Obituaries
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Ronald Storrs McCall died peacefully in Lachute, Quebec, surrounded by his family, at the age of 91. He is lovingly remembered by his wife, Ann (née Griffin), his children, Mengo, Kai (Sepideh), Sophie (David) and his grandchildren Kalliopé, Anoushak, Timoléon, Maya, Skye and Scarlet.
Storrs was a deeply curious person with a lifelong love of learning. He brought big ideas to all he did as a philosopher, teacher, farmer and fun-loving family man. He loved sports and was a true all-rounder in golf, hockey, rowing, tennis, squash and skiing. Together with Ann, he hosted many memorable dinner parties. He loved head-scratching riddles, valued conversation and challenged his guests intellectually in friendly and generous ways. He was committed to many causes, from promoting education in Uganda and Southern Sudan in the 1960s, resisting land expropriation at Mirabel in the 1970s, promoting a bilingual and multicultural Quebec in the 1980s, proposing a Great Books program at McGill University in the 1990s and supporting the Nature Conservancy of Canada in the 2000s. His warm, positive and hopeful vision of life was shaped by values of fairness and generosity.
Always a top student, Storrs became a Rhodes scholar in 1953 and earned his D.Phil in 1964 at Oxford University. With interests in philosophy and math, physics and literature, art and politics, he was a true Renaissance man, bridging academic disciplines. His life's work as a philosopher culminated in his landmark book, A Model of the Universe (Oxford 1994). Beginning with a straightforward explanation of time flow using a branched tree model, the book applies advanced theories of quantum mechanics and math to shed light on enduring philosophical questions.
Storrs had a legendary style of lecturing, captivating generations of students with his accessible delivery, his humour and his brightly patterned, wide ties. He believed everyone benefited from studying the great thinkers in the Western canon, and his Introduction to Philosophy class was taken by thousands of undergraduates who went on to pursue careers in many different fields. From 1965 to 1971, he and others worked to establish the study of philosophy at Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda. He also taught at the University of Pittsburgh before returning with his young family to McGill. He had a long-standing presence at McGill, with over fifty years of teaching, beginning in his early twenties. He was a daily attendee at the Faculty Club where he joined fellow academics in lively discussions over lunch. He gave generously to McGill, establishing the Professor Storrs McCall Fellowship for Graduate Students in Philosophy in 2019.
North River Farm was Storrs's true home, and a gathering place for his immediate and extended family. His interests at the farm included agriculture as well as a deep commitment to nature and conservation. Storrs's father first established the farm, and it grew further with the dedicated contributions of Bill Brass, his son Ian Brass, and Clifton Berry. Their expertise in agriculture produced top quality Jersey and Aberdeen Angus herds, maple syrup, and crops. A decade ago, wishing to preserve the natural beauty and biodiversity of the farm in perpetuity, Storrs signed a document of protection with the Nature Conservancy of Canada.
All of his accomplishments would not have had meaning without Storrs's beloved wife and companion, Ann. They met in 1962 in the philosophy classroom at McGill. Waiting until after her graduation, they married and set off on a life of adventure; enjoying a happy and harmonious marriage of fifty-seven years. Their compatibility extended in everything they did. They enjoyed combining work and pleasure, whether it was singing together in a choir or taking sabbaticals in Australia. In later years, Storrs was lovingly cared for by Ann, who always encouraged him to stay active and connected to his family. For Storrs, his enduring love for his family always came first and was the source of his greatest happiness.
Originally from Victoria, Peter Bailey attended Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar and studied History at Corpus Christi IN 1950. Since 1999 he was Adjunct Professor in the ANU College of Law, after being a Visiting Fellow from 1987 to 1998. Before that, and between 1981 and 1986, he was Deputy Chairman and full-time chief executive of the Commonwealth's Human Rights Commission. His earlier career was in the Commonwealth Public Service, where he served in the Treasury and then in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, becoming a Deputy Secretary in the latter in 1972. He was a full time member of the Royal Commission on Australian Government Administration 1974-76. In his academic life, he made major contributions to Australian human rights law.
Peter was an active member of the Rhodes community, and an Alumni Association Committee Member of the Association of Rhodes Scholars in Australia (ARSA). Former National Secretary Marnie Hughes-Warrington said: "Peter was a generous mentor. He worked hard to set Australia at Large applicants at ease, and was a warm and wise contributor to many events over the years. Vale Peter, and thank you for always standing up for a better world."
Mark Roland Bewsher Oct. 9, 1938 - Oct. 30, 2021 Mark Bewsher, 83, of Tiburon, CA passed peacefully on October 30 from cancer. He is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Mary Anne, four children and six grandchildren. Humble, faithful, smart, and spiritual, he touched everyone he met and was loved by many. From mapping new places in Peru, starting the kayaking club at Oxford, co-founding Babcock & Brown, saving open spaces in Tiburon in perpetuity, or scaling the mountains on his road bike, he will be remembered and missed.
Guy studied at Dalhousie University where he received a BA and MA in History. While at university, he played Varsity football, rugby and hockey. As a Rhodes Scholar, he attended New College, Oxford. While there, he played hockey with the Oxford University Ice Hockey team, the New College cricket and rugby teams. After Oxford, Guy proceeded to Duke University where he earned a PhD. He then returned to Dalhousie where he taught history for 23 years. He also served in several administrative positions, including Dean of Men, University of King's College; Dean of Residence, Dalhousie; Assistant Dean, Faculty of Graduate Studies; Dean, Faculty of Graduate Studies; Dean, Faculty of Arts and Sciences; Vice-President (Academic and Research). In 1980, he was appointed President and Vice-Chancellor of Mount Allison University. From 1989 to 1995 he served as Ombudsman of Nova Scotia.
