Spring 2012 McMaster Times

THE NEWSMA G A Z IN E FO R M cMASTER UNIVERS ITY ALUMNI SPR IN G 2 0 1 2

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dailynews.mcmaster.ca 3

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

MEET MCMASTER

ALUMNI DIRECTIONS

ALUMNI ALBUM

McMASTER WRITES

IN MEMORIAM

THE LAST WORD

DEPARTMENTS

UNIVERSITY NEWS

Meet McMaster In celebration of McMaster’s founding 125 years ago, we talk to the University’s namesake, Senator William McMaster, for insight into the past, the present and the future.

Answering the Big, Hairy, Audacious QuestionsDelving into important, interesting questions is at the heart of research. McMaster researchers discuss the what, where and why of research that drives them.

Discover 125 years of McMaster’s Family TreeDozens of families of alumni have attended the University through the years. Andrew Baulcomb ‘08 explores the ties that forge these strong multi-generational bonds with McMaster.

VOL. 27, NO. 1 - SPRIN

G 2012THE N

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IVERSITY ALUMN

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Muriel Reinholt (left) was born on Broadway Avenue in 1914, and witnessed the growth of McMaster University through three generations of family members. Check out “Ties That Bind” for a look at some of McMaster’s most loyal families. See page 12.

The Marta and Owen Boris Foundation announced a gift of $30 million on Feb. 6, to accelerate the University’s innovations in health research, education and care. See page 6.

McMaster students celebrated the spirit of philanthropy, marking everything on campus that exists thanks to donations to the University. See page 7.

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FEATURES

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http://bit.ly/TheManyShadesofMcMaster

C H E C K I T O U T O N L I N E AT :

$30 million Boris family gift

Federal funds support auto research

Treasure trove in Pirate Archives

McMaster scores in reputation rankings

3M teaching award winners

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dailynews.mcmaster.ca4

Letters to the Editor The short article about “Writing McMaster’s History” in the

Fall 2011 issue stated that a forthcoming chronicle covering the

years 1957 to 1987 would be the third volume of the University

history. That’s correct, if you are counting only official histories.

However the first substantial history, covering the initial

half-century in Hamilton, was published as a special 24-page

supplement to The Silhouette in November 1965.

The bulk of the research and writing for “The Years of

Growth” was done by Rosemary (Hyman) Neering and Doug

Beckett ‘66. Jim Allan took contemporary photographs and I

supervised the project.

And where you were suggesting elsewhere that history may

be rewritten by anthropologist Megan Brickley who is studying

the remains of soldiers killed in the Battle of Stoney Creek

during the War of 1812, you report that her research will reveal

information about the “gender” of the soldiers. Was Laura

Secord in uniform too?

Peter Calamai ‘65

I noticed that the Top 100 ranking of McMaster (in the

Shanghai Jiao Tong University rankings) was noted a few times

in the recent Times. Based on how those rankings are calculated,

the best way for McMaster to jump at least 10 slots up would

be to finally get serious about promoting Ron Gillespie ‘93

(honorary) and Richard Bader ‘53, ‘56 & ‘03 (honorary) as long

overdue for recognition with the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. No

two names - anywhere in the world - are more closely tied

to the concepts of molecular shape and molecular structure,

respectively, than these two esteemed McMaster chemists. Best

regards from Tennessee!

Preston MacDougall ’83, ‘89

Editor’s Note: Sadly, Professor Bader died on Jan. 15, 2012.

Contributors

Gregory Abraszko, Andrew Baulcomb ‘08, Patrick Deane ‘11 (honorary),

Michelle Donovan, Wade Hemsworth ‘87, John Lavis, Bill McLean ‘90,

Karen McQuigge ‘90, Suzanne Morrison, Pat Morden, Erin O’Neil ‘08,

Sally Palmer, Anqi Shen, Matt Terry ‘09

Advertising Sales

Sandra Rodwell

Office of Public Relations

905-525-9140 ext. 24073

Officers, Alumni Association

Bill McLean ‘90, president; David Adames ‘92, past-president;

Mark Stewart ‘06, first vice-president; Don Bridgman ‘78, financial

advisor; Jennifer Kleven ’90, executive councillor; Candy Hui ‘04,

executive councillor; Sean Baker ‘09, executive councillor

Representatives to the University Senate

Ian Cowan ‘71,‘76; Peter Tice ‘72; Suzanne Craven ’73;

Dennis Souder ’70

Representatives to the University Board of Governors

Brian Bidulka ’87; Quentin Broad ’86; Lauren Cuddy ’80, ‘84;

David Lazzarato ’79; Howard Shearer ’77

McMaster Times is published two times a year (spring and fall) by the

Office of Public Relations in co-operation with the McMaster Alumni

Association. It is sent free of charge to University alumni and friends.

Non-alumni subscriptions are available at $15 (Canada and U.S.A.) and

$20 (foreign). Please make cheques payable to McMaster University.

Ideas and opinions published in the McMaster Times do not necessarily

reflect those of the editor, the McMaster Alumni Association or the

University. Letters and editorial contributions are welcomed. National

and local advertisers are invited.

Editorial communications:

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Publisher

Andrea Farquhar

Art Director

JD Howell ’04

Editor

Shelly Easton

On the CoverAs we celebrate McMaster’s 125 birthday in 2012, the Times

examines the many links that bind McMaster graduates and

their families to the University. Go to page 12 to learn how deep

the roots of the family tree run. Cover illustration by Leif Peng.

THE NEWSMAGAZ INE FOR McMASTER UNIVERS ITY ALUMNI SPR ING 2012

LETT

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TO T

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This paper has been certifi ed to meet the environmental and social standards of the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®)and comes from responsibly managed forests, and verifi ed recycled sources.


Let me share a memorable scene from last autumn. A public celebra-

tion is underway and at the podium a man works quietly to compose

himself. His audience, grasping intuitively the human weight of this

occasion, is both compelled and troubled as seconds tick by.

The story he ultimately tells is of growing up in a rough Hamilton

neighbourhood, a world away from McMaster University — indeed

far from any obvious prospect of self-improvement. The story’s power

surprised even the organizers of the public-service awards event for

distinguished McMaster alumni.

The speaker that day was Troy Hill ‘07. The account he gave left many

of us wiping away tears, yet delighted to celebrate all he had overcome.

Just four years earlier, as an adult student, Troy had finished his Bach-

elor of Arts in sociology, specializing in Indigenous Studies.

Today he is a school teacher, an expert in restorative justice, and an

advocate and mentor for aboriginal students. He is committed to help-

ing them make the most of their own lives and opportunities, just as he

has done.

From the podium, Troy thanked his mother for believing in him and

for saving enough money to send him to McMaster’s summer sports

camp. Those childhood camp sessions showed him that the University

was only a bus ride away, fostering his desire to return as a student. He

held on to this dream, even though only four of his classmates finished

high school. He tied the dream to his determination to help his people,

the members of the Six Nations, to learn that education and research

create hope for overcoming problems such as suicide, fetal alcohol syn-

drome and diabetes.

What Troy told us that day reminded me of the very reason we have

universities, what they can do, what they must do, and how they must

change. These are topics that occupy me as president of McMaster, and

are at the heart of my open letter, “Forward with Integrity.” The letter

is a road map for our changing responsibilities and mission. It em-

phasizes three urgent priorities: maximizing the quality of the student

experience, building stronger community connections and driving

research excellence that links to our updated educational strategy.

We need to be more responsive to students and their real-life experi-

ences. We must build on those experiences through problem-based,

inquiry-driven learning, extending our rich tradition of inventive

teaching across every subject and through all levels of study.

We must serve our community by cultivating human potential in

rapidly changing circumstances, which include surging demand for

enrolment and stretched funding.

We must teach our lessons and gather our data not only in lecture

halls and laboratories, but also in the streets, shops, clinics and the very

landscape we inhabit, using experience and community service as our

tools and tapping vast pools of wisdom beyond our campus.

In my letter, I made clear that engagement with the community can-

not be regarded simply as an addition to the work we already do. Such

engagement must be intrinsic to all we do in our teaching, learning

and research, and to the constant questioning and revision of our col-

lective wisdom.

Since its release, there has been widespread dialogue about the pri-

orities, including town hall sessions with students, discussions with

community leaders, and the launch of a lecture series on the future of

undergraduate education and universities.

Susan Denburg, associate vice-president academic in the Faculty of

Health Sciences, is working as my strategic advisor to implement the

priorities outlined in the letter.

A tradition of excellence can never be static. The success of our work

will be measured in the prosperity, health, efficiency, spirit and con-

science of our society. To see and hear someone as impressive as Troy

Hill is all the reassurance anyone needs that this work is not only valu-

able, but imperative.

Sincerely,

Patrick Deane ‘11 (honorary)

President, McMaster University

AN INSPIRING EXAMPLE

PRESIDENT’S M

ESSAGE

JD H

owell


Discovery Program

graduates first class

An experimental project for members of the Hamil-ton community who never had a chance to attend university was a re-sounding success. Eighteen adult students ranging in age from 20 to 70, were recruited to take a free university course.Arkells’ Homecoming concert hosts wedding proposal.

http://bit.ly/homecomingproposal

NEWSLINE What has happened since the last issue...

UNIV

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OCT 2011 NOV 2011

University innovations in health research, education and patient

care have received a $30-million boost with a milestone gift from the

Marta and Owen Boris Foundation.

The Hamilton family’s gift, announced by son Les Boris ‘82 and

his sister, Jackie Work, to a standing room only crowd on Feb. 6 will

accelerate stem cell therapy research, health education and one-stop

patient care.

“McMaster University has proven its ability to fast forward dis-

coveries from the lab bench to the patients’ bedside, it made perfect

sense to make this investment in this world class university,” said

Boris, on behalf of his parents’ Marta and Owen Boris Foundation.

His sister Jackie Work added: “The Michael G. DeGroote School of

Medicine is ranked among the top 20 medical schools in the world.

This is the best place to commit to the future.”

Of the total, $24 million is designated to establish the Boris Fami-

ly Centre in Human Stem Cell Therapies, which will speed the com-

mercial development of discoveries at the McMaster Stem Cell and

Cancer Research Institute. The six-year-old institute has had several

breakthroughs, including the ability to turn human skin into blood.

An additional $6 million is for a unique clinic that will allow pa-

tients with complex health problems to see several specialists during

one visit. Established in partnership with Hamilton Health Sciences,

this clinic will be built in the McMaster University Medical Centre

and will provide an ideal setting for advancing medical education.

The Marta and Owen Boris Foundation was established by Marta

and Owen Boris who created the Hamilton cable company Moun-

tain Cablevision and developed it over 50 years before selling it to

Shaw Communications in 2009. Owen Boris died in April, 2011.

“McMaster has been renewing its commitment to our community,

and to have community members make such a significant contribu-

tion to the University is outstanding,” said President Patrick Deane

‘11 (honorary). “Great research, great discoveries, and better patient

care. The Boris family gift will accelerate our ability to make great

things happen.”

$30M Boris family gift propels research, medical education, patient health care

Children & Youth University a success University started a few years early for young people who signed up for McMaster’s new Children & Youth University. The pilot program of five free Saturday-morning lectures targeted students between eight and 12 years old, with the goal of educating them on appealing topics while introducing them to university life. The initiative was sponsored by the Faculty of Health Sciences and the Office of the President.

Ron ScheflerRon Schefler

Ron Schefler

President Patrick Deane ‘11 (honorary); Mary Williams ‘87, vice-president, University Advancement; Ron Joyce ‘98 (honorary); Michael G.

