fall 2010 mcmaster times

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McMaster Times

The Campaign for McMaster University

soars past goal

McMaster Times - Fall 2010 3

Water without borders .................................................... 6

Trull announces retirement ............................................ 6

Cross-country cycle journey .......................................... 6

Fighting superbugs ........................................................... 7

Understanding autism...................................................... 8

Making cars smarter........................................................ 8

Foster honoured for service in Angola ......................... 9

President’s Awards .......................................................... 9

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR................................................. 4

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE ................................................. 5

ALUMNI NEWS ............................................................... 25

ALUMNI ALBUM ............................................................. 27

IN MEMORIAM................................................................ 31

McMASTER WRITES ...................................................... 32

THE LAST WORD ............................................................. 34

“You don’t turn around a situation

like Haiti overnight. It’s not re-building that’s required – it’s

transformation.”

Meet McMaster .............................. 10Over the past 40 years, Nigel Fisher ’71, Dep-uty Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in Haiti, has reached a helping hand to people in many of the world’s hot spots. Rolling up the Rim on Success .... 12 In four short years and in the midst of the worse economic downturn since the Great Depression, McMaster achieved unprecedented fundraising success. With more than $474 million raised, the impact is huge, and the future looks bright.

Probing the Future of Health Care.................................. 16 John Valliant ’93, ’97 and his team at the Centre for Probe Development and Commercializa-tion are making remarkable advancements in molecular medicine. Hamilton Proud ............................... 20 McMaster graduates tend to fall in love with the city of Hamilton, and many stick around to make significant contributions to the city’s vitality. Meet a few proud Hamiltonians who are making a difference.

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Carolyn Milne ‘75, ‘84, former CEO of the Hamilton Community Foundation, is one of many Mac alumni who are committed to making Hamilton a great place to live and work.

Nigel Fisher '71 is leading the UN's humanitarian and recovery operations in Haiti.

JD Howell

"The people of Hamilton are forthright in their views, passionate almost to a fault, and willing to work together."

4 McMaster Times - Fall 2010

ContributorsDavid Adames ’92, Steve Cecchini, Patrick Deane, Nigel Fisher ’71, Karen McQuigge ’90, Pat Morden, Barbara Wright

Advertising SalesSandra RodwellOffice of Public Relations 905-525-9140 ext. 24073

Officers, Alumni AssociationDavid Adames ’92, president; Rebecca Bentham ’02, past-president; Bill McLean ’90, first vice-president; Mark Stewart ’06, second vice-president; Don Bridgman ’78, financial advisor; Jennifer Kleven ’90, executive councillor (Volunteer Mgmt); Candy Hui ’04, Executive Councillor (Alumni Outreach) ; Sean Baker ’09, Executive Councillor (Student Relations) Representatives to the University SenateIan Cowan ’71, Suzanne Craven ’73, Maureen Harmer ’66, Dennis Souder ’70 Representatives to the University Board of Governors Brian Bidulka ’87, Quentin Broad ’86, Lauren Cuddy ’80, David Lazzarato ’79, Howard Shearer ’77 McMaster Times is published twice a year 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: Assistant Editor, McMaster Times, Public Relations Office, DTC 125McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4L9Tel: 905-525-9140, ext. 23662Fax: 905-521-1504 E-mail: [email protected] www.mcmaster.ca/ua/opr/times/Canada Post Publications Mail 1473638Postmaster: Send all returns to McMaster Universityc/o Advancement Services, T-27Hamilton, ON L8S 4L8

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This paper has been certified to meet the environmental and social standards of the Forest Steward-ship Council (FSC) and comes from responsibly managed forests, and verified recycled sources.

PublisherAndrea Farquhar

Assistant EditorBarbara Wright

Managing EditorPat Morden

Art DirectorJD Howell ’04

Your column “The Last Word” in the recent Mac Times touched a chord in me. I grew up in Westdale, close to McMaster, and some of my happiest childhood memories are of the weekends we spent hiking the trails and exploring as kids love to do. We also skated on the marsh, most of the way to Dundas. It was a complete play-ground for us, with even hills beside the Alumni Hall for tobog-ganing. The adjacent Sunken Gardens (at present the site of the medical centre) completed the wonderland for us. When I later returned to McMaster as a student, I was delighted to find the campus still cradled by Cootes Paradise where we went as biology students. The natural world, as Bob Henderson said, has always ‘fed my soul.’ Perhaps it was my early experiences in Cootes Paradise that set the pattern for my life - my experiences with na-ture have made me a happier person. Jane Bartlett Brown ‘62

