In Memoriam

Remembering 黄色视频 alumni.

Those Who Have Passed

Sharing memories of friends, faculty, and colleagues - In Memoriam helps you honour those who have recently passed.

Submit
  • W. R. "Bob" Dengler, In Memoriam

    1960s

    W. R. "Bob" Dengler

    鈥 BSc'65 DSc'88

    Bob passed away peacefully on Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Aurora, Ont., at the age of 84.

    He was born in Kirkland Lake, Ont., to William and Marion Dengler and is survived by his beloved wife of 38 years, Patricia; his children, Steven (Bruna), Sandy, Heather (Stefan), and Andrea (Kevin); his grandchildren, Raffaele, Samantha, Jayden, Beric, Dylan, Daniel, and Nora; his brother, Peter (Barb); and Patricia鈥檚 siblings, Lorraine (Bob), Elmer, and June.

    Bob had a passion for travel that took him and Pat on many wonderful adventures together. They climbed to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro when Bob was 74. A year later they walked the Camino de Santiago Trail in Spain. They visited Silverback Gorillas in Rwanda and went on many African safaris. Vacations with friends were always on the books, visiting New Zealand, golfing in South Africa, travel to Iceland, and, most recently, their holiday in Bora Bora. Most cherished was his trip to Disney ,where he took his entire family. They also enjoyed golfing with friends all over the world. Bob鈥檚 love for golf was only surpassed by his passion for flying and fast cars. He managed to fit several lifetimes worth of exploits into his own, with never a dull moment.

    From the depths of the Earth to the heights of the sky, Bob鈥檚 indomitable spirit was legendary. In 2005, at the age of 66, he earned his helicopter pilot鈥檚 licence. In 2017, Bob and his son, Steven, flew the Canada 150 Global Odyssey, the first Canadian circumnavigation of the world by helicopter. Bob also had an affinity for beautiful cars. He particularly adored Ferraris and was a dedicated fan of the Ferrari Formula 1 Team.

    Bob worked as a hard rock miner during his university years, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Mining Engineering from Queen鈥檚 in 1965. He joined Redpath Mining as VP and general manager, developing numerous projects around the world. In 1980 he founded a new firm with William (Bill) Shaver, Dynatec Mining Limited.

    Bob and Bill grew Dynatec from a small startup into a truly international force. Under their leadership, Dynatec expanded into the U.S. and developed groundbreaking equipment and processes now widely used in the mining industry. Bob also lectured tirelessly on mining safety from university campuses to global conferences. His many contributions to the mining industry were recognized with an Honourary Doctorate from Queen鈥檚 in 1988 and the Canadian Institute of Mining Metallurgy and Petroleum鈥檚 McParland Memorial Award in 1990. After first bringing the company public, he retired as CEO in 2005 and served as vice-chairman of the board of directors and an officer of the company until 2007.

    Bob lived a life of extraordinary breadth, making an indelible mark on everyone he encountered. He leaves behind a legacy of love, loyalty, and laughter. He will be remembered always with affection.

  • 2000s

    Scott Gammon

    鈥 Artsci鈥20

    Scott Gammon passed away on April 26, 2021. He is survived by his parents, Guy (MEd鈥84) and Susan Gammon.

  • 1970s

    Thomas McLean Poaps

    鈥 BSc鈥72

    Thomas McLean Poaps, April 10, 1950 鈥 May 8, 2025

    With deep sadness we report that Tom, while being treated for cancer, suffered a stroke at his home in Sarasota, Florida. He was hospitalized a few days before he died.

    Tom was born in Ottawa. When he was quite young, the family relocated to Stanstead, Que., where his father was in the family business. Tom attended primary and secondary school in Stanstead and then attended Queen鈥檚, where he became a mechanical engineer. Two years in Montreal followed and then Harvard University. After a short stay in the banking sector, he became associated with a real estate developer in the Boston area. He then established his own real estate operation in Bradenton, Florida. Tom was planning a second marriage plus a trip to Africa.

    Tom was a keen woodsman and loved to take his beautiful Weimaraner 鈥淗unter鈥 out partridge hunting in the fall in the woods around Stanstead. The house in Bradenton was situated on a canal, so he was also an active boatman in the spring. Tom ran in the Boston Marathon and was ever proud of the fact that he finished 鈥渋n the middle.鈥 Recently he had become an enthusiast of antique cars and was the proud owner of two vintage Cadillac Eldorados.