DeGroote ‘92 (honorary); Jackie Work; Marta Boris; Les Boris ‘82; Senator David Braley ‘00 (honorary); John Kelton, dean and vice-president, Faculty of Health Sciences.

(Above): Les Boris (left) with his sister, Jackie Work, and President Patrick Deane.


MOST SATISFIED STUDENTS

QUALITY OF EDUCATION

QUALITY OF RECREATION

& ATHLETICS (enrolment over 22,000)

A+

Maclean’s ranking of

Medical Doctoral institutions

Times Higher Educa-

tion World University

Rankings

QS World University Rankings

Canadian schools to earn a spot in the top 100 universities

OVERALL(report based on 700 global institutions)

Tagging generosity on campus

McMaster students celebrated the spirit of philanthropy in Canada marking with gift tags everything on campus that exists thanks to a donation to the University. See The Many Shades of McMaster video in recognition of National Philanthropy Day here:

Don’t miss the rebate!

Students eligible for 30 per cent off Ontario tuition

Full-time undergraduates could be eligible for a 30 per cent tuition reduction introduced by the Ontario government. Students have to apply to receive the refund. Go to http://

bit.ly/tuitiongrant for more information.

UNIVERSITY N

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DEC 2011 JAN 2012

Students and researchers from all disciplines will benefit from the Pirate Archive collec-

tion, thought to be the largest of its kind in Canada.

Pirate Group donated the advertising campaign materials that document the creation

of some 50,000 radio and television commercials from 1981 to 2007, featuring celebrities

like Leslie Nielson, Ellen DeGeneres, Jay-Z, and Eugene Levy ‘05 (honorary) and iconic

brands including Molson’s, Coca Cola, and General Motors.

Pirate Group is Canada’s largest advertising audio production company. “Our hope is

that this collection will help students and researchers to study our industry, help them spot

trends, analyze communication techniques and, above all, inspire the next generation of

advertising people,” said Pirate co-founder Terry O’Reilly.

Entrepreneurial ideas incubate at new centre

RANKINGS 2011

The Don Pether Incubation Centre at the

McMaster Innovation Park is helping engi-

neering students through the challenge of

converting their entrepreneurial ideas into

successful business ventures. The centre

provides startup support to selected students

and recent graduates of the Master’s in En-

gineering Entrepreneurship and Innovation

program. It is the product of a $1-million gift

Don Pether made to the Faculty of Engineer-

ing in 2010 that also supported the creation

of the Don Pether Chair in Engineering and

Management. Pether is the former CEO and

president of ArcelorMittal Dofasco and past

chair of McMaster’s Board of Governors.

A federal government investment of up to $11.5

million will be used to transform a former appliance

warehouse into a state-of- the art research facility at the

McMaster Innovation Park. The McMaster Automotive

Resource Centre (MARC) will allow the University to

accelerate automotive research and support collaboration

between academic, government and industrial partners

to develop new technology. A major focus of the new

auto research centre will be the work of Ali Emadi, a

world-class researcher who holds the $10-million Canada

Excellence Research Chair in Hybrid Powertrain.

Federal investment supports auto research

Matt Terry

MACLEAN’SShanghai’s Jiao Tong

University

Pirate Archives provide treasure trove for students, faculty research

JD H

owell

http://bit.ly/shadesofmac


UNIV

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AWARDS & HONOURS

A 3D VOYAGEThrough and Beyond our Solar System

Explore strange and exciting planets and moons in our Solar System! Discover the latest news, as our search continues to fi nd distant planets around stars other than our Sun in our Galaxy - ALL IN 3D!

Evening shows held weekly in McMaster’s 3D theatre from 8pm to 9pm (visit origins.mcmaster.ca for exact dates)

Dates and ticket reservations online at origins.mcmaster.ca

Cost $5 per seat, payable at the door

Rush tickets available at the door on a fi rst-come, fi rst-served basis – after ticket-holders have been seated

Latecomers cannot be admitted

o r ig ins .mcmas te r.c a

McMASTER 3D THEATREMichael G. DeGroote Centre for Learning and Discovery (MDCL) Room 1110

E X T R E M E A L I E N W O R L D S

Professors named Canada’s best teachers

Political science professor Marshall Beier (photo right) and Susan Vajoczki ‘88, ‘89 & ‘93, di-

rector of the Centre for Leadership in Learning, are McMaster’s newest 3M National Teaching Fel-

lowship award winners.

Beier and Vajoczki join 11 other outstanding McMaster professors who have been honoured since

the program began in 1986. The awards are presented annually by 3M Canada in partnership with

the Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education. The two professors are part of a group

of 10 chosen from across the country. More than 33,000 instructors are eligible for the award.

Both educators champion a lifetime commitment to maximizing the educational experience of

students. Beier said he works to empower students by encouraging them to synthesize and evaluate

information from many perspectives, and by bringing undergraduates into high-level research.

He says teaching and research feed one another. “Research is indispensable to teaching. To stay

fresh, to keep our course content up to date, to continually disseminate new knowledge, you have to

have a research agenda,” Beier says. “What I’ve found is that the opposite is also true: students are

not afraid to ask what would seem to be perhaps heretical questions. The heretical questions very

often are the goads to new thought, to creativity, to new movement in knowledge and I’ve found

that very important.”

Vajoczki, who started her career in the geography and earth sciences department, describes herself

as a pragmatic teacher. Knowing there are many ways to learn, she simply backs up and finds a new

way to start over when she comes upon a barrier. “This is a place where we are allowed to innovate

in our education, and it is often rewarded.” She added: “Good teaching is so important because it’s

what engages our students,” she says. “Good teaching is what first ignites passion in students.”


Black Death genomereconstructedIn an unprecedented discovery

in the study of ancient pathogens

that was covered by media around

the world, Hendrik Poinar,

Kirsten Bos ‘05 and their team,

in partnership with researchers

at a German university, success-

fully sequenced the genome of

the Black Death, one of the most

devastating epidemics in hu-

man history. The team hopes the

discovery will offer a better un-

derstanding of modern infectious

diseases.

Eating greens can alter effect of genesEating greens may change the

effect of our genes related to heart

disease, researchers have found.

Sonia Anand ‘92, ‘96 & ‘02 and

her team found that the effects of

one gene strongly associated with

heart disease could be modified

by regularly eating large amounts

of fruit and raw vegetables.

Rhythm researchers keep the beat Why we do move when we hear

good music? School of the Arts

researchers, led by assistant pro-

fessor of music Michael Schutz,

have found that actually tapping

to the beat measurably enriches

the listening experience. When

researchers played notes slightly

after participants would have

expected, listeners performed 87

per cent better at detecting the

change when tapping versus lis-

tening passively.

Couch potatoes have missing exercise gene You may think your lack of re-

solve to get off the couch and

exercise is because you’re lazy,

but it may be that you’re missing

key genes. Gregory Steinberg,

Canada Research Chair in Me-

tabolism and Obesity, found that

healthy mice with two specific

genes could run for miles while

those who were missing the genes

could only run a short distance.

The McMaster team is the first to

demonstrate the genes’ essential

role in exercise.

Exercise triggers stem cells to become bone, not fatMcMaster researchers have found

that working out triggers influ-

ential stem cells to become bone

instead of fat, improving overall

health by boosting the body’s

capacity to make blood. Using

mice, a team led by the Depart-

ment of Kinesiology’s Gianni

Parise ‘97, ‘99 & ‘04 has shown

that stem cells will become bone

in active bodies and are more

likely to become fat in sedentary

bodies.

Dairy stems bone lossin dieters Kinesiology professor Stuart

Phillips ‘89, ‘91 has found that

bone loss often associated with

calorie-restricted diets may be

reversed by consumption of

protein and calcium from dairy

sources. This type of diet resulted

in improvements in markers of

bone formation and reductions

in markers of bone degradation

in women who experienced 16

weeks of diet- and exercise-

induced weight loss.

Video games help fight eye disease

Vision scientist Daphne Maurer,

of the psychology, neuroscience

and behaviour department, has

found that playing certain video

games can have therapeutic value

for patients battling eye disease.

The games require people to visu-

ally monitor what is happening

and to make fast decisions to

react to the action. In studies,

she said, subjects who played 40

hours of video games had notice-

able improvement in some aspects

of vision. The games help develop

the brain’s plasticity and open up

channels that allow them to “re-

train their visual range.”

School closures slow spread of H1N1 flu

Closing schools can help slow

the spread of infectious disease

and should be considered as a

control measure during pandemic

outbreaks, Michael G. DeGroote

Institute for Infectious Disease

Research experts have found.

Math professor David Earn’s

study, using data about the inci-

dence of influenza infections in

Alberta during the 2009 H1N1

flu pandemic, showed that when

schools closed for the summer, in-

fection transmission from person

to person was sharply reduced.

School-age children were im-

portant drivers transmitting the

deadly flu. Alberta was the only

province to continue extensive

virologic testing well into the sec-

ond wave of the 2009 pandemic,

allowing researchers to identify

the causes of changes in incidence

as the pandemic progressed.

Light echoes illuminate star eruption 150 years

McMaster astronomers are part of

a team who, with the aid of im-

proved technology, have been able

to re-observe an event first seen

on Earth more than 150 years

ago. Eta Carinae, a double star in

the Milky Way galaxy, grew sub-

stantially brighter between 1837

and 1858 during the “Great Erup-

tion,” an unstable period in its life

cycle comparable to a cosmic hic-

cup. The disturbances that caused

the brightening, believed to be

precursors of the star’s death, had

actually occurred roughly 7,500

years earlier, with the light taking

that long to reach Earth.

UNIVERSITY N

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RESEARCH NEWS

www.mcmaster.ca/museum


What are your first impressions of the

Hamilton campus today?

The campus is worldly and dignified, although

I’m surprised by the informal dress of students

and faculty members. As representatives of

the McMaster name, I would expect those in

attendance to reserve jeans and sneakers for

the weekend or after classes. However, I am

delighted to see much progress in the fields of

commerce, mathematics, medicine and the

arts, and marvel at the technology utilized at

the University. Hamilton itself is a favourable

town, with a rich history of political and

technological successes. I relish being able to

set foot in this modern city.

Do you have a favourite building or setting

on campus?

I’m delighted to see the student centre in such

a prominent location, as a place for both quiet

reflection and conviviality is essential. The

Michael G. DeGroote Centre for Learning

and Discovery is a wonder to behold, and so is

the research conducted within. Hamilton Hall

was surprising - traditional ivy-covered walls

on the outside with modern design elements

inside. The Engineering Technology Building,

including its elliptical lecture hall and the

nanotechnology microscope, would have

flowed from the pen of science fiction writers

during my time. The Lyons New Media

Centre was also a treat to explore, although a

little dizzying with all of the glowing screens.

I enjoyed a stroll in the nearby urban villages

of Westdale and Ainslie Wood, and the Royal

Botanical Gardens provide an idyllic natural

backdrop for the University. One couldn’t ask

for a more picturesque collegial environment.

The school has transitioned from its Baptist

roots in 1957. What are your thoughts?

If the pursuit of higher education involves

studies in a number of fields, then perhaps it

is for the best in this day and age. I am very

inspired by McMaster’s commitment to a

well-rounded, interdisciplinary curriculum,

and the desire to enhance students’ potential.

It pleases me to see young minds striving

ahead in a variety of subjects. I must say,

however, their fascination with “tweeting”

and these items called “smart phones” is a bit

befuddling.

