Obituaries

1947

Greg Darling

passed away on Feb. 17, 2022, in Fairfax, Va. He attended St. Andrew’s from 1939 to 1940. Greg became a commissioned Signal Corps Officer in 1949. During his 32 years in the Army, he was assigned overseas for 17 years. He was a paratrooper with more than 100 jumps. In 1972, he achieved the rank of Colonel. Greg is survived by his wife, Emma; children, Deborah, Gregory, and Wendy; four grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his son, Peter.

Douglas Pratt attended SAC from 1942 to 1943. It came to our attention recently that he passed away in 2010 in Portland, Ore. During his year at SAC, Douglas earned his third team colours in football, given for exceptional contribution to the team, and played Second Basketball. He won the Assault-at-Arms for boxing and was awarded the Armstrong Cup in 1943 and, subsequently, his boxing colours. Doug also placed second in the Track & Field Competition in the one-mile category. Doug was the general manager of Finley’s Sunset Hills Mortuary and Cemetery from 1985 until 1996 when he retired. He is survived by his sons, Douglas and Guy, and companion, Pauline. He was predeceased by his son, Daniel.

1951

Doug Hill passed away on Aug. 3, 2022, in Ottawa. He attended St. Andrew’s from 1947 to 1951. Doug was Head Boy, School News Editor of The Review, and President of the Literacy Society. He won the senior Cross-Country Run in 1950. A gifted musician, he was often called upon to take over duties at the organ during morning chapel. He was also a Librarian and Debater, and won a role in the Upper School play, Thunder Rock. Doug attended Trinity College at the University of Toronto and graduated with a BA in English literature. He joined the Canadian Department of External Affairs and moved to Ottawa in 1956. He served as a diplomat in Germany, England, Brazil, and Switzerland, retiring in 1989. Douglas is survived by his children, Andrew, Mark, and Sarah; six grandchildren; his brother, John Hill ’57, and nephew, Geoff Hill ’88. He was predeceased by his wife, Anne Moira Patricia. Peter McLean passed away on April 12, 2021, in Quebec. He attended St. Andrew’s from 1945 to 1951 and was a Prefect and Corporal in the Pipe Band. He served as a Librarian and Chapel Boy and played Third Football. Peter earned a medical degree from McGill University, and his career included university appointments as an associate professor of surgery and lecturer. Among his hospital appointments were senior surgeon, co-director of the Accident Service, director of Surgical Intensive Care, and infection control officer. His practice also took him to Pakistan for the Colombo Plan dam project and to post-war Ethiopia to provide essential surgical training. He is survived by his wife, Ariane; children, Alexander, Maia, Christopher, Anthony, and Julian; four grandchildren; and his brother, David ’55.

1952

Rex Crawford passed away on July 20, 2022, in Wallaceburg, Ont. He attended St. Andrew’s from 1946 to 1952, played First Football and was Manager of First Hockey. He was a Cadet Corporal. While at SAC, Rex developed the leadership skills that served him well throughout his life, and he was forever grateful for the guidance and mentorship he received. Rex farmed in Dover Township, growing tobacco, sugar beets, beans, seed corn, oats, and wheat. He managed 200 head of cattle during a 25-year period. Rex was elected as councillor, deputy reeve, and reeve of Dover Township and served as warden of the County of Kent in 1987. He also served as chair of the Dover Disaster Relief Fund and Flood Prevention Committee and as the Kent County Municipal Association president. He received the Man of The Year Award in Wallaceburg in 1988 and the Rural Urban Citizen Award in 1988 from the Wallaceburg and District Chamber of Commerce. Rex is survived by his wife, Ruth Anne; daughters, Jane, Judith, and Sandra; six grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his daughter, Carolyn.

1953

William (Bill) Hill

passed away on Aug. 15, 2022, at his family farm in Rockwood, Ont. He came to Canada from Peru to attend St. Andrew’s from 1945 to 1953. Known affectionately to his classmates as “Knobby,” he was a Prefect, played First Football and First Soccer, was on the Track & Field team, was Captain of the LFB championship First Swimming team, vice-president of the Athletic Society, and a Pipe Sergeant. Bill attended the University of Toronto, studied mining engineering, and had a lengthy and distinguished career in the mining industry. In the early 1970s, Bill and his wife moved from Toronto to a farm on the outskirts of Rockwood to raise their family, lovingly restoring a farmhouse built in 1863. He is survived by his wife, Joyce; children, Will ’89, Brian, Mary, and David; his grandchildren and one great-grandson.

George Parker passed away in March 2022 in Michigan. He attended St. Andrew’s for one year, 1952-1953. He played First Football (earning his colours), First Hockey, and was involved in weightlifting. George wrote a note to the school in 2011 describing a prank he pulled that involved blowing a hole in a faculty member’s car radiator. Classmates raised the necessary $78 to repair the damage. George went on to study medicine at the University of Toronto and became a radiologist, practicing in Michigan, Ohio, and Florida. He noted that his career would not have materialized without his year at St. Andrew’s. He is survived by his wife, Susie; children, Anne, Tom, and Bob; and numerous grandchildren. He was predeceased by his brother, David ’53.