I found it interesting that the article ‘Opening the Gate’ about graduate student expansion was followed by ‘Setting the Bar High’ which discussed the legacy of President Peter George. . . ‘Opening the Gate’ notes that enrolment in graduate programs has grown by more than 75 per cent since 2000. Then, flip the page and see that the number of students has grown from 17,211 in 1995 to 27,703 in 2010. Look a little further down in this table and you will note that the number of faculty has grown by merely 252 in this same time period. As a professor myself and not long out of a graduate program from a Canadian university I worry greatly that the enrolments of students are increasing by 60 to 75 per cent while the number of faculty employed to teach and mentor them is increasing by 25 per cent or less. . . ‘Opening the Gates’ notes McMaster’s reputation for innovation in teaching and interdisciplinary programs. Little do people know that these are the first to be compromised when student numbers are increased without corresponding supports and resources. When will we learn that bigger is not always better? Johanna Weststar, ‘01 Assistant Professor, Saint Mary’s University

On the Cover Karin Stephenson and John Valliant lead the Centre for Probe Development and Commercialization, an innovative cross-disciplinary facility that is putting McMaster on the map in the growing field of molecular medicine. Cover photo by JD Howell ’04.

Letters to the Editor

Continued on page 32


This past May I was privileged to join McMaster alumni in Eastern Ontario as they gathered at Kingston City Hall for a dual purpose: to say farewell to me as a neighbour, and yet also to bid me welcome as I prepared to become one of the newest and proudest members of the McMaster family. The group included a number of longstanding friends made dur-ing my time in Kingston, which reinforced the feeling that I had already been in some sense part of the family, that the move I was about to make was underwritten by a natural af-finity with the University, its culture, history and ambitions. The event was a brilliant and exhilarating intimation of the kind of welcome I have received since taking office as presi-dent on July 1. I am grateful to everyone—students, faculty, staff and alumni—for taking me, so apparently without reservation, to the heart of McMaster, and I am excited to think of the many ways in which I will be able to serve the University in the years to come. We do indeed comprise a family, and responsibility for the future success and prosper-ity of the University is shared by all of us, in different ways and varying degrees, of course. I look forward in particular to engaging with alumni, all of whom are members for life in our academic community. What that membership means, or what it could mean, I challenge every graduate of McMaster to ponder and decide. It certainly means that the University has a continuing in-terest in the life-long education of alumni and wants to be involved in that process; but what it might mean from the alumni point of view is less clear. I would encourage our graduates to take a more than passive interest in the life of the University, not least because membership as convoca-tion confers it is a kind of shared ownership. The fact is that today’s students can benefit enormously from the mentorship of alumni, just as the administration of the University will benefit from the advice, guidance and support of our stu-dents once they are established in their careers. It is a salutary thing for this new president to remind him-self regularly how many people over time have contributed to making McMaster a great university, and how many retain an active and powerful interest in continuing that process to-day. I want you to know that I look forward enthusiastically to hearing from you and to meeting you at alumni events. Our co-operation and collaboration will guarantee the con-tinuing distinction and future prosperity of McMaster.

President’s Message

Patrick Deane, President, McMaster University

JD Howell

All in the family


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Duane Vaughan ’07 and Brett Taylor ’07, two graduates who were roommates in Brandon Hall, spent the summer cycling across Canada with Taylor’s father Steve in support of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. Vaughan is currently a student of the Mohawk College Pharmacy Technician program, and Taylor recently completed a master’s in history at McMaster. Dr. Steve Taylor is a family physi-cian at the Beamsville Medical Centre Family Health Team and an assistant clinical professor in the Department of Family Medicine. The 10,000 km trip was designed to raise money and awareness for the Foundation, and to encourage others to spend more time being physically active outdoors. “Our ride will be Spartan,” the team wrote on its website. “We have no trailing vehicle, no en route support staff or aid. We will be sleeping primarily in tents and the great outdoors. Our meals will be likewise lacklustre and cooked by fire. But that’s the whole point – to live actively and outdoors.” The team left Vancouver on May 9 and reached St. John’s NFLD in mid August.