Have you spoken with President Patrick

Deane?

President Deane, Senate members and the

Board of Governors are fine representatives

of the McMaster name. I enjoyed a spot

of tea with the president and several of

his colleagues in Gilmour Hall, and the

conversation was as intellectually stimulating

as it was enjoyable. I was given a private

viewing of the Council Chambers, and

recalled fond memories of my time in the

Senate of Canada. How I long for those days

of lively political debate in the nation’s capital,

although the winters in Hamilton seem much

more tolerable. I must purchase a maroon

and grey scarf for my travels during the bitter

winter months. The president’s vision for

interdisciplinary, experiential learning and

service to the community should serve as a

model for other schools.

McMaster won the Vanier Cup last fall. Do

you enjoy football?

The Canadian game is flashy and foreign to

me and the rules are quite odd, although I’m

proud of the strong will and determination of

all those involved. The David Braley Athletic

Centre and other campus sporting facilities

are likely the envy of other universities –

especially our rivals in the Old Four (McGill,

Western, Toronto, Queen’s). I understand the

University has been home to a cricket club in

recent years, my preferred sporting activity.

What makes you most proud of McMaster?

It is rewarding to see that the school continues

to support the tenets of academic excellence,

and is not willing to rest on its laurels. It

amazes me to know that there are more than

156,000 alumni living, studying and working

in 140 countries around the world. A truly

remarkable achievement, considering that

the first graduating class was comprised of 16

students. The Alumni Society at McMaster

was founded within months of the first

convocation, and it’s obvious that the school’s

commitment to alumni continues to this day.

Where do you see McMaster University

heading in the next 125 years?

As the University continues to evolve, I

believe McMaster will emerge as a world

leader in new academic practices. Faculty

members in all departments will uphold the

traditions of exemplary teaching and research.

With increased access to information and

fine resources at their fingertips, students

will break new ground in science, medicine,

engineering and the liberal arts well into

the 21st century. It’s an exciting time, and I

look forward to many more announcements

and developments in the coming years. As a

side note, I challenge current students at the

University to best the first McMaster Yell:

“Boom on Mac! Boom on Star! Boom! Fitz!

Boom! on Mac-Mas-Tar!”

‘BOOM ON MAC!’

MEE

T M

cMAS

TER

by Andrew Baulcomb ‘08

Senator William McMaster always kept one eye

on the horizon during his long and illustrious

life. Founder of the Canadian Bank of Com-

merce (now CIBC) and renowned philanthrop-

ist, the native of County Tyrone, Ireland was

also instrumental in the creation of McMaster

University. Fuelled by dreams of a Baptist col-

lege, McMaster bequeathed $900,000 towards

the founding of such an institution. Originally

housed in McMaster Hall on Bloor Street West

in Toronto, the school offered courses in arts

and theology with the first degrees conferred in

1894. In 1930, the school moved to Hamilton

and has grown into one of the most innova-

tive and advanced centres of learning and re-

search on the planet. The Times caught up with

McMaster for his thoughts as the University

celebrates its 125th anniversary.


MEET M

cMASTER

FA

VO

UR

ITE

McM

aste

r T

HIN

GS

Subject or undergraduate program: Commerce.

Transportation to campus: Horse and carriage, or a brisk walk.

Building on campus: Hamilton Hall.

Place to eat on campus: East Meets West Bistro has a wonderful

assortment of international delicacies.

Place to eat off campus: The Sirloin Cellar in downtown Hamilton.

Time of year on campus: Winter. The crisp January air builds

character.

Place to do your best thinking: The pathways adjacent to Faculty Hollow.

Student residence: Moulton Hall, named after my loving wife

Susan Moulton McMaster.


JD H

owell

At the time, Main Street West was little more than a rural dirt high-

way bisecting vast acres of undeveloped land and the Niagara Escarp-

ment. The planned community of Westdale Village was still a dream

on a drafting board, and many of the businesses and homes that today

populate the Ainslie Wood community were nonexistent. All of that

was about to change with the arrival of McMaster University.

The school’s 125-year history is built on a foundation of many fami-

lies like Muriel’s – those who chose the University generation after gen-

eration, including fathers, mothers, children, grandchildren, siblings,

nieces and nephews. These families are the fabric of McMaster, and

their stories are intertwined with a rich history and tradition.

With the school celebrating a landmark anniversary this year, the

Times connected with some of those very alumni. Their reasons for

attending are varied, but one thing remains true for each family – Mc-

Master is more than an academic institution. It’s a second home.

“I used to take her on walks in the neighbourhood, and she loved

seeing what had become of the campus so many years later,” says Julia

Thomson ’03, manager, external relations at the DeGroote School of

Business, and one of Muriel Reinholt’s many grandchildren.

“She was always very happy that so many of her own children and

grandchildren went to McMaster.”

When the University moved from Toronto to Hamilton in 1930,

Muriel’s parents began taking in boarders at their expansive Broad-

way Avenue home. With the Depression in full swing, tenants were

Muriel Isabel Reinholt was

born at 19 Broadway Ave.

on the eve of the First World

War – long before one of the

region’s largest medical centres

was located a mere block away.

The youngest of eight children,

Muriel came of age during a

long-forgotten period in the

history of West Hamilton.

A walk down memory lane with some of McMaster’s most devoted families


provided with regular meals, each given a private room and enjoyed

a common area in the family’s home. From time to time, administra-

tors at the University would even suggest new students for the family

to house – including a group of young men from Trinidad who were

desperately in need of lodgings.

As time passed, Muriel eventually married Lorne Thomson, a local

contractor, and the couple purchased the old family home at 19 Broad-

way. They relocated to Waterdown during the 1950s to raise a family,

but McMaster always remained an integral part of the Thomsons’

identity. No less than 15 children and grandchildren would attend

the University throughout the years – including Muriel’s son Mearl

Thomson ’63 and Julia’s three siblings, Adam Thomson ’10, Cynthia

Thomson ’07 and Jennifer Thomson ’06, ’08.

“Mac was always the school you were going to attend,” says Julia,

with a grin. “We all did something completely different in our degrees,

but we all took part in some wonderful things on campus, too.”

Much like the Thomson family, former engineering student Walter

Petryschuk ’65, ’67 has seen many changes at McMaster since his days

on campus – and his own family ties run deep.

While completing his master’s degree, Walter and his wife Mary took

up residence in a home on Rifle Range Road. One beautiful afternoon

in August, 1964, the couple took their two young sons on a stroll to

visit the campus, with a camera in hand.

“The boys were wearing prescient t-shirts with a forecast of their fu-

tures printed on the front,” recalls Petryschuk. “They read ‘McMaster

19??’ and anticipated their eventual graduation from the University.”

The prediction was eerily accurate. Michael Petryschuk ’83 and

Geoffrey Petryschuk ’85 graduated with degrees in chemical and

mechanical engineering, respectively. Unfortunately, the t-shirts didn’t

(Above): Muriel Reinholt (left) with her older sister, Phyllis, and mother Alice Reinholt at 19 Broadway Ave.

TIES THAT BIND

fit anymore. The couple’s youngest son, Allan Petryschuk ’90, fol-

lowed suit with his own B.Eng. five years later, and Walter’s grandson

Stephen Petryschuk ’11 completed his degree last year – rounding out

three generations of engineers. “We became a McMaster University

family,” adds Walter, with great pride.

As a fifth-generation graduate, some would argue that Stephenson

Strobel ’10 was already born with maroon in his veins. A native of

Winnipeg, Manitoba, the 22-year-old first learned of the family’s

legacy at the University through his father, Guye.

“My family has been going to this school basically since it was found-

ed,” says Strobel, who’s currently pursuing a medical degree at the

University of Manitoba. “A lot of people in my family were trailblazers

or innovators, and McMaster has that same spirit.”

Stephenson’s great, great grandfather, James Paterson, graduated

from Woodstock College just before the school merged with the

Toronto Baptist College in 1887 – the dawn of McMaster University as

we know it today.

James’ daughter, Jean Paterson ’30, became the first female student

to earn a degree in political science at McMaster, and one of the last

to graduate from the old Toronto campus on Bloor Street West. Her

husband, Archie Stewart ’30, earned a degree in geology, and was a

“Dean’s Boy” during his final three years on campus.

The couple’s daughter, Lorna Strobel-Stewart ’54 (Stephenson’s

grandmother) lived in Wallingford Hall, excelled at several sports and

met her husband, Joseph “Joe” Strobel Jr. ’54 during her studies at

McMaster. Joe was a defensive tackle with the Marauders when Ivor

Wynne was director of athletics, and earned a degree in geography.

But despite his successes at McMaster, Joe almost never made it

there in the first place. According to Stephenson, his grandfather was

“kicked out” of the University of Western Ontario as a young under-

grad, and “basically went down the road and attended McMaster.”

When he and Lorna were later married at Convocation Hall, it turned

out to be the best decision of his young life.

The couple’s son, Guye Strobel ’80, was next in line to continue

the family tradition, followed three decades later by Stephenson. His

younger brother, Kieren, will enter the Faculty of Engineering this fall.

“It really is a great community at McMaster. I loved living in Brandon

Hall, and I loved the city,” adds Stephenson.

When Amy Apps ’01 was inducted into the McMaster Athletic Hall

of Fame last year, it was a special occasion for family and friends. But

it was also a unique moment in McMaster history, as the Apps became

the first family with three generations of students enshrined in the

Hall.

“I’ve played sports for as long as I can remember, but there was never

any pressure to attend McMaster,” says Amy, a kinesiology grad who

now works as a physiotherapist. “But my goal was to eventually play for

Canada, and get a good education at the same time.”

A first-team All Canadian with the Marauders in 1998 and 1999,

Apps went on to play for the national women’s soccer team and enjoyed

great success with the Vancouver Whitecaps after graduation.

“I’m so happy I chose to go to McMaster,” says Apps. “It was a spring-

board into my professional career in soccer, and later in physiotherapy.”

Amy’s grandfather, C.J. Sylvanus “Syl” Apps ’36, was a certified

hockey legend during the height of the NHL’s Original Six era. The

commanding centre won three Stanley Cups with the Toronto Maple

Leafs during the 1940s, and earned a spot in the Hockey Hall of Fame

in 1961. He passed away at the age of 83 during Amy’s tenure at Mc-

Master, and always held a special place in the young star’s heart.

“Both of my parents went to Queen’s,” recalls Amy. “But I knew my

grandfather would be proud that I chose McMaster … the fact that all

three of us have been honoured is very special to me.”

Syl was inducted with the Athletic Hall of Fame’s inaugural class in

1984, and his son Robert Apps ’65 would join him in 1999.


A local star in his own right, Robert excelled as a two-sport athlete

during his collegiate career. Suiting up as a halfback with the Maraud-

ers football club, he helped guide the team to Ontario Intercollegiate

Football Conference (OIFC) Championship titles in 1962 and 1964,

and later joined the CFL’s BC Lions for two season. During his junior

and senior years at Mac, Robert also played hockey for the old Marlins,

and still cherishes his time on campus.

“That football team was the best I ever played on,” says Robert,

speaking on the phone from his home in British Columbia. “We had

great coaching too, and Pinky Lewis was our trainer. He was amazing,

a wonderful person.”

Robert adds that his father met future wife Mary “Molly” Apps ’36

on campus, and the two first bonded in a history course. Syl may have

been a star on the ice, but Mary always had the upper hand from day

one.