    Tom is mourned by his fianc茅e, Amy Haggerty; his sister, Joan V. Drechsler; his uncle, Richard Poaps, and Richard鈥檚 children, Richard, John, and Susan; cousins, Margot Lincoln and William Poaps, and their families. He was predeceased by his father, Philip, and by his mother, Margaret (Broach) Poaps in 2019.

  • Ann Blomberg, In Memoriam

    1980s

    Ann Blomberg

    鈥 BNSc '82

    Ann passed away on Feb. 28, 2025, at 65.

    She is survived by her husband, Owen Harries (Sc'83); children, Greg (Sc鈥13) (Kate) and Gillian; siblings, Andrew (Sandra) and Patricia (Darryl); mother, Sara, and extended family and friends.

  • 1950s

    Rev. Gervis Beecher Black

    鈥 BA鈥56, MDiv鈥58

    The Rev. Gervis Beecher Black passed into the supreme joy of heaven on May 26, 2025. Husband to Liane, father to Cuyler (Artsci'90, Ed鈥93) and Marshall, Gervis is remembered for his unparalleled preaching gift, winsome faith, warmth and kindness, generosity and irrepressible humour. 

    Raised in Toronto, Gervis was proud of playing fullback on the Bloor Collegiate football team. A gifted athlete, he later would play hockey for Oxford University. The seventh generation of Christian ministers, Gervis was a graduate of Queen鈥檚. His father, Binney Simpson Black, was the first in the family to graduate from 黄色视频 (BA鈥1901), and son, Cuyler, was the third.

    Gervis's brilliant service to the United Church of Canada included Ontario churches in Arden, Smiths Falls (Trinity), Ottawa (Parkdale), and London (Metropolitan). Before retiring, he preached to 2,000-plus each Sunday, eventually with a national broadcast. Earlier, he had hosted the CJOH TV program Quest for seven years in Ottawa, was a Smiths Falls town councillor, ran for Parliament, and served as a special assistant to the Minister of Transport. He also was a TV commentator for Pope John Paul II鈥檚 1984 visit to Ottawa.

  • 1960s

    Dr. Earle Leslie Covert

    鈥 MD鈥63

    Dr. Earle Leslie Covert passed away peacefully at the Chinook Regional Hospital in Lethbridge, on Saturday, May 3, 2025, at the age of 87 years. Doctor Covert is survived by his second wife, Jean, and her daughter, Barbara; his son, Lawrence (Monique), his daughter, Cindy (Robin); and seven grandchildren, Orrin (Kaio), Dallas (Andrea), Tyrell (Ceara), Nakyta (James), Natasha, Makayla (Spencer), and Porscha (Mike). His family, while spread across Canada, has grown to include 13 great-grandchildren, who are all under the age of nine years old. While these are the blood relations he left behind, there are dozens of people and families who called him a father, a grandfather and a friend. He was predeceased by his first wife, Audrey, in 2016. Dr. Covert was born on June 21, 1938, in Ottawa, graduated Queen鈥檚 in 1963 and moved to the Northwest Territories, where he began serving the Lord as a doctor and leader in his church community. The legacy he leaves behind includes bringing hundreds of babies into this world, flying into remote communities to serve both the Lord and the medical field in any capacity he was able. 

    He raised a large family and left behind a church family at Parallel Lethbridge that, while not blood, are as true a family as any man could ask for. 

    Dr. Covert was a man who touched the lives of many thousands of people. He served his communities of Hay River, NWT, and Coledale/Lethbridge area as a doctor for over 50 years. In the many years he served his community, he donated his time, his energy, and his love to anyone he came in contact with, serving in Streets Alive with Foot Friday, The Gideons, and Parallel Lethbridge. He was lovingly known in Parallel as 鈥淒oc,鈥 where he served for many years as a door greeter and voice of wisdom. 

    His hobbies included: genealogy research, bird watching, and stamp collecting, where he served in BNAPS from 1972 in various capacities as secretary of the Society, and member of the board of governors. He also eventually served as chairman, and president of the organization for a time. He is known internationally for publishing and editing various catalogs and collectors documents relating back to his joy of postal stationery (stamp collecting). 

    The innumerable ripples of Dr. Covert鈥檚 life and the effect he had on the people around him are not fully known, yet what is known is that he has touched so many lives in such a positive way that his passing has left a hole in the hearts of many. His lasting wish 鈥 his final goal 鈥 was to see the Lord Jesus Christ praised and the Gospel spread to anyone with ears to hear.