Dr. Robert Murray Mundle, MD, FRCS, Surgeon Lieutenant Commander, Royal Canadian Navy (retired). Peacefully at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital on October 15,2021 with family by his side. Husband, father, grandfather and friend to many.
Murray was born in Sackville, New Brunswick and received his early education at Sackville High School, before attending Mount Allison University for B.A. in 1953. He was chosen as a Rhodes Scholar from New Brunswick and studied at Oxford University, England, where he received an M.A. Degree in 1956. Murray joined the Fleet Arm Royal Canadian Navy as a squadron pilot and served in various squadrons including 75 Squadron Royal Navy. In spite of a busy career as a pilot in the navy, he felt the need to continue his education and entered McGill Medical School where he received an M.D.C.M. Degree in 1959. This permitted a promotion in the navy from lieutenant to a Surgeon Lieutenant Commander. He served in this capacity as Medical Officer for H.M.C.S. Shearwater, H.M.C.S. Bonaventure 1960-63,and Principal Medical Officer H.M.C.S. Cornwallis 1963-65. He retired from the navy in 1965.
Murray decided to embark on a second medical career and trained for his F.R.C.S. in Urology which he obtained in 1968. He came to Prince Edward Island and was the only Urologist in the province until 1983, working at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital until his retirement in 2001. He was active in the work of the Medical Society and served as President in 1973 following which he served on several committees. He was Chief of Staff of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and retired as head of that institution’s Department of Surgery. In spite of his many medical and military duties Murray had time for a full family and social life. He continued his love of the sea as a member of the Charlottetown yacht club where he sailed his sloop Thrumcap with his friends and family.
Dr. David McMullin Fowler, 70, of Pompano Beach, Florida passed away suddenly on Tuesday, October 12, 2021. David was born in Auburn, New York, on April 27, 1951, a son of the late Deforest and Gertrude McMullin Fowler. David grew up on a family-owned and operated apple farm outside Wolcott, New York. Growing up on the farm, he learned common sense and acquired a broad range of knowledge and a strong work ethic. He had a quick wit and a great sense of humor. He was a humble man and kind to everyone.
David spent memorable summers at the family cottage while also working on the farm. His early interest in a career in medicine started when volunteering at the local community hospital, and later working in the summer as a nursing assistant in a hospital in Maine. He became a certified small airplane pilot.
He attended Colgate University for one semester, but left after his father’s death. He later went to Center College where he played varsity basketball for three years; David also worked some summers at Hilton Head Island Resort in South Carolina as a lifeguard and golf caddy. Center College nominated him for and he won a Rhodes Scholarship. He started medical school at Oxford University and was granted a third year of funding for these studies. He finished his final two years of medical school at Cambridge University, He completed his Internship at Tulane University and Residency at the University of Hawaii. He became board certified in internal medicine and emergency medicine. He later attended University of Florida Law School and was awarded a JD degree.
His phrase was “Years wrinkle the skin, but lack of enthusiasm wrinkles the soul”. Surviving David is his loving wife Roberta, his beloved daughters Madeleine age 21 and Hannah age 18 and his sister Margaret Veazey (Dr. James Veazey,).
Alfred Landry was born in Robichaud, N.B., in 1936 and graduated from Barachois High School. He studied at Assumption College in Moncton and received his B.A. degree, summa cum laude, from St. Joseph University in 1957. He graduated from the University of Ottawa with a B. Comm. degree in 1958 and studied for two years at the U.N.B. Law School. In 1960 he was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship and then studied law at the University of Oxford, England for three years, completed a B.A. Jurispr in 1962 and was admitted to the degree of M.A. in 1966. Judge Landry was called to the Bar in 1964. He was senior partner of the law firm Landry & McIntyre and had practiced law for 21 years when he was appointed to the Bench in 1985. He became a supernumerary judge in 2001 and retired from the bench in 2011. On the unanimous recommendation of the New Brunswick Legislative Assembly Judge Landry was appointed Conflict of Interest Commissioner and served as such for two years between September 2013 and July 2015.
Mr. Landry was a director of Atlantic Region Canadian Council of Christians and Jews, a director of the New Brunswick Heart Foundation and Atlantic Co-Chairman of the Université de Moncton Fund Raising Campaign. He has been a member of the Moncton Rotary Club, the N.B. Barristers’ Society, the Moncton Barristers’ Society, the Association of Insurance Attorneys, the Canadian Judges Conference, the N.B. Rhodes Scholarship Selection Committee, the Moncton Board of Trade and the Shediac Chamber of Commerce.
Richard Watson Parker received a B.A. degree in Politics from Princeton University in 1978 and was then elected as a Rhodes Scholar. He received a D. Phil. in Politics from Oxford University in 1982 and a J.D. degree from Yale University in 1985.
Richard worked at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, the Environmental Protection Agency and the law firm of O'Melveny and Myers prior to his appointment in 1995 as Professor of Law at the University of Connecticut, where he taught and wrote in the fields of environmental law and administrative law.
He served as consultant to several national and international organizations, including the European Commission on the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership talks, and participated in the work of the American Bar Association, most recently as Chair of the Environment and Natural Resources Committee in the Section on Administrative Law & Regulatory Practice.
John Rayner studied History at Corpus Christi College, Oxford, as a Rhodes Scholar in 1960. John was Assistant Deputy Minister of Policy in Indian Affairs & Northern Development in the Government of Canada. John volunteered for the Trust for many years as a Committee Member in the Canadian Association of Rhodes Scholars (CARS).