TIES

THA

T BI

ND

(Top left): Ava-Dayna Sefa ’10

(Top right): Karen Apps, Amy Apps ’01, Gillian Apps, Robert Apps ’65 at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. (Below): Michael ‘83 (left) and Geoffrey Petryschuk ‘85 on a visit to McMaster in 1964. Their shirts came true 20 years later.

“Dad was very detail oriented, and one day my mother asked if she

could see a few notes from the history class,” recalls Robert. “She ‘bor-

rowed’ some of his points, and actually got a better mark than he did.”

When Amy was inducted in 2011, his “sweetheart” niece received a

congratulatory email from Robert, who says she was “always a great

supporter of McMaster.”

For Ava-Dayna Sefa ’10, supporting McMaster extends well beyond

storming the soccer pitch in a maroon and grey jersey. In many ways,

Sefa’s journey to the University began more than two decades ago,

when her mother, Muriel Aikins ’83, ’98, emigrated from Ghana to

live and study in Hamilton.

After completing her undergraduate degree overseas, Aikins was

accepted by the Faculty of Science to complete a master’s degree in

geography. With her tuition waived by the University, it was a once-in-

a-lifetime opportunity for the young scholar.

“It opened doors for my mother that were previously unimagined,”

says Sefa. “With that offer, my mother emigrated from Ghana to

become a university student in Canada.”

Arriving in Ontario for the first time during the early 1980s, Muriel

“didn’t even know how to use the payphones at the airport,” says Sefa.

By sheer chance, she spotted an old family friend and hitched a ride

to Hamilton – settling into an apartment off Main Street West, and

easing into her new home. When Ava-Dayna began her own studies at

McMaster, there was no hesitation when it came to getting involved

and giving back. As a student, she volunteered with the McMaster

Alumni Association, chaired her senior class gift project and organized

an event called “The Tassle was Worth the Hassle” for graduating

students. Her overall goal? To educate graduates on what it means to

be a McMaster alumna, and create similar opportunities for future

international students, just like her mother.

“I did a lot of work with the Alumni Association, which allowed me

to think about how important it is to give back,” says Sefa. “It feels

pretty nice to call myself a Mac grad … it really is a great school.”

FAMILY TIES

ALL RHODES LEAD TO OXFORD

by Pat Mordenphotography by JD Howell ‘04

Ralph Bellamy 1902

Morden Long 1908

Ralph Freeman 1914

John Baldwin ’33

H. Allan Leal ’40, Chancellor – 1977-86

Bert MacKinnon ’43,

James H. Taylor ’51, Chancellor – 1992-98

George Rawlyk ’57

Christopher Philip Rose ’74, ’76

Eric Hoskins ’82, ’85

Karen Bakker ’95

Maureen Hogan ’04

There are more than 4,400 living Rhodes Scholars

residing in more than 50 countries around the

world. Here’s the list of the 12 McMaster graduates

who are Rhodes Scholars:

McMaster’s Rhodes Scholars


Th ree outstanding

McMaster students

were fi nalists in this

year’s Rhodes Schol-

arship competition.

Sheiry Dhillon won

the coveted award.Sheiry Dhillon learned fi rst hand last fall

how your life can change in the course of a

few hours. One moment you are in a confer-

ence room for an interview and four hours

later you are basking in the knowledge that

you are off to study at Oxford.

Dhillon was interviewed by the Rhodes

selection committee at 4 p.m. in Toronto.

She knew candidates would be notifi ed of the

results between 9 and 10 p.m. the same night.

She went home to Brampton to wait. As the

hours passed she texted with fellow candidate

Holden Sheffi eld. Both admitted they were

having trouble concentrating on anything

else. Nine o’clock came and went, then 10.

Finally the phone rang. “Instead of being ex-

cited, my heart sank,” she recalls. “I thought,

‘oh no, what are they going to say?’”

What Dr. Astrid Guttman, secretary of the

committee, said was: “Congratulations Sheiry,

you’re going to Oxford!” For a moment, she

thought she had misheard and asked Gutt-

man to repeat herself. Behind her, her parents

embraced and her mother burst into tears. “It

was such a surreal moment,” says Dhillon.

“All I wanted to do was scream for joy.”

Th e Rhodes Scholarship is arguably the

world’s most prestigious student award. It

off ers a select group of women and men from

around the world the opportunity to study at

Oxford University for two to four years. Bill

Clinton, Bob Rae, Kris Kristoff erson, Naomi

Wolf and George Stephanopoulos are among

its celebrity alumni. In Ontario, just two of

the scholarships are awarded each year.

In the past, McMaster advertised Rhodes

Scholarships application deadlines, but left it

up to students to take the initiative, selecting

one nominee from those who applied. In 2011

President Patrick Deane’s offi ce organized a

meeting to tell interested students more about

the opportunity and encourage them to apply.

Based on the strong fi eld, not one but three

McMaster nominees were selected: Dhillon,

Holden Sheffi eld and Joseph Veloce.

Deane says the Rhodes program is a chance

to shine a light on McMaster’s outstanding

students. “Th e fact that we were able to put

forward three outstanding candidates con-

fi rms the degree of academic strength and

leadership that we have in the student body,”

he says. “McMaster is viewed as a pre-eminent

research university, but this success confi rms

that we are providing our students with the

right programs and environment for intellec-

tual growth.”

Veloce fi rst heard about the Rhodes while

doing research for Professor Tim Davidson, a

Rhodes Scholar and associate director of the

School of Computational Engineering and

Science. “He convinced me this would be a

great opportunity to learn something about

everything.”

Veloce is completing an electrical engineer-

ing degree. He is also a competitive track

cyclist, living in California while training to

represent Canada at this summer’s Olympics.

Sheffi eld considered a career as a writer

before deciding to pursue medicine at Mc-

Master. Now committed to completing a

residency in pediatrics, he developed an inter-

est in global health issues after spending an

elective at a Ugandan hospital, helping build

a pediatric intensive care unit. “It showed me

the extreme challenges of working in global

health,” he says. “But I also realized how

much I love it.”

Dhillon also has a deep commitment to

global health, especially the health of women.

“Even as a child, I was interested in the so-

cial and human rights side of issues and was

inclined to go in that direction.” After a sum-

mer working with two human rights organiza-

tions in Ottawa, she saw an opportunity to tie

her interest in social justice with her education

in the health sciences program. Th e following

year she spent the summer working in north-

ern India doing health outreach research.

Dhillon knew several people who had re-

ceived the Rhodes but wasn’t convinced she

was the right type. “But I got a few pushes,

and ended up applying anyway.”

Deane’s offi ce supported the three nominees

by developing detailed letters of support, ar-

ranging for them to speak to past Rhodes

Scholars at McMaster, and even organizing

a session on etiquette. Th e president was

delighted that all three were short-listed and

invited to the interviews in Toronto.

Th e application process is far from easy. In

addition to transcripts and CVs, each appli-

cant must prepare a 900-word personal state-

ment. Finalists are interviewed by a panel of

seven distinguished academics. Dhillon says

writing the statement was the hardest part of

the process for her. “At least at the interview

they’re seeing the whole person. But before

you get there you have to convey yourself as a

person on paper. I spent so much time think-

ing how to let them know who Sheiry is.”

Veloce, who is planning to attend gradu-

ate school in California, says he learned a lot

about himself by going through the process.

“Writing the essay and then preparing for the

interview, you have to think through some big

questions – questions you don’t ask yourself

on a regular basis.”

Sheffi eld agrees. “I have interviews com-

ing up for residency programs next year. My

friends are all prepping, but I’ve already had

to dig deep and fi gure out what I’m about and

what I want to do.”

Deane says the Rhodes experience will be

life-changing for Dhillon. “Th e impact on her

intellectual and personal horizons will be as-

tonishing. Th e experience of studying abroad

will enhance her already deep global sensibil-

ity. And of course, this will open many doors

for her.” Former chancellor James Taylor ‘51,

‘89 (honorary), also a Rhodes Scholar, says

Dhillon will undoubtedly enjoy the school’s

renowned tutorial approach. “I’m immensely

pleased for her.”

At Oxford Dhillon will complete an MSc

or DPhil (the Oxford version of a PhD) with

a focus on global health. Beyond that, “I just

want to be open to all the opportunities that

come my way in the next few years.”

ALL RHODES LEAD TO OXFORD

“The fact that we were able to put forward three outstanding

candidates confi rms the degree of academic strength and leader-

ship that we have in the student body.”


1. The entire community rallied behind the team on YouTube to say “Go Mac Go!”. 2. WR Andrew Sin-clair shows off his Heisman pose. 3. Stadium benefactor and football fanatic Ron Joyce. 4. Victory in Vancouver! 5. QB Kyle Quinlan at the Vanier Cup celebration on cam-pus. 6. Head Coach Stefan Ptaszek. 7. Students celebrate with the Uteck, Vanier and Yates trophies. 8. LB Ryan Chmielewski (left), WR Matthew Peressini.

1 2

4

5

67

8

3

McMASTER MARAUDERS 2011 VANIER CUP CHAMPIONS

http://bit.ly/gomacgo


by Pat Morden

ANSW

ERIN

G TH

E BI

G, H

AIRY

, AUD

ACIO

US Q

UEST

ION

S

Are peatland ecosystems carbon sinks or carbon bombs? Why was

the Black Death so, well, deadly? Could academics themselves be guilty

of plagiarism? Why do more First Nations people develop heart disease

early in life? How do we get drugs to the back of the eye? How do

communities heal?

Across campus, the air is abuzz with these types of fascinating

questions and bustling with people driven to answer them. There’s

never a risk of running out, says researcher Sonia Anand ’92,’96 & ’02.

“What keeps it interesting is that when you answer some questions,

you’re left with new ones,” Anand (photo below) says. “They just keep

coming!”

Anand’s research career began

when she explored the

differences in practice patterns

for heart attacks in Hamilton

and in India during her internal

medicine residency, She learned

that people of Indian origin have

the highest rate of early heart

attacks in the world. The obvious

“why” question led to dozens of

others. She is a leader in

understanding the interaction

between gender, culture and genetics in heart disease.

When the questions led into unfamiliar territory, Anand acquired the

knowledge and skills she needed to follow them. In 2007, for example,

she took a sabbatical to study genetic epidemiology. Today, she is

involved in several major studies, including birth cohort studies in

South Asian and First Nations communities to explore the impact of

environmental and genetic factors in pregnant women on their

children’s risk of heart disease and diabetes.

“I like hearing about a community’s concerns and then trying to

come up with a research project that might help,” she says. “Anything I

can do to bring about change from a health perspective is worthwhile.”

Hendrik Poinar, of McMaster’s Ancient DNA Centre, shares Anand’s

passion for asking and answering BHAQs. Poinar is a molecular

evolutionary geneticist and biological anthropologist. His questions are

asked of ancient DNA extracted from archeological and paleontological

remains – what he refers to as “time machines” that help us understand

the evolutionary process and the impact of dramatic climate change,

among other questions.

Recently he collaborated with a team to sequence the Black Death

genome from victims found at an archeological site in London,

England. “The data show that this bacterial strain is the ancestor of all

modern plagues worldwide,” he says. “What this suggests is that if we

have another massive epidemic, it is more likely to come from the re-

emergence of a previous infection than from a novel one.”

Poinar brings the perspectives of several disciplines (in his case,

archeology, anthropology, biochemistry, molecular biology, health

sciences and math) – to bear on the questions he asks. “I fit everywhere

and nowhere,” he says. “This kind of synthesis opens new doors, and I

love walking through them.”