1957

John (Ian) Robertson passed away on March 21, 2022, in Scotland. He attended St. Andrew’s from 1949 to 1956. He was Captain of First Swimming and broke two records, the 200- and 100-yard classes, in the 1956 season. Although he was a swimmer during his SAC years, Ian was a lifelong hockey fan and continued to take a great interest in all aspects of life at the school through The Andrean. Ian worked in sales in the textiles and then glass industries. He retired in the early 1990s, and he and his wife enjoyed some long-awaited global travels. Ian is survived by his wife, Mary, and children, Andrew and Elaine. He was predeceased by his brother, Colin ’59.

1956

Bruce Langstaff passed away on Oct. 8, 2022, in Toronto. He attended St. Andrew’s from 1954 to 1956. He played First Cricket and Second Hockey. Bruce’s career began with IBM, where he was involved in early computing applications for business, including Canada’s first ATM, and concluded with systems-focused work for the Canadian Pacific Railway. Bruce is survived by his wife, Judy; children, Bruce and Amy; three grandchildren; and his siblings, Miles ’64 and Elizabeth. He was predeceased by his sister, Judith.

passed away on Feb. 14, 2019, in Bartestree, Herefordshire, England. He attended SAC from 1959 to 1961. He was Head Boy, a Librarian, in the Circle Francais, a Cadet Corporal, and Glee Club President. After SAC, David attended Queen’s University and earned a BA in liberal arts and a B.Sc. in geology with a minor in biology. He was awarded an MSc in micropaleontology from University College London in 1966 and a PhD from the University of Cambridge in 1969. He was a renowned British palynologist best known for his work in Mesozoic terrestrial palynology and palynofacies analysis. In recognition of an outstanding career, David was awarded the T.M. Harris Medal of the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, India, in 1998, the Jongmans Medal of the Royal Geological and Mining Society of the Netherlands in 2006, and honorary life membership of The Palaeontological Association, London, in 2011. He was awarded the prestigious Medal for Scientific Excellence of AASP–The Palynological Society in 2018.

1962

Michael Holden passed away on May 5, 2022, in Western Australia. He attended SAC from 1953 to 1962 and played First Football, First Cricket, and First Basketball. He attended Bishop’s University, earned an arts degree, and then attended Osgoode Hall Law School. Michael returned to Australia, where he was called to the Bar and started his own practice. He was appointed to the Bench in 1991 and to the position of Chief Judge of the Family Court of Western Australia in 1996, where he served until 2007. Michael is survived by his wife, Margaret; children, Jen, Matt, and Heather; stepchildren, David and Robert; and 12 grandchildren. He was predeceased by his brother, Neil.

1965

John Harris passed

away on July 14, 2022, in Toronto. He was at St. Andrew’s for three years until graduation. While at SAC, he was a talented musician and performed two solos on his guitar and a duet with a classmate at Variety Night. John attended the University of Toronto and George Brown College. He is survived by his wife, Diane; stepchildren, Tammy-Lee and David; five grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

1966

John R. Fennell passed away in Ottawa, Ont., on Dec. 17, 2020. He attended St. Andrew’s from 1962 to 1965. John played First Football (earning his football colours), First Basketball, Senior Rugger, and was a Clan Hockey Captain and House Captain. He directed the N.C.O. Drill Squad during the 1964 Cadet Inspection. He had a lifelong career with the Royal Bank, retiring in 2000 after 35 years. John is survived by his wife, Judy; children, Kelly and Stephen; and five grandchildren.

1968

Fred Somerville passed away in Calgary, Alta., on Aug. 15, 2022. He attended SAC from 1962 to 1968. Fred played First Football and First Tennis, was in the UN Club, and a member of The Review Literary Staff and the Debating Club. He won the Wyld Prize in Latin. According to his official obituary, his experiences at St. Andrew’s “had a significant and beneficial impact on him as he grew into a young man.” Fred graduated from the University of Toronto and attended the University of Grenoble for an intensive program to learn French. He obtained his law degree at the University of Alberta and joined the Howard Mackie law firm in Calgary, which was absorbed into the national law firm of Borden Ladner Gervais. Fred is survived by his wife, Marie; and siblings, David ’69, Bill, Sarah, and Nanci.

1970

Bob Thom passed away in Muskoka, Ont., on Oct. 5, 2022. He attended SAC from 1963 to 1970. He played First Football, First Cricket (Captain), and Second Hockey. He loved cottage life, fishing, and lake parties, but his deepest passion was coaching hockey. Bob coached across Ontario for over 35 years, mostly at the AAA level. He is survived by his siblings, Hugh ’65, Andy, and Patti. He was predeceased by his siblings, Bill, Stew, and B.J.