Roger Trull ’79, McMaster’s Vice-President University Advancement and a national leader in institutional advancement, announced that he will retire in April 2011. Trull came to McMaster as a student in 1974. He served as Whidden Hall president, Inter-Residence Council president, and MSU president. He met his wife Janet ’78 at the University, they were married on campus, and their three children attended McMaster. He was an active alumni volunteer before return-ing to campus in 1987 to become Alumni Director. Trull has led the University Advancement team since 1993, and is recognized across Canada as a leader and innovator in the field, developing the integrated advancement model. He and his team recently completed the largest capital campaign in McMaster’s history (see page 12).

He has also served in numerous community volunteer positions, including two Common-wealth Games bids, advocating for a revital-ized downtown, providing leadership at the Canadian Club, and serving as an advocate for mental health initiatives. He has provided leadership to several professional advancement organizations, including the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education, and the Canadian Council for the Advancement of Education. “Even before I met him personally, the superb reputation of McMaster’s University Advancement team and Roger’s leadership were well known to me and to all those within the university sector in Canada,” says President Patrick Deane. “I thank Roger for his long service, deep commitment, and countless con-tributions to this University.”

Caring for the WorldMcMaster has partnered with Maastricht University of the Netherlands to offer a Master of Science program in Global Health. The new program is designed to address pressing health issues that know no national boundaries, such as malaria, tuberculosis and H1N1. “Pandem-ics and other health concerns are making the world smaller,” said Dr. John Kelton, dean and vice-president, Faculty of Health Sciences at McMaster. “This program is a direct response to the need for health professionals who are

H2Oh!McMaster and United Nations University are partnering to offer Water Without Bor-ders, a unique new program that will allow students from all six Faculties the chance to study water from a variety of perspectives. In the process, they’ll earn both a graduate degree from McMaster and a diploma from the United Nations University – Institute on Water, Envi-ronment and Health (UNU-INWEH). McMaster is the only university in North America at which students can receive a diploma from UNU-INWEH. They will have the opportunity to get directly involved in international research projects. “Students today don’t just want research experience,” says Susan Elliott, professor of geography and earth sci-ences and a driving force behind the new pro-gram. “They want to change the world. Water Without Borders offers them the chance to do that.”

trained to respond from a global perspective.” The 12-month program will allow students to spend one semester at each university, and work in a low or middle-income country. In another project, McMaster’s School of Nursing has been partnering with the Uni-versity of the West Indies School of Advanced Nursing Education to offer a post-diploma program in oncology nursing in Trinidad. The three-year program is delivered through a blend of face-to-face and distance learning. “It opened up oncology in a new way for me,” said Paula Washington, a nurse in the program. “It changed the way I interact with my patients, my children and my family.”

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Zoom zoomAli Emadi, who was most recently at the Illi-nois Institute of Technology in Chicago, now holds a prestigious Canada Excellence Research Chair in Hybrid Powertrain at McMaster. Emadi’s research is important to industry and environmental policy-makers alike. Conven-tional cars give off emissions that are harmful to human health and contribute to climate change. Many engineers now feel the best hope for an alternative is plug-in hybrid cars. Emadi is inter-nationally recognized for his in-depth research on hybrid electric vehicle powertrains and electric drives. In addition to more than 250 academic publications, conference papers and books, he is the founder of a spin-off company, Hybrid Electric Vehicle Technologies Inc. “The government’s commitment to research and McMaster’s vision for leadership in sus-tainable automotive research were too strong to resist,” says Emadi. “I am looking forward to joining the strong network of automotive researchers in Canada and helping to advance the development of hybrid vehicles.”

Practicing the Eighth ArtA century after cinema was dubbed the sev-enth art, McMaster has launched a bold initia-tive to establish leadership in the eighth art – digital media. McMaster is partnering with Silicon Knights, a leading independent game developer, Mohawk College and the Art Gallery of Hamilton. The collaboration will research, teach and create digital media technologies. “We want to be known as the ‘eighth art’ university,” said Mo Elbestawi, Vice-President Research and Inter-national Affairs, “Capitalizing on each other’s strengths will create unlimited opportunities for commercialization, education and economic development.”

