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Obituaries
1938
James O’Brian passed away on Feb. 24, 2021, in Toronto. He attended St. Andrew’s from 1935 to 1938. He was a Prefect and involved in First Hockey, First Rugby, First Cricket, and swimming. Jim held the tank record for backstroke and won the ski race in his graduating year. He was also a drum sergeant in the Cadet Corps, secretary of the Literary Society, and on the editorial board of The Review. The yearbook’s staff advisor was none other than Geoffrey O’Brian, Jim’s father, who was appointed Head of the Lower School in 1938. Jim received the Cooper Medal in Science, the Lt.-Governor’s Bronze Medal, the GovernorGeneral’s Medal, and the Macdonald Medal. He was also one of two students chosen to represent SAC on the Canadian School Boys Tour to the coronation of George VI and his wife, Elizabeth, as King and Queen of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth, in London, England, in May 1937. Jim was a member of Princeton University’s Class of 1942, playing freshman football and hockey. He was the only Canadian in his class. Jim left in 1941, before graduation, to join the RCAF and follow his father and older brother, Peter, into wartime air force duty. After training in England on Hurricanes, he served in North Africa and northern Europe and flew Spitfires for the 417 Squadron in Italy. Post-war, Jim finished his BA at Trinity College in Toronto, articled at Clarkson Gordon, and became a CA in 1950, working at George Hendrie & Sons until retirement in 1985. Jim is survived by his children, Geoffrey, Jennifer, and Maggie; 11 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and his brother, Liam ’46. He is predeceased by his wife, Annie; brother, Peter; and parents, Geoffrey and Kate.
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1942
Donald Fraser passed away on Dec. 21, 2020, in Toronto. Donald attended St. Andrew’s from 1938 to 1942. In his graduating year, Donald stood first in Upper Sixth, won a First General Proficiency prize, the Old Boys’ Medal in Mathematics, and the Governor-General’s Medal. The year before, he won the Chairman’s Gold Medal, the Hulbig Medal in Mathematics, and the Lt.-Governor’s Bronze Medal. He was a corporal in the Cadet Corps and a member of the SAC Life-Guard Corps. Donald went to the University of Toronto, where he studied mathematics, physics, and chemistry, and obtained his PhD from Princeton University, where he specialized in the newly developing area of statistics. He began a long and successful career in academia at U of T, becoming the Department of Statistics’ founding chair in 1977. Elected to the Royal Society of Canada at the age of 42, Donald was the first recipient of the Gold Medal of the Statistical Society of Canada in 1985. He later received honorary degrees from the University of Waterloo (1992) and the University of Toronto (2002). He was appointed Officer of the Order of Canada in 2011 in recognition of his contributions to science and society. He is survived by his wife, Nancy; daughters, Julie, Danae, Maia, Andrea, Ailana, Ailie, and Donelle; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
1945
Murray Campbell ‘Cam’ Dobbin passed
away on Nov. 26, 2020, in Toronto. He attended St. Andrew’s College from 1942 to 1945. Cam was a member of the shooting team and was a lance-corporal in the Cadet Corps pipe band. He won the Old Boys’ Medal in Mathematics. Cam studied medicine at the University of Toronto, graduating in 1952. He and his wife, Dolly, moved to Elsa, Yukon, where Cam cared for the community for five years and then to Philadelphia, Pa., to complete a residency in ophthalmology. They returned to Toronto, where Cam ran a private and surgical practice at Toronto East General Hospital (now Michael Garron Hospital) until his retirement. His contributions during his career earned him a lifetime membership in the Ontario Medical Association and Canadian Medical Association. Cam was most relaxed at his island cottage on Lake Temagami. Earning his pilot’s license in the 1960s allowed him to fly there and avoid highway traffic. It was not unusual for Cam to buzz the Memorial Chapel steeple on his way up north. An early embracer of technology, he built a ham radio while living in Yukon, and in the 1970s built his own computer and taught himself to code and program. He wrote computer software to manage patient admin in his office and eventually patented and leased his program to other physicians. Cam is survived by his children, Gord ’71 and Charlie, and three grandchildren. He was predeceased by his wife, Dolly; his son, Peter ’73; and his brother, Pat. Cam and Dolly gave the Foucault Pendulum to SAC in Peter’s memory. It remains in the renovated McLaughlin science wing and demonstrates the rotation of the Earth.
1949
Hugh Thomson passed away on Feb. 6, 2020, in Stanstead, Que. He attended St. Andrew’s from 1944 to 1948, and during his time at the School, he was on the track team. His career was in business management and marketing, retiring 30 years ago. Hugh was appointed to the Stanstead College Board of Trustees in 1999. He also spent two decades as an international volunteer advisor with CESO (Canadian Executive Service Organization). Hugh is survived by his wife, Jean; sons, Andrew and Peter; and a grandson.
