Obituaries
Please alert us to the recent death of any other Rhodes Scholar by emailing communications@rhodeshouse.ox.ac.uk.
John enrolled at Dalhousie University at the young age of 14, and graduated with an MSc in 1958. He was awarded with First Class Honours, the Governor-General's Gold Medal and a Rhodes Scholarship to continue his doctorate in Experimental Physics at Magdalen College, Oxford University.
John spent five years as a researcher and lecturer at the Université de Grenoble, where he developed a love for the French Alps and met his future wife, Jacqueline. A compelling offer with the National Research Council brought him back to Canada (Ottawa), and later he joined the Association of the Atlantic Universities (Halifax). He retired as Director of Research and Academic Planning for the Maritime Provinces Higher Education Commission (Fredericton) to pursue his many other interests and moved back to Halifax in 1997.
We were saddened to hear of the passing of Colin Curtis, former managing director of the Bermuda Perfume Factory. Colin read Jurisprudence at Queen's College from 1959-1961.
After leading his final Russian study groups, Dick retired in 1995 to work on his two volumes of poetic analysis, Tchaikovsky’s Complete Songs (2002) and Rachmaninoff’s Complete Songs (2014), both of which were also translated into Russian.
These two books were published in the Indiana University Press “Russian Music Studies” series. Dick was thrilled when concert organizers asked to use his translations in vocal programs at Carnegie Hall and the Oxford Lieder Festival.
The Rhodes Trust is deeply grateful that Richard remembered the Trust in his Will.
Professor Geoffrey Phillips (Rhodesia & Lincoln 1956) was an active Reader and member of synods since retirement as an English Professor more than a decade earlier from the English Department at Åbo Akademi, the Swedish medium University in Finland. Geoffrey was born in Kasama, Zambia and died in his present country of residence, Finland.
Graeme Rea worked for the Asian Development Bank from 1969-1979 and then for the International Monetary Fund, from 1979-1995. Graeme studied Law at Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar.
Robert Wells's career shifted from law to politics to leading the public inquiry in the wake of the Cougar Flight 491 helicopter crash that helped bring about a massive shift in safety for offshore helicopter operations.
Wells became a Rhodes Scholar upon graduating Memorial University in 1953, earning his law degree from Oxford University. Returning to St. John's, Wells put that degree to work, first as a lawyer, in criminal and civil practice as well as a Crown attorney. He then was appointed as a Newfoundland and Labrador Supreme Court Justice, a position he held for 22 years. During his career he also found time for politics, twice serving as an MHA for the Progressive Conservatives in the 1970s. In 1985, he also became the first Newfoundlander to serve as president of the Canadian Bar Association.
On March 12, 2009, Cougar Flight 491, a helicopter bound for offshore oil platforms, crashed into the icy Atlantic ocean, killing 17 of the 18 people on board. Wells led an inquiry which was tasked with probing current helicopter safety practices and make recommendations for improvement. Wells's final report, along with the Transportation Safety Board's own investigation, helped push through a series of changes in helicopter safety, from a swifter search and rescue response, to better training to underwater breathing devices for all those on board. It took nearly an hour for a search helicopter to take to the air after the crash of Flight 491, and in 2014 Wells said that time had been lowered to 20 minutes.
Robert remained dedicated to that safety mission long after it ended, appearing before Parliament as a private citizen or speaking with media on the subject.
Nigel passed away peacefully at Bayfield Manor, Kemptville, on Thursday October 15, 2020, in his 93rd year. Beloved husband of Joan for 53 years. Proud father of Timothy (Sondra) and Simon (Donata). Loving Grandpa of Emma, Heather and Rupert. Cherished uncle of Caroline, Victoria and Rupert in England, he will also be fondly remembered by many family members overseas.
Bill was born in Sherman Texas on December 25, 1922. He attended high school in Oklahoma City and graduated as Valedictorian at age 16. He then entered Oklahoma University where he earned his Master’s degree in chemistry and physics graduating Summa Cum Laude.
Upon the outbreak of WWII, Bill enlisted in the US Army and served in Hawaii and Iwo Jima.
After the war, Bill received a Rhodes Scholarship to further his education at Oxford University in England. An exception was made by the Rhodes committee during those years after the war that allowed a recipient to bring their spouse with them to England, so he married Betty in 1948 and they began their life together. It was at Oxford that Bill received his PhD.
Bill and Betty came to Lake Jackson, Texas in 1955 where Bill worked as a chemist for Dow Chemical in research and development. Bill spent 35 years at Dow where he developed several patents for Dow and mentored many young chemists. He was known as the “go to” person to help solve problems that no one else could.
Bill was active in the community with the American Legion, various nature clubs, and Coastal Corners square dance club. He also served as a reserve officer for the Brazoria County Sheriff Department as well as a docent for the Natural Science museum.
His love of science, nature, and the outdoors was passed on to his family, and celebrated early on with a yearly trip to Garner State Park. Many a family member, including grandkids, have had a teaching moment or two under a tree overlooking the Frio River. Bill was always in the teaching mode and many have benefited from his wisdom. One of Bill’s grandsons recently ran into an old friend of Bill’s who told him, “I always wondered what it was like to be Bill, and walk into the room, and know you were the smartest one there”.
Bill loved all music, and even though he couldn’t carry a tune in a bucket, loved to sing along with gusto to the Gilbert and Sullivan operettas and hum along to the beautiful Viennese waltzes. Many will remember his theatrical role at The Center as the aging count in the stage play, “Amadeus”.
Bill was a staunch conservative Republican who loved his country and was a true patriot. He was one of the last remaining of the Greatest Generation. Bill always welcomed a good debate based on logic and facts, and never held a grudge against anyone who held the opposing view. Bill’s kindness, steadfastness and gentle ways will be forever missed by those who knew and loved this amazing man.
A decorated athlete, Turner once held the Canadian record for the 100-metre dash and qualified for the 1948 Olympics while a student at the University of British Columbia.
Turner graduated from the University of British Columbia in 1949, and came to Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar. After studying law, he went to Paris to work on a doctorate at the Sorbonne.
As justice minister in Pierre Trudeau’s cabinet from 1968 to 1972, Turner proposed a national legal aid system – an issue close to his heart – and created the federal court, among other reforms.
Turner resumed his legal work and nine years later won the party leadership.
Turner took office on June 30, 1984. Turner’s term as prime minister lasted only 78 days, however he stayed on as the MP for Vancouver Quadra for a few more years, eventually retiring from politics before the 1993 election.
He went back to work as a lawyer, and was named a companion of the Order of Canada in 1994.