will be later at St. George Cemetery, St. George Ontario.

  • Mary Elizabeth Richardson, In Memoriam

    1950s

    Mary Elizabeth Richardson

    – BA’50

    Spring 2026

    Cherished by all who knew her, Mary Elizabeth Richardson, 97, passed peacefully in her sleep January 27, 2026. 

    Born March 20,1928, in Edmonton, Alberta, Mary lived a truly remarkable life. Her devotion to those less fortunate than herself started immediately after graduation from Queen’s in 1950. As a social worker she worked with many organizations including Children’s Aid Society of Kingston, The Halifax Dartmouth School Board, Big Brothers, and Family Services of Toronto. Mary was a tireless worker on behalf of those who needed her most. After raising three children in Nova Scotia, Mary decided to further her education and graduated at 42 years of age from Dalhousie University with her much-coveted Masters of Social Work degree. Mary had an amazing sense of humour. Her infectious smile and wit brightened the days of all who knew her, especially family, friends, colleagues, and those who cared for her in her later years.

    Survived by her three children: Sheri, Bob (Susan), Paul (Donna); grandchildren: Robin, Leslie, Alison, Jacquelyn, Patrick, Geoff, Megan, Steven, Ryan; great-grandchildren: Cason, Winter, Diana, Juliet, Theodore, Florence, Max, Scottie, Brady, Zoey, Kayden, and Cooper; and by many cherished nieces and nephews.