Chemical engineering professor Heather Sheardown ’89 knows all

about crossing traditional boundaries. Although fascinated by

medicine, Sheardown decided that engineering fit her personality

better. Today she leads a renowned research program in bioengineering,

focused on materials used in treating eye disorders.

“I’ve always felt that engineers asking biological questions had real

power, because we see things differently,” she says. “Biologists try to

figure out how things work. We take that knowledge and ask how it

can be used to improve treatment. It’s a good marriage.” Her interests

include the development of artificial corneas and ways to reduce the

complication rate with inter-ocular lenses. Her team is also working to

develop smart materials capable of delivering drugs to the back of the

eye, to treat diseases like age-related macular degeneration and diabetic

retinopathy. Sheardown’s favourite part of research is working with her

graduate students. “They’ve got great ideas and it’s always fun to

discuss their results, whether they work or not.”

Although her work is highly applied, she knows it builds on equally

important basic science research. “The upstream work is critical,” she

McMaster researchers ask a wide range of BHAQs or “big, hairy, audacious questions.” The answers create new knowledge, improve quality of life, and make learning an exciting, hands-on experience.


ANSW

ERING THE BIG, HAIRY, AUDACIOUS QUESTION

S

collectors made an exciting

discovery – the first

recorded orchid in the

territory. The discovery

created a stir in the research

world and the community.

“This sends a message that

citizen science does matter,”

she says, “and can

contribute in important and

unexpected ways.”

Doubleday is a firm

believer in the power of

interdisciplinary

investigation. Disciplines,

she says, are artificial

boundaries we create to

make things simpler and

more convenient. “When

we practice that kind of

reductionism we lose

meaning and richness.”

Like Doubleday, Benson

Honig has wide research

interests. Honig, the Teresa Cascioli Chair in Entrepreneurial

Leadership, recently completed a groundbreaking article on plagiarism

among university researchers. By submitting papers presented at an

Academy of Management conference to standard plagiarism checkers,

Honig showed that 15 per cent of the papers had “borrowed” whole

passages without citing the sources. “There’s been a lot of outcry about

student plagiarism,” he says, “but it occurred to me that we are

sometimes loath to examine ourselves. I’m hoping this research will

change the way articles are reviewed.”

Honig says his life experiences reflect his diverse interests – the

experiences of new Canadians who return to their native countries to

start businesses, entrepreneurial education, the value of business plans

for entrepreneurs, and more. “I had 23 different jobs before I became a

professor,” he says. “But I will do this job until the day I die. We get to

ask interesting questions, look for answers, and discuss the results with

others – that’s a privilege granted to few people.”

Whatever the practical results of research, there’s no question it

creates a lively and engaging learning environment for students.

Although bioengineering is not on the second-year chemical

engineering curriculum, Sheardown loves to talk about her research to

students. “I tell them stories that help them relate to what they’re

studying and see how it can be applied in the real world.” Anand adds

students often help focus a

researcher’s ideas. “Learners always

ask questions, often really

important ones for researchers to

reflect on,” she says. “Interacting

with them is a good way to keep our

neurons firing.”

For Doubleday, combining

research with teaching is all about

humility. “It’s easy for teaching to

shift into preaching,” she says.

“Research teaches us to be humble

about what we don’t know and to

be open to new ideas. Research

gives us hope that things can be

better and helps us understand how

to move forward.”

says. “We can make a device that will help treat patients, but only

because somebody else developed the molecule or helped understand

the mechanism.”

Sheardown’s lab has the usual test tubes, but for Mike Waddington

’89, the lab is a different place. The geography professor studies

watershed hydrology, conducting experiments in northern Canadian

peatland ecosystems. In some studies, they add in drainage ditches or

do controlled burns and observe what happens. Ultimately, his work is

helping understand the impact of resource development and climate

change on these precious ecosystems, and how they can best be

managed and restored.

Field work, usually in the wilderness around Great Slave Lake, is

essential. “To really understand these ecosystems, you have to be out

there observing,” he says. “It can be challenging – the bugs are really

bad! – but it’s fun too.” He’s a competitive adventure runner, so he has

no trouble with the physical demands of the work.

The team was in the field the day before devastating wildfires broke

out last spring, eventually consuming more than 300 Slave Lake

houses. One fire came within two kilometres of his research site with

thousands of dollars of research equipment. Richard Petrone ’96, ’99,

Waddington’s former student now at Wilfrid Laurier University, lost

most of his sites to fire. Waddington is collaborating with him to study

how the ecosystem has changed.

Nancy Doubleday (photo right), the HOPE Chair in Peace and

Health, also feels the pull of Canada’s north. she has a diverse

academic background, including a master’s in environmental studies, a

law degree, and a PhD in biology. Her research explores the integration

of social, cultural and ecological systems in the process of adaptation.

For the past five years, she has been part of a multinational project

looking at the impact of the Arctic’s changing treeline. She worked to

engage local people through the development of community plant

collections, designed to serve as a baseline against which to measure

change. In Nunavut’s southernmost village, Sanikiluaq, the local

“Research teaches us to be humble about what we don’t know and to be open to new ideas.”

“I had 23 different

jobs before I became

a professor,” Benson

Honig says

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C H E C K I T O U T O N L I N E AT :

SOCI A L

FOR EVERYONE FROM THE SHY GUYS TO THE

SOCIAL BUTTERFLIESOur social calendar in Hamilton, Burlington

and Toronto brings together young (and young at heart) alumni to reconnect, make

new contacts and have a little fun.

IN T EL L EC T UA L

LEARNING, FOR FUNThe First Friday Speaker Series is a

monthly event that connects McMaster’s most engaging and interesting researchers

with Mac10 alumni in a social setting.

for event information & registration

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SUPPORT FOR THE NEXT STEPOur year–round schedule of events and workshops, delivered in person and broadcast live online, is designed to support alumni who are actively seeking work or exploring career options.

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10, 50, 125Numbers are funny things.

They are either unforgettable

like your childhood phone

number or unrememberable – if

that’s a word – like the combina-

tion for the lock at the bottom

of your old gym bag. They are

either authoritative – like your

mark in Grade 11 calculus – or

completely slippery like a stock

market forecast.

My job features a lot of num-

bers, but since the beginning

of 2012, I’ve been interested in

three numbers in particular that I’d like to draw to your attention for

three completely different reasons.

10: There are 51,847 McMaster alumni who have graduated in the past

10 years. Their digital student experience is significantly different from

that of the grads who graduated before the 21st century. Their profes-

sional and social interests trend a little differently than a 50th reunion

class, so we need something custom-tailored to catch the interest of our

newest alumni. We need to rethink alumni programming from their

perspective. That’s why we launched Mac10, a series of events and ac-

tivities designed by and for grads of the last decade.

50: Not long ago, we looked at some giving statistics to see how grad

years correlate with donations to the University. As you would expect,

there were all kinds of percentages from all kinds of grad years, but

right now, I can only remember one. For the Class of 1933, 50 per cent

of the active class members give – one out of two. I now have a new life

goal. I graduated in 1990, which means that if I want the same status

as that Class of ’33 donor has today, I’m going to need to keep giving

McMaster gifts until 2069. No matter what else happens in my life, if I

can cap off a lifetime of giving with a donation in 2069, I will consider

myself a big, fat success.

125: This is McMaster’s quasquicentennial. I had no idea there was

such a word as quasquicentennial until recently, but there you go.

McMaster is the same age as (if they had lived) Chico Marx, Shoeless

Joe Jackson, Georgia O’Keefe, Boris Karloff, Conrad Hilton (Paris’s

great-grandfather) and Charles I, the last emperor of Austria-Hungary.

This year will feature a number of events that celebrate the history of

our great University and I can promise that Paris Hilton will almost

certainly not be involved, though if we could line up Boris Karloff, that

would be kind of cool.

As McMaster focuses on the number 125 in the year 2012, I hope

you find a number that connects you more meaningfully to your alma

mater. Maybe it’s Mac10. Maybe it’s sitting in seats on the 35-yard line

for one of the Vanier Cup champions’ home games this fall. Maybe it’s

being part of the 50th reunion for the Class of ’62.

Whatever it is, I hope you find your number. I guess mine is 2069.

Take a Ride on the Wild SideIf you’re standing up right now,

you better sit down. This could

be the most exciting 350 words

you’ve ever read.

This column is about the orga-

nizational structure and consti-

tution of the McMaster Alumni

Association. BAZINGA!

Believe it or not, this stuff is

exciting … at least to anyone

who either volunteers with or

has high hopes for McMaster

University and its Alumni Association.

David Adames ’92 (the Association’s past president), Mark Stewart

’06 (the Association’s first vice-president) and I worked together to draft

a proposal for a new MAA volunteer structure that will change the way

the Association serves McMaster and Mac alumni. It will also facili-

tate the ability of alumni volunteers to do meaningful work that has a

real impact on the McMaster community.

To do that, we need to change the MAA’s 20-year-old volunteer

framework. In consultation with past and present Association board

volunteers, we drafted a number of constitutional amendments that re-

flect the best practices of leading Canadian and American universities.

Some of the key changes include longer terms of service for leader-

ship volunteers, a more broadly representative board membership and

a stronger connection between the MAA and the University’s Board of

Governors.

We will reduce the number of meetings, but increase the intensity

of volunteer roles. We will involve more volunteers from different geo-

graphic areas. And we’ll now be holding two board meetings a year on

a roller coaster.

I’m kidding about that last point … as far as you know.

The MAA Board of Directors endorsed the plan in February and now

we’re preparing to bring it – in the form of a constitutional revision

– to the MAA Annual General Meeting on June 2 in the Donaldson

Family Marketplace of the McMaster University Student Centre. The

thrill ride begins at 2:30 p.m., with the vote commencing not long af-

terwards. There will be food and copies of the revised constitution for

your enjoyment. I hope you’ll be there. It will be an important day for

your Alumni Association and for roller coasters everywhere.

ALUMNI DIRECTIONSK

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I DIRECTIONS

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ALUMN

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1940sH. Murray Lang ’43 completed

a two-year term as president of

the Kiwanis Club of Islington.

He was honoured as Islington’s

Kiwanian of the Year in 2005 and

by the Toronto chapter in 2009.

Lang’s wife, G. Sheila Lang ’77 is

also an active Kiwanis member.

1950sHelen Waldstein Wilkes ‘57

won the 2010 Alberta Readers’

Choice award and the 2011 Edna

Staebler Award for Creative Non-

Fiction for her memoir Letters

from the Lost (Athabasca Univer-

sity Press, 2010). The book is set

in the Hamilton region during

the Second World War and con-

nects past and present events that

shaped Wilkes’ life.

1960sSuzanne B. Labarge ’67, ’11

(honorary) joined the board of

directors of XL Group plc, a

global insurance and reinsurance

company.

Jack S. Darville ’68 has been

elected to the board of directors

of Economic Investment Trust

Limited, a closed-end investment

company with net assets of ap-

proximately $520 million. Dar-

ville recently retired as a partner

of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

after more than 35 years service.

1970sJacek “Jack” Kowalski ‘70

retired after 13 years as principal

research scientist at Pfizer Vac-

cines in Pearl River, N.Y. He is

pursuing his creative interests in

photography and art and would

welcome contact with fellow Mac

grads at [email protected].

