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Douglas Malcolm MacDonald, Aug. 14, 1946 – Feb. 11, 2025.

Twin, husband, father, grandfather, engineer, avid Mr. Fix it and lover of good chocolate. Doug was a solid standup person; one of those who are the backbone of a family and a community. He loved his wife and family and adored teaching his children (Ewen and Kyla) to ride their bikes, cross-country ski, swim at the cottage and skate on the canal in Ottawa. He loved reading bedtime stories but mixing them up to make his children laugh. He was delighted to have grandchildren and time to play. He greatly enjoyed observing the world through their eyes and helping them figure out how everything worked. He was a punster, especially with his children and then grandchildren. 

His values were clear early on. He was a quiet but steadfast activist for gay rights in the ‘80s and ‘90s and supported Indigenous rights starting in the early 2000’s as a United Church observer at Burnt Church, NB, when local fishers were harassing fishers from the local reserve.

He was Mr. Fix it. When his daughter, Kyla, was five, a friend accidentally broke her doll and the head came off. Instead of getting upset, Kyla’s reaction was, “It’s ok, my Daddy can fix anything.” And, of course, Doug fixed it. 

He loved family get-togethers and cherished visits from friends and family. He brought his engineering training to the kitchen, where measurements were to be taken seriously. Whether it was making granola or cookies: if you took a raisin out of the measuring cup, you were changing the recipe. Precision mattered.

Over 30 years, Doug worked for Bell Canada, Bell Northern Research and Nortel, mostly in Ottawa. In 1999, he retired and moved to Halifax. 

After retiring, his earlier enthusiasm for collecting and restoring antique radios grew. Doug adored planning and making the drawings for their condo in Halifax and then watching it being built. Many of his suggestions, such as lever door handles and higher wall plugs, were incorporated into other units by the developer. 

A major contribution to the community in Halifax was his gift of time to prepare and submit tax returns for those with low incomes, particularly the elderly and those experiencing homelessness. Initially, he volunteered with Access Nova Scotia. While there, he recognized that several financial supports, such as HST rebates, require a tax return to be filed, and many people who are marginalized were not able to access them. To help address this, he started the income tax return program at Brunswick St. Mission and at Northwood Seniors Residence. By the time he stepped down, he had prepared and submitted more than 23,000 tax returns, all for free, and all for those who needed help. He also helped the Canada Revenue Agency come to understand the importance of such programs for equity of access. In typical Doug fashion, he ensured the program continued with succession planning when he stepped down. For this work, Doug received the Sovereign’s Medal from Governor General in 2016 and a King Charles III Coronation Medal in 2025. 

Doug will be remembered for his intelligence, sense of humour (although not all appreciated his puns to the same extent he did), ability to “fix anything”, courage in the face of adversity and his deep love for his family: wife and partner, Noni (Sc’70) (U of Ottawa, MSc, MD) (55 years married); his children, Ewen (Alison) and Kyla; and his grandchildren, Frederick, Leo, Kevin and Joshua. 

At Doug’s request there will be no funeral or a celebration of life: we did that while he was alive. When asked about memorials and donations, he said, “I am giving my body and brain to science – hope this will be useful.” Instead of a service, he wanted people who knew him to share memories with others and pass along acts of kindness. As Doug said many times, he lived a wonderful and full life. He will be greatly missed. 

A devoted husband, father and grandfather, Stan succumbed to flu after years of battling Parkinson’s and Lewy Body Dementia. He lost everything but his cheerful chattiness, ready with a smile and a hug until his last days. He was a loved and chosen son to Charlie and Frances Locke of Weston, Ont.; brother to Glenn (Yvonne; uncle to Sarah and Vonnie). He was husband of 54 years to Linda (Covey) and father to Tim (Melissa, grandfather to Thomas, Jonathan and Matthew) and David (Joy, grandfather to Samuel, Daniel, and Anna). Missed by family Susan and Dave Williams (niece Tracy and Jim, nephew Cory and Greg) and April and Clayton Cox (nephews Devin and Graham).

Stan grew up in Weston and was educated at Weston CI and at Scarlett Heights CI, then attended bible college, before completing an MBA at ����91���︣�����߹ۿ�’s in ‘71, where, together with John Deutsch, he centralized university records and inaugurated the computer science department.  He worked with Compassion in London, Ont., before moving to Edmonton to cheer for a team that won the Stanley Cup and worked at AGT through the 80s. 