1950
Jamie Dunton passed away on Oct. 4, 2020, in Ottawa. He graduated from SAC after attending for two years. He was Head Boy, president of the Literary Society, a librarian, and school news editor of The Review. Jamie was also a corporal in the Cadet Corps. He received the George Etienne Cartier Medal in French, the Wyld Prize in Latin, the Lt.-Governor’s Bronze Medal, and the Governor-General’s Gold Medal for highest standing in the Upper Sixth. After graduating from St. Andrew’s and obtaining undergraduate and law degrees at McGill University, he was called to the Bar in 1957. He worked at Lafleur Brown and in the legal department at Canadian International Paper Company until 1965, when he joined the firm that became Dunton Rainville LLP in Quebec. Jaime remained at Dunton Rainville for 30 years. After retirement, he and his wife, Sooky, moved to the Eastern Townships in Quebec, and he was elected mayor of Hatley from 1996 to 2003. He later became president of the Unitarian Universalist Church of North Hatley. Jamie is survived by his wife, Marjorie Lee (Sooky); children, Betsy >>
1952
Richard Van den Bergh passed away on
Jan. 5, 2020 in Denver, Colo. He attended St. Andrew’s from 1942 to 1945. While at SAC, he played on the Lower School “prep” hockey team and received rave reviews for his portrayal of Joan in the play, St. Joan. Richard left SAC when his family moved back to England, and he completed high school there. He returned to Canada to attend McGill University and earned undergraduate and medical degrees. He moved to Colorado for his first residency in psychiatry at the University of Colorado, followed by a second residency at New York University. In 1964, he returned to Denver, where he started a private practice and lived with his family for the rest of his life. Richard is survived by his wife, Paula; his first wife, Sally, and their four children, Thatcher, Virginia, Rick, and Fred; and six grandchildren. He is predeceased by his brother, James ’51.
1956
David Kitchen passed away on Oct. 28, 2020, in Calgary, Alta. He attended St. Andrew’s starting in January 1949 until graduation. He served as a Prefect, was sports editor of The Review, and was a lieutenant in the Cadet Corps. After SAC, David attended the University of Toronto and obtained an honours degree in political science and economics. He spent his entire career with the Royal Bank of Canada, which took him and his family across the country to many cities, including Vancouver, Winnipeg, Montreal, Toronto, and Calgary. He was also a visionary who championed the rights of women and First Nations people at the Royal Bank. David is survived by his wife, Margot; his children, Kelly, Tim, and David; and nine grandchildren. He is predeceased by his brother, Peter ’54.
1964
John Pennal passed away on Oct. 2, 2020, in Toronto. He attended St. Andrew’s from 1959 to 1964. John was chosen as Head Prefect in his graduating year. He was a commanding officer of the Cadet Corps, played First Hockey and First Football, was a member of the First Rifle team, and chair of the Executive Council. John’s leadership qualities continued to serve him at the University of Toronto Law School. He practiced at Fraser and Beatty, followed by Norton Rose Fulbright. Following his law career, John founded a venture capital firm. He is survived by his wife, Mary Ellen; his children, Geoff ’94, John, and Alexandra; seven grandchildren; and his siblings, Peter ’69, Tim ’77, and Pam.
2009
James (Jake) Roman passed away on Oct. 24, 2020. He attended St. Andrew’s from 2005 to 2009 and was a valuable player on the First Football and First Rugby teams. James had fond memories of his days at SAC playing alongside his teammates and sharing in their victory of the 2008 Homecoming game. After graduation, James attended Wilfrid Laurier University and later the business program at Ryerson University. He aspired to build his own land development business. James is survived by his mother, Claudia Arena-Roman, and brother, Luke ’08, who will forever miss his charismatic personality and iron-willed tenacity. He is predeceased by his father, Paul Michael Roman.
STAFF
Luigi D’Ambrosio passed away on Dec. 8, 2020, in Newmarket. He started at the College in 1988 as the Head Chef. His arrival launched the “outstanding SAC tradition of excellent and willing service in the kitchen,” according to Not An Ordinary Place, the 1998 book by Head of Drama and Film, William Scoular. Luigi became an integral part of the SAC community, especially to his colleagues and the boys. Luigi taught the occasional cooking class for Grade 12 students. Even after his retirement in 2011, he continued to volunteer his time in Cole Hall. His favourite time to work was Homecoming, when he could catch up with the grads who attended when he worked full-time. He also devoted his time to CHATS (Community & Home Assistance to Seniors), providing hot lunches for seniors weekly. Luigi is survived by his wife, Mary; son, Domenic; five grandsons and a great-grandson; and his siblings, Cesare, Vince, and Celestina. Luigi is predeceased by his siblings, Ildebrando and Domenica.
Craig Kamcke passed away on Sept. 29, 2020, in Ottawa. He was educated at Upper Canada College, Ashbury College, and Victoria College at the University of Toronto. He served as Head of History at St. Andrew’s from 1964 to 1979. During his years at SAC, Craig commanded the Cadet Corps, directed the annual musicals, founded the Independent Schools Drama Festival in 1974, and coached the second and third football and basketball teams. He left to become headmaster at Trafalgar Castle School. Craig had a long association with the military as a cadet, as a serving officer in the regular forces, in the reserves, and as a cadet instructor. He was a long-term member of the Royal Canadian Military Institute. Craig is survived by his daughter, Meghan, and two grandchildren. He was predeceased by his wife, Mary. Craig and Mary were married in Memorial Chapel in 1972 and David Timms, former Flavelle Housemaster and Head of English and Drama, served as the best man.
Lewis Pitman passed away on Feb. 8, 2021, in Salt Spring Island, B.C. He was a member of the SAC faculty from 1960 to 1976, teaching English. Before coming to St. Andrew’s, Lewis was an army pilot and a member of the Pilot Regiment. He attended universities in England and Canada and trained to become an English teacher. He became SAC’s Head of English as well as Housemaster of Memorial House, chair of the Academic Committee, and an Assistant Headmaster. Over the years, Lewis also became a distinguished potter, a bagpiper, and a keen runner. He is survived by his wife, Valerie; children, Nancy Jo, Andrew ’81, and Matthew; three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. X
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St. Andrew’s College 15800 Yonge Street Aurora, ON L4G 3H7 Canada