Sun Kwok ’70 has co-authored

a study published in the journal

Nature showing that organic

compounds of unexpected com-

plexity exist throughout the

Universe. Kwok is the dean of

science and professor of physics

at the University of Hong Kong.

He serves as vice-president of

interstellar matter with the Inter-

national Astronomical Union.

David Warner ’70, ’74 was ap-

pointed to the board of directors

of CSA group, an independent,

not-for-profit membership asso-

ciation serving business, industry,

government and consumers. War-

ner is a former partner at KPMG

LLP in Mississauga.

Paul Chapin ’71 was elected to

the board of directors of Good-

will Industries International.

Chapin is the president and CEO

of Goodwill, The Amity Group in

Hamilton.

Kenneth G. Lenz ’71 retired from

the Ontario Court bench on Oct.

31, 2011. He served 22 years as a

judge, first in Simcoe and then in

Brantford. While at McMaster,

Lenz was an announcer at the

radio station, managed by Dave

Thomas ‘72, ‘09 (honorary).

Brian Haynes ’73, ’76 was invest-

ed as an officer of the Order of

Canada. Hayes is a world leader

in health informatics and one of

the originators of evidence-based

medicine. He is founder and chief

of the Health Information Re-

search Unit at McMaster.

Bruce Barch ’74 was appointed

to the board of Hamilton Health

Sciences. He is currently vice-

president, investor and corporate

affairs for Alexis Minerals Corpo-

ration, a Canadian-based junior

gold mining company.

Ian Dowbiggin ‘75 was elected

as a Fellow of the Royal Society

of Canada’s Humanities Division

of the Academy of the Arts and

Humanities. He is a history pro-

fessor at the University of Prince

Edward Island. He is UPEI’s first

Royal Society of Canada Fellow.

Dr. Roberta Bondar ’77, ’92 (hon-

orary) was inducted into Cana-

da’s Walk of Fame at Toronto’s

Elgin Theatre.

Linda Heslegrave ’77 and Dan

McCaughey ’77 are now the rep-

resentatives in Canada for Martin

Randall Travel. The two have

been travelling the world for more

than 35 years.

David Pastirik ’77 received the

2011 Faculty Award of Excellence

at Niagara College. He has been

coordinator and professor of in-

ternational business at the college

since retiring after 28 years in the

specialty steel business.

Sandra Stephenson ’78 was

inducted into the Hamilton Gal-

lery of Distinction. Stephenson

is a partner at Lazier Hickey in

Hamilton and has contributed

her legal expertise in her many

volunteer positions.

John C. Fox ’79 was appointed

to the board of directors of En-

ergate Inc., a leading provider

of residential utilities and home

energy management solutions.

Fox is senior managing director at

Perseus, L.L.C., a merchant bank

and private equity fund manage-

ment company based in Wash-

ington, D.C.

1980sKaren Maidment ’81 was ap-

pointed to the board of directors

of TD Bank Group. Maidment

is a former chief financial and

administrative officer of BMO

Financial Group and serves on

several boards in the private, non-

profit and educational sectors.

William A. Mocsan ’81 was

promoted to vice-president and

managing director for Hill Inter-

national’s Canadian subsidiary,

Knowles Consultancy Services,

Inc. Prior to joining Hill, Mocsan

was a manager with the Ontario

Ministry of Transportation.

Randall Bocock ’82 has been

appointed to the Tax Court of

Canada as one of the 22 judges

across the country to serve on

that court. He was a lawyer at

Evans Philp, LLP, and an active

Hamilton community volunteer.

Norm Col ’82 was appointed

secretary/treasurer of the board

of Hamilton Health Sciences. He

is a chartered accountant with

Deloitte & Touche and his com-

munity involvement includes the

Burlington Performing Arts Cen-

tre and the Hamilton Jr. Bulldogs

Hockey Association.

Karen Burke ’83, ’90 was ap-

pointed president of the Canadi-

an Society for Chemistry. In her

role, Burke will lead Canadian

celebrations of the International

Year of Chemistry, as declared by

the United Nations Educational,

Scientific and Cultural Organiza-

tion. Burke is director of regula-

tory affairs, drug safety and qual-

ity assurance at Amgen Canada.

Michael Henry ‘83 is a partner in

the firm Howie, Sacks & Henry,

which was selected as one of the

year’s top five personal injury law

firms in Canada by Canadian

Lawyer magazine.

Andy Knight ’83 has been elected

a Fellow of the Royal Society of

Canada. A former MSU presi-

dent, Knight is a political science

professor and department chair at

the University of Alberta.

Marilyn Korzekwa ’86 success-

fully swam the English Channel

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in 16 hours and 28 minutes in

August. She swam to raise money

for the Good Shepherd centres in

Hamilton. Korzekwa is an assis-

tant professor in the Department

of Psychiatry and Behavioural

Neurosciences.

Mark Rizzo ’86 was named chair

of the board of Hamilton Health

Sciences. Rizzo is a vice-president

with CIBC World Markets Inc.

in Hamilton and has served on

numerous charitable boards.

Kevin Smith ’86 has been ap-

pointed by the Ontario gov-

ernment as supervisor for the

Niagara Health System. Smith is

president and CEO of St. Joseph’s

Health Services.

Jeanne Pengelly ‘87 returned to

radio news in April 2011 as direc-

tor of news and current affairs,

morning show co-host and news

announcer for the new FM Chris-

tian station in Peterborough,

CJMB - FM 90.5. She extends a

warm hello to alumni who are in

the Peterborough area.

James Orbinski ’89, ’01 (honor-

ary) was invested as an officer of

the Order of Canada. Orbinski is

co-founder of Dignitas Interna-

tional and a former president of

Médecins Sans Frontières.

1990sDavid Docherty ’90 was appoint-

ed president of Calgary’s Mount

Royal University. He was senior

advisor on multi-campus initia-

tives in the Office of the Vice-

President: Academic and Provost

at Wilfrid Laurier University.

Michael Cheuk Wah Ha ’90, ’91

is head of marketing and client

services for BOCHK Asset Man-

agement in Hong Kong.

Eric Seidlitz ’90, ’09 and Wendy

Seidlitz ’91, ’08 are preparing for

an 80-km trek in the Landma-

nnalaugar highlands of Iceland

in July 2012 to raise money for

the Arthritis Society of Canada’s

Joints in Motion Program. Their

personal web page is at http://

arthritis.akaraisin.com/onjim/

seidlitz. Both teach part-time at

McMaster. They have two sons,

ages 11 and 15.

Calum McNeil ’91 was named

vice-president, financial and

management reporting, of the

Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan.

McNeil previously worked at the

Abu Dhabi Investment Authority

and at Gulf International Bank in

Bahrain.

Graham Barclay ’93 is the newly

appointed executive director of

the Red Deer Downtown Busi-

ness Association. He is secretary-

treasurer for the Red Deer Cham-

ber of Commerce and president of

the Canadian Mental Health As-

sociation Central Alberta Region.

Alon Marcovici ’93 was ap-

pointed vice-president, consumer

sales and marketing at the Globe

and Mail. He previously worked

in senior executive roles at CTV,

Canada’s Olympic Broadcast

Media Consortium, the Toronto

Board of Trade and the NHL’s

Florida Panthers. Marcovici re-

ceived a Gemini Award for Out-

standing Technical Achievement

in Digital Media for his work on

the Vancouver 2010 Olympics.

Stephen Callaghan ’94 was ap-

pointed regional vice-president

for Ontario at Export Develop-

ment Canada, where he has been

employed since 2000.

Fernando Galvez ’94, ’00 is an

assistant professor in Louisiana

State University’s biological

sciences department. He co-

published the first study looking

at how fish were adversely affected

by the April 2010 Deepwater

Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of

Mexico.

Blair L. Botsford ’95 moved to

Bermuda to join Conyers Dill &

Pearman’s private client group as

their wills and estates specialist.

She also completed the “Wills

and Probate Planning” chapter for

the soon to be published Miller

Thomson on Estate Planning.

Dr. Jim Birchenough ’96 was

appointed managing director of

BMO Capital Healthcare Equity

Research, based in San Francisco.

Jeffrey Cates ’96 was appointed

as managing director of Intuit

Canada. Cates studied commerce

and had worked for Apple Cana-

da Inc. and Hewlett-Packard.

Neil Lagali ’96 is a Marie Curie

International Research Fellow

and assistant professor in the

clinical and experimental medi-

cine department at Linköping

University, where he specializes in

ophthalmology. Lagali conducted

the first human clinical study

with biosynthetic cornea, using

advanced imaging techniques to

demonstrate that artificial cornea

are viable transplant options.

Kira Payne ’97 was hired as a fo-

rensic psychiatrist at the Ontario

Shores Centre for Mental Health

Sciences in Whitby. She received

several awards during her gradu-

ate studies in psychotherapy at

the University of Toronto.

HooJung Jones ’99 has been

awarded the Minister of Veterans

Affairs Commendation Award,

in recognition of her volunteer

work on behalf of veterans and

cultural activities in Canada. She

is director of Friends of HMCS

Haida, an honourary member of

the Korea Veterans Association of

Canada and co-author of an Eng-

lish-Korean book about Canadian

heroes of the Korean War.

Alden Greenhouse ’99 was ap-

pointed as the new chief financial

officer of Colossus Minerals. He

Glen MacGillivray ’80 first

discovered his true calling

while taking a course on

energy and the environ-

ment with storied McMaster

chemistry professor and

Nobel prize winner, Bertram

Brockhouse.

MacGillivray earned his

engineering degree from

McMaster and was halfway

through a master’s in met-

allurgy and metal science

when he was recruited by AECL, where he worked for 12 years.

He quit in 1994 to start his first company, Nray, which operates

partially out of the McMaster Nuclear Reactor. Nray is a leading

world provider of inspection services for jet engine turbine blades

using neutron radiography.

In 2001, MacGillivray founded Glenergy, a company that is

working to help people in developing countries transition from

kerosene to modern solar lighting systems. “The problem is that

in sub-Saharan Africa, 500 million people use kerosene light,

and worldwide it’s 1.5 billion people,” he said. Glenergy has

introduced solar-LED combination lighting systems, which are

cheaper, safer and more efficient than kerosene, into several coun-

tries since the company began operations. MacGillivray has sent

teams to El Salvador, Tanzinia, Uganda, Congo and Kenya. For

families that can’t afford that cost all at once, Glenergy has had to

be creative with financing, introducing cooperative, micro- and

community financing options.


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Space still available! Join us as we set off on an exciting set of adventures!

March – April Treasures of The Mekong Treasures of Costa Rica Canary Islands The 2012 Masters Waterways and Canals of Holland & Belgium European Coastal Civilizations

May Village Life: Dordogne Apulia, Italy July Haida GwaiiSeptember – October Cruising the Black Sea Normandy and Paris China & the Yangtze River Grand Danube Passage Treasures of East Africa River Life Along the Rhine, Main and MoselNovember – December Cuenca, Ecuador Treasures of India & Nepal Volunteer in Nicaragua

discoveryourmacadventure.caMcMaster Alumni Travel Program 2012

Tel: 905.525.9140 ext. 24882 Toll-free: 1-888-217-6003 Email: [email protected]

discoveryourmacadventure.ca

previously held various senior

positions within RBC Capital

Markets and the Dominion Bond

Rating Service.

Kimberly (Kukasch) MacDougall

’99 and Stephen MacDougall wel-

comed their second child, Kieran

Andrew, on Aug. 13, 2011. Ki-

eran joins big sister Rielle, age 3.