Fishy TaleGrade four, five and six students in Hamilton raised 80 salmon fry as part of a unique effort to teach them more about environmental sustain-ability and conservation. The project was led by McMaster students as part of Let’s Talk Sci-ence, an outreach project. The fry were released at Burlington’s Lowville Park in June. “It’s so rewarding to see so many kids excited about science,” said Aditi Khandelwal, a biology stu-dent who volunteered at Strathcona Elementary School.

Moving from Bench to BedsideEvery year, researchers discover potential new drugs, but because of the high cost of drug development and testing, their discoveries often go no further. Now a new partnership between McMaster and the Centre for Drug Research and Development (CDRD) will help to smooth the path from research bench to patient bedside. Through CDRD McMaster researchers will have access to a wide variety of commercializa-tion services, including a variety of pre-clinical trials. “We are excited to be working with the outstanding, innovative researchers at McMas-ter University,” says Karimah Es-Sabar, senior vice-president business and strategic affairs for CDRD.

BuggedA new study by Gerry Wright, the Canada Research Chair in Molecular Studies of Antibi-otics, has uncovered how bacteria recognize and develop resistance to a powerful antibiotic used to treat superbug infections. The discovery reveals what is happening at the molecular level in resistance to vancomycin, the antibiotic of last resort given when all other treatments fail. Most antibiotics work by inhibiting an enzyme but vancomycin binds to cell wall building blocks, causing a weakness in the structure of the cell wall so the cell bursts and dies. Some scientists believed that bacteria detect the cell wall degradation to trigger resis-tance. Others argued that bacteria detect the presence of the drug directly. Wright and his team showed that bacteria detect vancomycin itself. “We have finally cracked the alarm system used by bacteria, and hopefully new antibiotics can be developed that don’t set it off,” said Mark Buttner, a study col-laborator. In related research, a team of McMaster researchers have discovered the central control-ler or “CPU” of a superbug’s weaponry, using cutting-edge chemical mining tools. The team has found that a small chemical, made by the superbug Staphylococcus aureus and its drug resistant forms, determines the bacterium’s strength and ability to infect. The bug causes a wide range of difficult-to-treat human infections, including pneumonia, toxic shock syndrome and flesh-eating disease. The discovery will provide new options for fighting staph infections.

Boning up on OsteoporosisDr. Rich Adachi '77, professor of medicine, helped conduct an international osteoporosis study that found most women at risk for osteo-porosis-related fractures don’t realize they’re at risk. More than 60,000 women aged 55 and older in 10 countries were asked to complete a bone health questionnaire. Of the nearly 4,000 women in Hamilton enrolled in the study, 27 per cent reported an osteoporosis diagnosis, 22

per cent had had a previous fracture, and 38 per cent reported recent falls – all factors putting them at higher risk. Yet only one in three with two or more major risk factors perceived their risk to be higher than others. “Canadian women aren’t recognizing the risks that predispose them to fracture,” said Dr. Adachi. “Without an improved understand-ing of their personal risk, women won’t protect themselves against fracture.”


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Recession Hurts Researcher Sam Vrankulj '03, '07 conducted a study for the CAW to look at the experience of manufacturing workers struggling with unem-ployment during the worst recession since the 1930s. Vrankulj spoke to a random sample of workers in Toronto, Brampton and Kitchener. The study found that more than three-quarters of laid-off workers are still unemployed. Of those who are employed, 70 per cent have part-time, temporary or other precarious jobs. With adequate income and tuition support, many are pursuing retraining opportunities. Workers said they were satisfied with the support they get from action centres and peer helpers, but the study found that more targeted supports are needed for laid-off workers who are older, women, immigrants or those who lack strong literacy skills.

Top Ten for Avoiding StrokeResearchers Martin O‘Donnell and Salim Yusuf were part of a major study that identified 10 risk factors significantly associated with 90 per cent of the risk of stroke. The study involved 6,000 people in 22 countries. The factors are: high blood pressure; smoking; abdominal obe-sity; diabetes; lack of physical activity; poor diet; more than 30 drinks a month; the ratio of blood fats apo B to apo A1; heart disease; and psychosocial stress or depression. All of these factors were associated with an increased risk for ischemic attack, while just blood pressure, smoking, abdominal obesity and diet contrib-uted to the risk for hemorrhagic stroke. Nine of these risk factors were also associated with heart attack in a related study.

