Angus Michael Curry (BCom) died March 16 in Toronto. Predeceased by his first wife, Barbara, he is survived by his wife Janie Hersenhoren, children Angus, Christine, and Robin, and extended family. Michael was a flight instructor for the RCAF during WWII. He enjoyed a long career in the investment business and served a term as Chairman of the TSX. He was also a life-long volunteer. Whether it was teaching Sunday school as a young father, delivering books to hospital patients, or serving breakfast to the homeless in downtown Toronto, Michael gave freely and generously of his time and talent.
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Helen (Armstrong) Bronskill (BCom) is shown at the spring convocation with her granddaughter Simone Enns, BSc(Eng)’13, of Three Hills, Alta.
Published in: Winter 2014
Ormond Benson (BCom) died peacefully on April 3 in Victoria, BC. He is survived by Queenie, his wife of 64 years, son Jeffrey (Marina), daughters Roberta (Miriam) and Sheila (Didier), and four grandchildren: Gregory, Karla, Jacob and Aviva. After meeting in England in 1943, Queenie and Orm were married in 1945. They settled in Canada in 1946 and lived in Kingston after Orm’s graduation from Queen's. Orm and Queenie retired to Victoria in 1991 and enjoyed many happy years by the sea.
Published in: Summer 2009
Helen Bronskill, BCom, died in Kingston on Dec. 27, 2020, at the age of 92. She was predeceased by her husband of almost 50 years, Eric. Helen is survived by her children, Richard, Reginald, Kathryn, Alan and Anne; 10 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Published in: Spring 2021
Helen Bronskill (BCom) celebrated her 80th birthday in July with fellow Queen’s friends and former classmates. Pictured at the Kingston festivities, below, from left, are John Purkis (BCom’48), Margaret Sutton (Arts’48), Helen, Gerry Sutton (BCom’48, MCom’49) and Shirley (Brooks) Purkis (Arts’41).
Published in: Winter 2009
James (Gordon) Hird, BCom, died peacefully in November 2016 in his 95th year, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Born in Toronto, Gordon served in WWII as an officer in RCAF Coastal Command. He spent his career at Simpsons, eventually becoming National Insurance Manager for Simpsons and Sears before retiring and starting his own management-consulting firm. Gordon is survived by Joan, his wife of 61 years; children Susan O’Connor (Colm), James, and Ian (Zaibeen); sister Anne Larkin; and several grandchildren.
Published in: Summer 2017
John F. Lambert, BCom, died in April 2016, in Toronto, aged 96. He is survived by his wife Nancy (Foster); daughter Sarah (Bill Hedefine); and several nieces and nephews.
Published in: Winter 2017
Lawrence (Larry) Lloyd (BCom) died Jan. 9 at the age of 92 in Ottawa. Predeceased by his wife Knelda (Servage) in 2008, he is survived by their children Peter (BA’71), Pat (Spear) (BA’73, BEd’74), and Peggy (BA’78), and their families, and siblings Marion (Kelsberg), Keith, and Evan. (His youngest brother Philip died in Nov. 2012.) Larry was a WWII veteran who played a commanding role in the liberation of Holland. He used his service benefits to return to Queen’s to complete his Commerce studies. After attaining his registered Industrial Accountant designation, he pursued a career in business in Cornwall, Montreal and Ottawa until his retirement in 1985. He and Knelda travelled extensively, especially in retirement, prompting Larry to pen It Was a Good Trip, a memoir of their adventures.
Published in: Summer 2013
Harold (Hal) Pringle, BCom’48, passed away at the age of 97 on Feb. 5 in Ancaster, Ont. After university, Hal became a chartered accountant and was recognized as one of the leading experts in Canada on business interruption insurance matters. He appeared as an expert witness in many court cases where business valuation or loss of income matters were in dispute. He loved playing tennis, squash and golf. He golfed into his 90s. He is survived by his three children, including Andrew Pringle, BCom’85, and Jake Pringle, Artsci’88, and two grandchildren.
Published in: Fall 2023
John Purkis, BCom, along with his wife, Shirley, Artsci’41, received the 2018 Award for Outstanding Philanthropist from the Association of Fundraising Professionals, South Eastern Ontario Chapter, on Nov. 14, 2018. The Purkises are longstanding volunteers at Queen’s University and in Kingston. Over the past 12 years John led his class of ’48 to fundraise in support of students at Queen’s. Under his leadership, the class reached a record-breaking $1.35 million in support of the Commerce '48 Admission Award. The class endowment fund is ranked No. 3 in the university and No. 1 at Smith.
Published in: Winter 2019