Back in Toronto, he became a consultant through the ‘90s and 2000s, supporting many companies and various government agencies as an enterprise architect. He taught at Seneca College at York University, giving his years of experience and knowledge to new generations of students. He travelled all around the world: Italy, Sweden, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, the U.S., and many more countries, speaking at conferences and gaining recognition as an expert in his field. 

Stan lived a life of service to family and church born of his faith in Jesus. He served over 40 years as an elder at Eastminster Presbyterian in Edmonton, St. Andrew’s Six Points in Etobicoke and Kingsway Lambton United. His work with Compassion, Leighton Ford Ministries, the Alpha Program and Wycliffe Bible Translators (among others) demonstrated his love for the world around him and his desire that they should know the joy he found in his faith. His faith was more than words – he expressed his love for his family and all those he encountered with outrageous generosity, complete selflessness and constant attention to the details of others’ lives. Stan never missed an opportunity to help those that crossed his path and were fortunate enough to know him. His loving kindness was his defining characteristic, embodying what it means to be the hands and feet of Jesus. He has surely stood before the Lord and heard, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” 

Linda Marlane (Covey) Locke, July 29, 1945 – Jan. 26, 2024. 

When told his mother and brothers were waiting outside, Jesus replied, “Who are my mother and brothers? My true mother and brothers and sisters are those who do what God wants.”  Linda is survived by millions of you who love the Lord and are her brothers and sisters in Christ. She served the Lord with her life and the legacy she leaves include many who came to know Jesus through her. 

Thomas, Samuel, Daniel, Jonathan, Matthew and Anna remember a loving grandma who rejoiced in helping them explore their world, from the playground at the park to Disneyland, including the ROM and the AGO. There was always time for street meat or an ice cream, and she always celebrated opportunities to give them gifts.

Tim and Melissa, and David and Joy remember a caring and supportive mother who encouraged them in all their life endeavours: travel and moves, families and pets, birthday parties and Christmas traditions.

Her loss is deeply mourned by her husband of 54 years, Stan.  

She is celebrated by the Williams clan: sister, Susan (Dave); niece, Tracy (Jim); nephew, Cory (Greg); and the Cox clan: sister, April (Clayton); nephews, Devin and Graham.

Linda was cared for with love and compassion at the Village of Humber Heights, where she lived since her two strokes last summer (2024). She fell ill with influenza on a Wednesday and died on a Friday. She was never alone.

If you feel moved, please donate to the Heart & Stroke foundation on her behalf or to any arts organization of your choosing. She supported (among many others) the Toronto Children’s Chorus, Etobicoke Suzuki Music, and Choirs Ontario.

Linda was the wise woman who built her house upon the rock of Jesus and the rest of her family built around her. She was a teacher of math at QECVI in Kingston and a teacher of life in the Adult Women’s return-to-school program at Thistletown CI in Rexdale. She sang in innumerable choirs, most recently the Grace Notes, Kingsway-Lambton church choir and the Orianas. She helped manage choirs, including the Ontario Youth Choir and the Toronto Children’s Chorus.  She never missed a concert. We trust she is singing in one right now.

J. Ardeth Hill (nee Justus) died Feb. 4, 2025, in Ottawa in her 94th year. 

Ardeth was born in Hawarden, Sask., on Nov. 10, 1931, to Howard (MD’28) and Margaret Justus. While at ����91���︣�����߹ۿ�’s, Ardeth’s friend Mary Hill (MD’55) set her up on a blind date with her older brother and fellow undergrad, J. Gilbert Hill. They married in 1956. 

Ardeth began her career as a medical lab technician at Kingston General Hospital. When she and Gilbert relocated to Toronto in 1965 with their growing family, Ardeth was a dedicated volunteer in the community and then later returned to school, completing an MEd at the University of Toronto in 1987. 

From shinny hockey on the frozen South Nation River in Chesterville to intercollegiate tennis at ����91���︣�����߹ۿ�’s, sports and outdoor activities – canoeing, sailing, skiing, hiking and cycling – were an important part of her life. 

Her resilience, curiosity and passion for learning was an inspiration to everyone around her, especially her kids. 

Ardeth is predeceased by husband Gilbert (Sc’51, PhD’63), sister Katharine Eastwood (BA’47), and brother Duane Justus (MD’51). She is survived by children: Margaret Hill, Janet Hill (Artsci’90, PhD’95) (David Palmer, Artsci’89, PhD’95), Andrew Hill (Sc’91), and many nieces and nephews.