Eating for OneResearchers at McMaster have shown that overweight and obese women face greater risks of pre-term births. “It looks like the heavier the woman, the higher the risk,” says Sarah McDonald, professor of obstetrics and gynecol-ogy. McDonald says the popular view that a pregnant women is eating for two is not true. “Typically women should add about 300 calo-ries a day in the latter half of their pregnancy.”

A Pain in the ChestA team of researchers has discovered that women who have the most serious form of angina are three times as likely to have severe coronary artery disease (CAD) as men with the same condition. The authors believe the new information is vital for clinicians. “We hope this informa-tion will make it easier for doctors to identify women at risk of severe CAD,” says Sonia Anand '92, '96, professor of medicine and clini-cal epidemiology and biostatistics, “and target diagnostic and treatment strategies accord-ingly.”

Relief without the CostsArthritis sufferers sometimes face a tough choice – the pain of arthritis versus the severe, even life-threatening, side effects of anti-inflam-matory medications like aspirin and ibuprofen. Now a new drug being developed and com-mercialized by Professor John Wallace, director of the Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute, offers hope. ATB-346 releases hydrogen sulphide, which animal stud-ies suggest can protect the stomach from injury and accelerate the healing of existing ulcers. Already a promising alternative to existing therapies for arthritis, ATB-346 is now being studied for its potential cardiovascular benefits.

Unlocking the Mysteries of Autism

McMaster’s Peter Szatmari '74, a professor of psychiatry and behavioural neurosciences, was the co-principal investigator in a groundbreak-ing study on the genetic background of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) that identified several genes associated with susceptibility to ASDs. Using advanced gene-chip technology, the team of researchers found that people with ASDs carry more insertions and deletions on their genes than the control group. Some appear to be inherited, while others are consid-ered new. Knowing several of the genes involved in ASDs may ultimately lead to ways to screen for and diagnose ASDs early, when treatments are most effective.

Smarter Car

McMaster and IBM have launched a research project to investigate how the automotive industry can connect a vehicle’s many micro-processors to create a car that can think for itself. Engineers at McMaster will study how using a single multi-core processor to integrate exist-ing automotive systems could improve vehicle

efficiency and driver safety. For example, inte-grating data from sensors and microprocessors in the vehicle and on roads could help drivers avoid accidents. The system could be used to give drivers alerts to take alternate routes, reducing driver tension, road congestion and emissions in stop-and-go traffic.


Ian Finlay '10, Kasia Kucemba '10 and Suparna Sharma '10 received the President’s Award of Excellence in Student Leadership in July. Finlay was a member of the rowing team and the marching band, coached local hockey teams, and served as vice-president of the McMaster Student Union. Kucemba was the music and vocal director for the McMaster Musical Theatre, a member of the Univer-sity choir, and co-founder of the McMaster University Music Council. Sharma served as co-president of the McMaster Medicine and Health Society and the McMaster chapter of Amnesty International, and worked as a vol-unteer with children with disabilities.

Anne Herring, a professor of anthropology, received a President’s Award for teaching excellence. Alan Neville '82, professor of oncology, was celebrated for his contributions to medical education at the local, provincial, national and international levels. Joseph Kim '95, '00 professor of psychology, led a team that redesigned the introductory psychol-ogy courses to integrate learning technology, group tutorials and traditional lectures. The following non-academic staff members received the President’s Award for Outstand-ing Service: Meghan Burchell '01, '03, Anthropology; Carolyn Colwell, DeGroote School of Business; Paul Gatt, Chemical Engineering; John Hemmer, Facility Services; Steve Kornic, Chemistry; Claire Kostyshyn, Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences; Dina LoPresti, Graduate Studies; Kate Whalen '08, Sustainability. The team awards went to “McMaster University Quits Talk-ing Trash: Sustainable Solutions” and the Textbook Team at Titles.The Special Achieve-ment Award was given to the B. Tech Support Team in the Faculty of Engineering.