1973

Robert Martin passed away on Dec. 1, 2019, in Listowel, Ont. He attended St. Andrew’s from 1965 to 1973 and played Second Hockey, Junior Rugger, and was a member of the Cross-Country and Judo teams. Robert is survived by his wife,

1975

Ken Lo passed away on Sept. 5, 2022, in Hong Kong. He attended SAC from 1974 to 1975. Ken played First Cricket, was a member of the Fencing team, and won a badminton championship. Ken was the managing director of Foo Hang Jewellery. He was also the president of the Hong Kong Jewellery & Jade Manufacturers Association, having served as chair from 2016 to 2020. Ken also served on the Jewellery Advisory and Fair Organising Committees of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council.

1996

Richard Lewis passed away on May 25, 2022, in Christ Church, Barbados. He attended SAC from 1993 to 1996. He played First Squash and was Captain and MVP in his graduating year. Richard attended Mount Allison University and then Dalhousie University, where he earned a master’s in civil and structural engineering. He worked for a civil and structural engineering company for a few years until he opened R.G. Lewis Inc. in 2013. Richard is survived by his wife, Keisha; mother, Heather; and siblings, David and Jayne. He was predeceased by his father, Allan.

2000

Wyn-Ron Cheong passed away in Montreal in August 2022. He attended St. Andrew’s from 1996 to 2000. He was a Prefect and played First Volleyball, First Squash (MVP), and First Tennis. He won the Lt. Governor’s Community Volunteer Award. Wyn-Ron graduated from the University of Toronto and then left for China searching for job opportunities. He taught English, then got into sales. During that time, he met his wife, and they had a daughter. The family left China in 2015 and settled in Vancouver, where Wyn-Ron was the project manager for an interior renovation company. The family moved to Montreal, where he worked in sales for a company that manufactures office furniture. Wyn-Ron is survived by his wife, Nana, daughter, Angel, and brother, Wyai-Ruan ’99.

Jordan Slaman passed away on Sept. 21, 2022, in North Vancouver, B.C. He attended SAC from 2005 to 2009. While at SAC, Jordan was on the Nordic Ski & Biathlon and Cross-Country teams. He attended Bishop’s University, studying computer science and business administration, and worked as a senior software engineer at Lululemon. Jordan returned for a visit to campus three weeks before he passed away and was presented with his Old Boy tie. He is survived by his wife, Krista, brother, Michael, and his grandparents.

1973 Robert Martin Addendum

Ali Gharib ’22 passed away on June 5, 2022. Ali was a boarder from Kenya and excelled in SAC’s soccer program. His teammates looked up to him for his technical prowess, and he helped countless players hone their skills on and off the pitch. In 2017, at 14 years old, Ali was the youngest player invited to Kenya’s national U20 training camp, and his creative attacking play made him a standout offensive talent with Ascent Soccer. Moving through his academic and soccer pathway at Ascent’s Uganda campus, Ali earned the opportunity to compete for a global scholarship. Ali excelled on his entrance exams, earning a place at St. Andrew’s. Over his three years in Canada, Ali was a creative force on the field, in the classroom, and on the stage participating in numerous drama productions. With his many soccer and academic skills, Ali was set to attend the University of Dayton in Ohio on a full scholarship in September 2022. Ali is survived by his parents, Zeinab and Abubakar. Virginia (Ginny) Smith passed away on July

1, 2022, in Newmarket. She was well-loved by many in the St. Andrew’s community. She made her mark as staff representative to the Ladies’ Guild (now the Parents Guild), a receptionist in the main office from 1995 to 1999, and the wife of Memorial Head of House, Geoff Smith. She supported Geoff, a teacher, coach, Head of House, and Assistant Head of School at SAC, from 1964 to 1999, and was den mother to many students during her decades of involvement at St. Andrew’s. Ginny was predeceased by Geoff in 2019. X

Robert Martin ’73 attended the Royal Winter Fair in 1971 when he was 17 and set a record with his Clydesdale filly foal, Bardrill Castles Hilda, which he exhibited. John won first prize foal, junior champion female, best Canadian bred and owned female any age, sixth for showmanship, and a $500 prize and trophy for the supreme Canadian championship male or female. At the time, this was the most wins for one horse and one exhibitor since The Royal started in 1922.

Article from the Richmond Hill Liberal, March 9, 1972 pictured here.

The Class of 1954 Archives room at SAC has dozens of framed photographs hanging on the walls, so many that the walls are barely visible. One noteworthy photo features Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth bestowing an honour on a distinguished gentleman, Rex Stollmeyer, Class of 1923. Rex was made a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) in a ceremony held in Ottawa in June 1959, an honour bestowed in the Queen’s New Year Honour list. She died this past September at the age of 96. Rex was an international student from Trinidad. He played rugby, cricket, and football. Two of his five brothers attended St. Andrew’s, Alexander and Andre, both from the Class of 1925, as did his son, David ’61. He started his career as an assistant at the Montreal office of the West Indies Trade Commission and was promoted to trade commissioner in 1934. When Rex died in 1968 at the age of 60, he was the Deputy High Commissioner and Trade Commissioner for Trinidad.

His obituary in the Montreal Gazette stated that Rex had worked at his father’s cocoa and citrus business and in the shipping industry. He also spent many years living in Canada and had a firm grasp of Canadian economics. He organized cultural exchanges and watched over the interests of West Indian students at Canadian universities.