The family lives in Peterborough.

Adam Russell ’99 and his wife

Erin Templar ’99 are proud to an-

nounce the arrival of their second

daughter, Jordyn Mackenzie, on

Sept. 6, 2011. Big sister Keegan is

overjoyed to have a little sister.

Beth Snow ’99 participated in

the Longest Game of Hockey for

Cystic Fibrosis (http://longest-

game4cf.com/). The game set

the world record for the longest

ever game of hockey, involved

40 women and raised more than

$125,000.

2000sChantel Broten ’00 was ap-

pointed to the board of Ham-

ilton Health Sciences. She is a

managing director at JAN Kelley

Marketing, a community volun-

teer and a former director for Big

Brothers and Big Sisters Hamil-

ton and Burlington.

Robin Young ’00 had two win-

ning images in the 2011 Nikon

Small World Competition, a

global competition highlighting

scientifically and aesthetically in-

teresting photos taken with a light

microscope. Her fourth place

image of intrinsic fluorescence in

the leafy liverwort, lepidozia rep-

tans is the only Canadian entry to

make the Top 20.

Ian Philp ’01 was named a 2011

Action Canada Fellow. During

an 11-month leadership develop-

ment and public policy program,

he and seven other 2011 Fellows

will research and develop new

Alumni benefit from Student Success Centre

by Erin O’Neil ‘08

Nadia Petrella ’11 was unhappily working in a restaurant kitchen,

thinking she might want to become a chef, when her fiancé told her

about the alumni services in the Student Success Centre.

Petrella had begun to doubt her culinary career aspirations more

and more each day, and knew she needed a change. “I went in al-

most in tears, and it was perfect timing as the Boot Camp was start-

ing the next Monday,” says Petrella, who graduated last fall with a

sociology degree. She completed the centre’s week-long Job Finding

Boot Camp seminar, and is now a social media coordinator at a lo-

cal events company.”

The Student Success Centre offers a growing list of resources for

recent graduates on the job hunt. “They can participate in our job

search Boot Camp, sign up for personal career coaching sessions,

participate in one of our career workshops, have their social media

strategy assessed or get advice on personal branding and acing inter-

views,” says Catherine Maybrey ‘96, ‘98. “It’s my job to work with

our recent graduates and help them identify and use effective job

search strategies.” Alumni are also invited to participate in another

Student Success Centre program - the annual MacServe Day of Ser-

vice in September. For more information on all of these services and

more, vists http://studentsuccess.mcmaster.ca.


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You came, you studied, you graduated... you made your mark on McMaster. Now it’s time to let McMaster work for you. The McMaster Alumni Association offers alumni exclusive discounts on important services. Our partners provide preferred rates and superior service with the BMO McMaster MasterCard, Manulife Financial life, health and dental insurance platform and TD Insurance Meloche Monnex home and auto insurance. Enhance your connection to McMaster with a wide range of benefi ts such as our alumni travel program, athletics and recreation membership, McMaster Library access, alumni clothing and much more. Contact the Offi ce of Alumni Advancement to learn more.

We’re here to help

Tel: 905.525.9140 ext. 23900 Toll-free: 1-888-217-6003 Email: [email protected]

alumni.mcmaster.ca > Services and Benefi ts

McMaster University has always been a special place for Greg

Clark ‘94 and Shannon Clark ’94, ’99 & ‘04.

The couple first met during a critical thinking class in 1994 and

quickly fell in love. When the time came to get married, they re-

turned to have their wedding photos taken on campus.

It wasn’t long before the newlyweds were blessed with son, Nolan,

and a few years later brother Nicholas was welcomed into the family.

But the Clarks’ idyllic family story almost came to an abrupt halt.

“Our son Nicholas was born at McMaster on Nov. 13, 2009,” said

Shannon – a full three months before he was expected.

Weighing in at a mere two pounds, one ounce, the premature new-

born was admitted to the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit for

further treatment. When his hemoglobin levels dipped dangerously

low a few weeks later, he required an immediate blood transfusion.

“All the medical equipment, care and advanced medicine could not

save his life. Only a blood donor could,” recalled Clark, who works

as a senior specialist, quality products at ArcelorMittal Dofasco.

She described the couple’s outlook as a mixture of “hope and fear,”

but also said they had unwavering faith in the medical team assigned

to her son.

Thanks to an anonymous blood donor, the young child had his life

saved at McMaster Children’s Hospital – twice.

“We are forever grateful,” said Clark. “Because Nicholas received

two transfusions from a single donation, his donor actually saved

Nicholas’ life twice.” To this day, the couple have no idea who came

to their rescue.

More than three months after his unexpected birth, the young

child finally “graduated” and was sent home a happy, healthy baby.

Inspired by her family’s experience, Clark began volunteering with

Canadian Blood Services in August, 2010, and continues to this day.

“Each blood donation saves the lives of up to three people,” ex-

plained Clark. “People who have cancer, organ transplant recipients,

accident victims and premature babies like Nicholas.”

For more information on donating blood, please contact

1-888-2-DONATE, or visit www.blood.ca.

A second chance at lifeby Andrew Baulcomb ‘08


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Stay informed as McMaster celebrates 125 years! It is a year full of celebration! Go to mcmaster125.ca for the most up-

to-date event information.

To be, or not to be attending the Stratford Seminar Series

If you enjoy live theatre, then the McMaster Stratford Shakespearean

Seminar Series is for you! This comprehensive theatre experience - July

9 to 14, 2012 - includes lectures with professors prior to productions

and discussion groups following each play. You’ll have access to festival

actors and staff for theatre talks and enjoy well-placed seats to seven

stellar performances. For more information, visit alumni.mcmaster.ca

or call 1-888-217-6003. Week-long, weekday and weekend options are

available.

Get LinkedIn to McMaster

There are more than 45,000 McMaster alumni on LinkedIn. Join the

official McMaster alumni group to find colleagues, potential mentors

and industry pros who share a McMaster connection. Use the group

page to discuss professional and career development, industry trends,

alumni achievements and McMaster events. Search “McMaster Univer-

sity Alumni – Official Group” and click “Join.”

Now on a computer screen near you …

The McMaster Alumni Association is working to make local events

accessible to graduates across the globe. Using Livestream software,

we have now broadcast several events live, including an author talk at

the Mac Reads Alumni Book Club, a professional development series

for young alumni and the Vanier Cup 2011 campus celebration. If

you have any suggestions for events you would like to see streamed

live, or any feedback on past Livestream events, please email alumni@

mcmaster.ca. All past Livestream event recordings can be viewed at

livestream.com/mcmasteralumni.

public policy projects and learn

from mentors who are current

leaders in government, business,

academia and non-governmental

organizations.

Mike Picheca ’02, ’09 married

Annie Poirier on Oct. 30, 2010.

The couple is delighted to an-

nounce the arrival of daughter,

Sophia Dorothy, on Oct. 6, 2011.

Tina Ka-Yan Fung ’03 gave birth

to a baby boy, Rylan Lai, on

March 3, 2011.

Kamara Hennessey ’03 celebrat-

ed the birth of her first grandson,

Ashton Reginald, on Sept. 17,

2011.

Braden Kurczak ’03 is head of

Enermodal Engineering’s green

buildings division and was

recently named to two North

American 40-under-40 lists.

Kurczak served as the project

leader for McMaster’s five LEED-

certified buildings and is serving

on an additional two projects that

are pursuing LEED certification.

Kurczak was a varsity gymnast

while at McMaster.

Herman Poon ’03 and Hannah

(Nichols) Poon ’03 are proud to

announce the arrival of daughter,

Abigail, on Sept. 14, 2011.

Mike Allen ’04 is currently em-

ployed at Chrysler Canada in

Brampton and is serving a fourth

consecutive term as an employ-

ment equity representative and

human rights chairperson.

Emily Carr ’04 and Jeff Haynen

were married in Thunder Bay on

Aug. 19, 2011. Carr is marketing

and communications manager

at the Thunder Bay Symphony

Orchestra and the couple recently

started up a landscaping business.

Dr. Natalie Leahy ’04 and Chris-

topher Leahy ’02 welcomed their

third child, Maeve, on April 23,

2011.

Victor Margaronis ’04 was

named marketing director for

BASF Coatings, North America.

Carmen Miranda ’04 and Nael

El Shawwa ’06, ’08 were mar-

ried on Sept. 17, 2011 in Stoney

Creek.

Sameera M. Al Johani ’06 has

been certified as a Diplomate of

the American Board of Medical

Microbiology (ABMM). This

certification is the highest creden-

tial that a doctoral-level clinical

microbiologist can earn.

Tahnir Ahmed ’07 and Nawal

Obaid ’08 were married on Nov.

25, 2011 in Bangladesh.

Richard Belfer ’07 was ap-

pointed acting chief financial

officer of Shear Diamonds, Inc.

He joined Shear as controller in

May 2011 after working for four

years at PricewaterhouseCoopers

in assurance, tax and corporate

restructuring roles in Canada and

Australia.

Tom Sidorkewicz ’07 lives in

Calgary and works in sales and

marketing for Sonitron Security

Systems. He was a pitcher for

the McMaster baseball team and

continues to play baseball for the

Calgary Cardinals.

2010sGraciela Kriegel-Perez ’11 was

hired as a child and adolescent

psychiatrist at the Ontario Shores

Centre for Mental Health Scienc-

es in Whitby. She is participating

in a research study on the preva-

lence of Autism Spectrum Disor-

der in an inpatient population.

Jody-Ann Scarlett ’08 is a child

protection worker for the Chil-

dren’s Aid Society of the Region

of Peel in the Advice and Assess-

ment Branch.


Are you an existing Alumni Web Community member?

We’re confident you will enjoy the enhanced experience with

the new m@c online community. We want you to switch over

with us to the new platform and will have a special registration

offer for you!

Stay Tuned!

Look out for news of the launch in your mailbox and/or inbox.

We look forward to helping McMaster alumni connect and create

in a whole new way.

COMINGSOON!

Coming this Spring, alumni will have new and exciting ways to

connect through alumni.mcmaster.ca. It’s easy and free to

register and by doing so, you will access great new features

allowing you to share and connect with the university and fellow

grads like never before.

Create and manage your profile

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And lots, lots more!

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Peter L. Hill ’59, ’64 has written The Dundas

Valley Orchestra A Jewel in the Valley: 1978-

2011. He published the autobiography of the

late V. A. Kyle-Bowyer, African Mornings and

Spanish Nights. Both are available from www.

lulu.com.

D.W. Larson ’72, ’75 recently published his

latest book, Storyteller Guitar (Dundurn,

2011).

Beverley M. Clarke ’82, ’87 released On

Suffering: Pathways to Healing and Health

(University of New England Press, 2011). The

book addresses issues of suffering as separate

from issues of pain.

Mary J. Anderson ’85, ’90 & ’00 published

Tragedy & Triumph: Ruby & Thomas B. Mc-

Questen (Tierceron Press, 2011), chronicling

the family saga of two of Hamilton’s most

fascinating historical figures.

Sandra van den Bogerd ‘89 creates “inspi-

rational romantic suspense” for Harlequin’s

Love Inspired Suspense under the pen name

Sandra Orchard. She released Deep Cover

in September, 2011, and Shades of Truth in

March, 2012.

Samantha Nutt ’91, ’94, founder of War

Child Canada, has written a new book called

Damned Nations: Greed, Guns, Armies and Aid

(Random House, 2011). She visited McMaster

in November to share her experiences about

writing the book.