Stephen Foster ’72, has been named the 2010 recipient of the Teasdale-Corti Humanitarian Award by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. As a second-year med student at McMaster, Dr. Foster spent the summer of 1971 volun-teering in a clinic in Angola. “It was an eye-opener for me just how much the day-to-day problems and ordinary people’s lives revolved around the lack of access to surgical care,” he said. “I fell in love with surgery in 1971. I felt if I was ever going to go back to Africa, that was what I needed to do.” He completed a resi-dency in general surgery at the University of Toronto, and then returned to Angola in 1978 amidst a civil war. More than 30 years later, he still devotes his life to improving health care for the people of Angola. “Despite the apparent dangers, I’ve had more fun here than I would have had anywhere else,” Dr. Foster says. “The average general surgeon in Canada does five or six dif-ferent types of operations. I do more than 100 procedures, 1,400 times in any given year.” In 2006, he founded the Evangelical Medical Centre of Lubango, a 46-bed teaching hospi-tal. The centre, which includes two operating rooms, a cataract extraction program and an outpatient department, has provided treatment for nearly 35,000 patients and trained many nurses, medical students and residents.

Brian Haynes '73, '76, professor in the depart-ments of clinical epidemiology and biostatistics and medicine, was appointed as an Officer of the Order of Canada, in July. Haynes’s research focuses on improving health and health care through the application of knowledge to sup-port evidence-based practice. Cliff Burgess, who holds a cross-appointment with McMaster and the Perimeter Institute, received the 2010 Prize in Theoretical and Mathematical Physics awarded by the Cana-dian Association of Physicists and Centre de Récherches Mathematiques.

Two McMaster history professors received awards from the Canadian Historical Asso-ciation. John Weaver received the Francois-Xavier Garneau Medal for his book, The Great Land Rush and the Making of the Modern World, 1650-1900. Michael Gauvreau was recognized for his article, “Winning Back the Intellectuals: Inside Canada’s ‘First War on Terror,’ 1968-1970.”

Doctoral student Anne-Marie DePape received the Autism Scholar’s Award, spon-sored by the Ministry of Training, Colleges

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and Universities. DePape works with Professor Laurel Trainor on issues of ASD and speech production.

Three McMaster researchers were awarded pres-tigious Canada Research Chairs (CRC), estab-lished in 2000 to help Canadian universities attract and retain the world’s best researchers:

Megan Brickley• is the CRC in the Bioar-chaeology of Human Disease.

Katherine Cuff• is the CRC in Public Eco-nomic Theory.

Guillaume Paré• is the CRC in Genetic and Molecular Epidemiology.

Dr. Karl Stobbe, regional assistant dean for the Niagara Regional Campus of the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, received the John C. Sibley Award for outstanding contribu-tions to the education of health professionals.

Marshall Beier, professor of political science, recently received the inaugural Canadian Politi-cal Science Association’s Teaching Excellence Prize.


What drew you to international work? Since my childhood in the U.K., I was interested in the stories of early international explorers, how longitude and latitude came to be, how countries were first mapped. That led to reading about other countries and continents, from geography to colonialism to African art. That gave me an early itch to travel and know more. At the same time, I have always wanted to ‘make a difference.’ So it was almost inevitable that I studied politics and international development at university and equally inevitable that I looked further afield – to McMaster – to do my post grad work.

What was your first experience abroad? Jennifer and I went to Nigeria with CUSO (Canadian University Services Overseas) after graduation. We taught at a rural high school in what had been a part of Biafra. She became the librarian, I was the sports master, so we were very much part of school life, visited students’ villages, travelled around Nigeria and neighbouring countries, saw wealth, gender discrimination, poverty, vibrant art and culture. We both worked for CUSO in Ottawa on our return, then Jennifer worked at CIDA, I went to the International Development Research Centre, and the rest is history.

What are your proudest achievements in international development? In 1994, I led UNICEF’s post-genocide operations in Rwanda and in the Rwandan refugee camps in neighbouring countries. We started innovative programs that have since become standard for UNICEF in any emergency – creating safe spaces for children separated from their families and photo-tracing programs to reunite them with surviving family members, post-crisis “back-to-school” programs, and the “school in a box,” instantly providing teaching and learning materials. I’ve worked a lot on the impact of armed conflict on children, and on the anti-personnel land mine campaign that led to the Ottawa Treaty. I’ve worked a great deal on ensuring education for marginalized children, especially equal access for girls to education. But overall, I’ve been leading operations in conflict and crisis settings for a couple of decades – from Iraq to Rwanda to Afghanistan and now in Haiti – and I’m proud to have been able to make a difference for people in really tough circumstances, to have inspired diverse teams to extraordinary achievements, to have been a mentor.