Paul Zehr ‘91, ‘93 has released his latest book,

Inventing Ironman: The Possibility of a Hu-

man Machine (Johns Hopkins University

Press, 2011). His book website is www.in-

ventinginronman.com.

Stephanie Barnes ‘97 recently published her

first work, Aligning People, Process, and Tech-

nology in Knowledge Management (Ark Group,

2011). It provides a complete toolkit and

roadmap to ensure that people, process, and

technology elements are aligned from begin-

ning to end.

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You will complete this university-level diploma program in less than two years of online study with built-in holiday breaks. Applications must be received before July 15.

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Chemistry professor emeritus

Richard Bader ’53, ’57 & ‘03

(honorary) died Jan. 15, 2012 in

Burlington, Ont. He is survived

by his wife, Pamela, three chil-

dren and a grandchild.

Degory Boyce ’06 died Dec. 2,

2011 in Port Perry, Ont. He was

a Commerce graduate, and is

survived by his parents, John and

Susan, and loving family.

Barbara Buchner ’48 died Oct.

17, 2011. She led a distinguished,

international career as a virolo-

gist and epidemiologist but al-

ways found time to volunteer in

her community, with the Cam-

bridge Memorial Hospital, the

Red Cross, the Canadian Hear-

ing Society and the Canadian

Cancer Society.

Craig Chittenden ’09 died in a

motor vehicle accident on Sept.

27, 2011 at the age of 24.

Allan K. Gillmore ’43, ’88

(honorary) died July 28, 2011

in Ottawa. Gillmore had a

distinguished career in higher

education in Canada. He stud-

ied theology at McMaster but

chose to work with street youth

in Hamilton instead of becom-

ing ordained. He worked at

the Saskatchewan Department

of Education and as a senior

administrator at the University

of Regina and the University of

Ottawa before becoming execu-

tive director of the Association

of Universities and Colleges of

Canada, a role he fulfilled from

1980 until his retirement.

Lane Robert Hazlewood

‘74 died Aug. 24, 2011 in

Hamilton.

William Judd ’38 died in Lon-

don, Ont. at the age of 95.

Vernon Kneale ‘37 died Feb.

1, 2012 in Brantford at age 97.

Kneale served for four years in

the Second World War. He was

a graduate of Hamilton Teach-

ers College and McMaster with

a political economy degree and

founder of the Simcoe, Ont.-

based insurance adjusting firm

H. Vernon Kneale Ltd.. He was

actively involved in politics,

barbershop singing, tree farm-

ing, picture framing, building

design and construction, creative

writing, furniture making, jazz

piano, and the art world.

C.K. Kwan ‘75 died Nov. 4, 2011

in Hong Kong. He is described

by longtime friends as an active,

loyal and inspiring alumnus.

Mary “Jean” Ludlam ‘52 died

peacefully Dec. 13, 2011 at the

age of 83.

Angela Manolescu ’77 died

Oct. 29, 2011. She was a pioneer

for women in science and one of

the first women to complete her

PhD in metallurgy at McMaster.

She worked as a researcher at

Ontario Hydro and was a loyal

alumni volunteer in her retire-

ment.

Norma Martin ’40 died Dec. 15,

2011. She was a graduate of the

Faculty of Social Sciences and

the spouse of Fred Martin ‘40.

G. Eric McAllister ’49 of San

Bernardino, Calif. died on Aug.

27, 2011, three days before his

87th birthday. He is survived

by his wife of 63 years, Grace,

his seven children and numerous

grandchildren and great-grand-

children.

John R. Murphy ’69 died June

30, 2011.

C. John Nott ’45 died in Niagara

Falls on July 10, 2011.

Iva May (Hazzard) Foster Pre-

vot ‘45 died Aug. 1, 2011 at the

age of 89.

Jean Price ‘51 died Dec. 1, 2011

in the hospice at the Freeport

Health Centre in Kitchener. She

was inducted into McMaster’s

IN M

EMORIAM

IN MEMORIAMAthletic Hall of Fame in 1992,

and excelled as a three-sport ath-

lete in volleyball, basketball and

badminton.

John Elisha Simkins ’48, ’71 died

on Sept. 18, 2011 in Oakville

at the age of 92. He served with

the Royal Canadian Infantry in

Europe during the Second World

War, rising to the rank of Major.

He was a world-renowned author,

speaker, and hybridizer of peonies.

Simkins founded the Canadian

Peony Society.

Gordon Joseph Sullivan ’41 died

Oct. 7, 2011 at the age of 91. He

was a Hamilton lawyer, senior

judge and Liberal MP for Hamil-

ton Mountain during Trudeauma-

nia. He is survived by five children

and was predeceased in 2005 by

his wife of 59 years, Winnifred.

H. Gerald Wagar ’46 died July 6,

2011 in his 90th year in Kingston,

Ont., where he worked as a psy-

chiatrist for more than 50 years.

Wagar captained the hockey team,

played halfback in football and

was a men’s tennis champion. He

was inducted into the McMaster

Sports Hall of Fame in 2000.

James A. Wilfong ‘62, ‘69 died

on July 28, 2011 in Burlington.

He was 72 years old.

Gary Edward Wilson ’74 died

Aug. 15, 2011. He is survived by

his wife of 59 years, Jean, and by

his children, Pat and David.

Raymond A. Young ’63, ’66 died

in August 2011.

Stanley Mlynek ‘73 died Oct. 14.

2011.

Fraser Mustard Fraser Mustard ‘90 (honorary), an internationally recognized medi-

cal educator and a founding leader of the Michael G. DeGroote

School of Medicine, died in Toronto on Nov. 16, 2011 at the age of

84. Mustard joined the Faculty of Health Sciences in 1966, after

being recruited from the University of Toronto by his friend John

Evans, the first dean of the medical school. Mustard was the first

chair of pathology and established medical research at the fledgling

school. He was world-renowned for his work on blood platelets, ves-

sel injury and the effect of aspirin. His focus during the past two

decades was on the importance of investments in childhood devel-

opment especially during a child’s experiences in the first six years of

life. He became a tireless advocate of the importance of early brain

development for health, behaviour, learning and quality of life.


Marion Pearce was one

of a few women in the

1919-20 graduating class

at McMaster University,

then housed in a red brick

building on Toronto’s Bloor

Street, just east of Varsity

Stadium. Pearce was 22,

having been kept at home

in the village of Waterford,

Ontario until her brother,

two years younger, (Palmer’s

father and a grad) was

ready to attend McMaster,

presumably to provide male

support.

The life Pearce describes

in her letters home refer-

ences many lively activities

for women undergradu-

ates. McMaster’s ties with

the Baptist Church were

highlighted in an October 1919 letter: “Mr. S. has reserved 200 seats

in Massey Hall for McMaster students [to hear speakers from Baptist

Missions in China and Japan] and if we don’t make that old Hall shake

with our yells I’ll be surprised.”

In her February 1920 letters, Pearce describes the Graduates Sleigh

Ride Party, preparing for an oratorical contest, acting in a play, and

competing with her classmates in an intramural hockey game. The

two-hour sleigh ride travelled down Bloor Street (not much car traffic

then) from the University to High Park: “There were about 24 of us

in a sleigh for about 18. I began as one of the second layer, but in the

Letters Home

Aunt Marionby Sally Palmer

LAST

WOR

D

Social work professor emeritus Sally Palmer’s family ties extend to her aunt, Marion Pearce ‘20, who studied social work, played hockey and participated in oratorical competitions while

a McMaster student in Toronto. Pearce’s letters home to her family provide a glimpse of what

life was like for an enterprising female university student in that era. In 1990, Palmer estab-

lished a bursary in her aunt’s name and it provides support for social work program students

who demonstrate financial need.

from

scrambling I got a seat for most of the ride. We were all throwing snow

and rubbing our snowy furs and muffs on each other’s faces, that was

what caused most of the scrambling.” At High Park, they had supper at

the home of one of the graduates.

In another letter, Pearce writes, “This Friday is our Big play, ‘The

Comedy of Errors’ and I am the old man Aegeon.” She had played

hockey the previous morning against the third-year women. Pearce

played left wing and describes herself as having “… no speed whatever

… long before the end of the first period I was puffing like a steam-

engine and my legs were as wobbly as those of a two-days calf.”

Unfortunately, one of the play’s actors was injured in the game: “Poor

Marj hadn’t been on the ice five minutes when the puck flew up and

broke off two of her teeth.” She bravely finished the game, minus her

teeth; however it affected her performance. Pearce wrote: “Marj has

one of the important parts in the big play and she lisps like everything

now.”

In her March letter, Pearce is excited by having won the oratorical

contest. “Dear Mother, Dad, everybody, Rejoice along with me!! The

fray is over and the victory won! ‘Russia’s Women Warriors’ appealed to

the judges and Year ’20 is the proud possessor of the Women’s Literary

Oratorical Cup … I was terribly nervous. My mouth got dry and my

tongue finally clove to the roof of my mouth so I had to stop and wash

it loose with a drink of water. I’m so glad I won it for the Year. This is

the first time Year ’20 has won the contest.” The letter ends with, “I

nearly floundered (sic) Prof. Brown by being on time for my 8:15 this

morning. The only time it happens is when I get up early to see some-

one off on a train.”

After graduation, Pearce worked as a social worker with many new

Canadians who arrived after the First World War. Her career was

interrupted by her mother’s need for care. She returned to Waterford

to live with her parents and taught Latin at the local high school. She

continued to be active in the Baptist Church and lived to be 88.

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THURSDAY, MAY 31Alumni Gallery Induction & MAA Awards Ceremony: 6:00 p.m. Dinner: 7:00 p.m.Recognizing outstanding and unique accomplishments of McMaster graduates, this premiere annual event is sure to inspire.

SATURDAY, JUNE 2ReunionsHappy anniversary to the Classes of 1932, 1937, 1942, 1947, 1952, 1957, 1962 & 1967!Contact Laura Escalante at 905.525.9140 ext. 21314.

Engineering Class ReunionsClasses of 1962, 1967, 1972, 1977, 1982, 1987, 1992 & 1997Contact Carm Vespi at 905.525.9140 ext. 24906.

DeGroote School of Business Class ReunionsCommerce Classes of 1987, 1992, 2002 Contact Kellie Rabak at 905.525.9140 ext. 26971.

President’s Luncheon CIBC Hall 11:30 a.m.Join McMaster’s President Patrick Deane and Chancellor Lynton “Red” Wilson ’62 as we honour all the anniversary classes.

Half Century Club Luncheon Convocation Hall 12:30 p.m.Classes that have celebrated their 50th anniversary are invited to attend this gathering.

Campus Tours From Mills Plaza 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Take a golf cart tour around campus highlighting the changes throughout the 125 years of McMaster’s history.

Annual General Meeting McMaster University Student Centre 2:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.Take your place in this important meeting where a new structure to the Association Board will be presented.

President’s Dessert Party McMaster University Student Centre 3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Everyone is invited to mingle with President Deane and fellow alumni while enjoying some delightful afternoon treats.

Questions?For detailed event information, visit alumni.mcmaster.ca, email [email protected], call toll-free 1.888.217.6003 or 905.525.9140. ext. 23900.

HOMECOMING!Visit alumni.mcmaster.ca for weekend events.

Recognizing the 125th Anniversary of McMaster UniversityAlumni Weekend 2012

OCT 12-14 ’12 McM

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Spring 2012 McMaster Times

Documents

Transcript of Spring 2012 McMaster Times