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What are the hopes for lasting peace in Afghanistan? I was in Afghanistan at a time of great optimism – late 2001 through 2003. But the recovery didn’t move fast enough and the Iraq debacle siphoned off much-needed resources. The main international actors often had divergent strategies. Insecurity gradually increased, the Taliban reorganized. The prospects for peace don’t look very bright right now.

What needs to happen in Haiti to set it on the road to recovery and a better future? Canada and other international actors have to remain engaged for the long term. Immediate disaster relief has been absolutely necessary for the millions affected by the January earthquake. But Haiti was a country in serious trouble well before the earthquake: the poorest country in the western hemisphere, most Haitians living in deep poverty, most children not going to school, high child and maternal mortality rates, an HIV and AIDS epidemic, a weak economy, investment mostly centred in Port-au-Prince, agricultural decline, environmental devastation. You don’t turn around such a situation overnight. It’s not re-building that’s required, it’s transformation, and that requires significant long-term investment and support.

How do you and Jennifer manage family life when you’re constantly moving around the globe? It has been very tough on the family. Our daughters had to change schools frequently and get used to new friends and environments. They ended up in boarding school back in Canada, which is not something we wanted for them. But we always made it clear to them that we would be right there by their side whenever they needed us. We are a close and loving family. Jennifer and I have a very strong marriage. It requires two to make a life partnership happen, it’s not automatic – it’s about love, passion and romance, but it’s also about mutually respecting, caring for and always being there for each other.

There has been a lot of debate about the impact of foreign aid in recent years. Why do you still believe that organizations like UNICEF have a role to play? At the end of the day, it’s economic development that enables a country to advance and jobs that enable families to provide for themselves and for their children. Foreign aid plays a supportive role. An organization like UNICEF is not only providing finances and physical development inputs. It has a vital normative and advocacy role. We can bring comparative experience, best practice and normative frameworks that can help make a difference.

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U.K. native Nigel Fisher ’71 came to McMaster for his master’s degree in politics and international development in 1968. He met his wife Jennifer, a Trinidadian, at Mac and they both became Canadian citizens. For more than 30 years he has worked with UNICEF in conflict-affected countries in Asia, Africa and the Middle East. In 2005 he returned to Canada to become president and CEO of UNICEF Canada. In 2010, he was appointed Deputy Special Representa-tive of the UN Secretary-General in Haiti, and today leads the UN’s humanitarian and recovery operations in the earthquake-ravaged country.


The Campaign for McMaster University comes to a spectacular close

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“It’s a fantastic accomplishment,” says Roger Trull ’79, Vice-President of Advancement. He points out that the Campaign happened in only four years, a very short timeframe, and in the midst of a global economic downturn. “We feel proud and very grateful to the donors who made it possible. It speaks volumes for what a great place McMaster is, and for the commitment people have to keep it that way.” The planning for The Campaign for McMaster University began with the realization that President Peter George’s final term would come to an end in 2010. “Peter has an incredible talent for telling the McMaster story,” Trull says. “He is very passionate about the University and his enthusiasm is infectious. We wanted to do one more campaign under his leadership.” In preparation for the Campaign, a general call went out across campus for potential projects. The submissions were considered in the context of the University’s strategic plan, Refining Directions, priorities were researched, and a “case for support” was developed. Three broad objectives were established — to recruit and retain top faculty members, meet the growing need for student support, and expand and enhance physical facilities. The financial goal was set at a daunting $400 million. Trull says one of the key success factors of the Campaign was the performance and profile of the University. Another factor was the influential volunteer Campaign Cabinet led by Joyce. Thirty-three Canadian and international leaders stepped up to tell the McMaster story,

It’s a quintessentially Canadian tradition: rolling up the rim of a Tim Horton’s paper coffee cup to see if you have won a prize. The tradition got a little twist in June when Ron Joyce, Chair of The Campaign for McMaster University and co-founder of Tim Horton’s, invited a group of guests at a University celebration to roll up the rim of special McMaster coffee cups. Did they win a prize? Absolutely. The wonderful news that the Campaign had raised more than $474 million. That’s a big payoff for McMaster, its faculty and staff, its students present and future, and arguably, for Hamilton, Canada and the world.

MSU President Mary Koziol speaks on behalf of students at the Campaign celebration event.

David Feather is one 33 leaders who volunteered as members of the Campaign Cabinet.

The Campaign for McMaster University raised more than $474 million in

•four years.

During the Campaign, nearly 10,000 visits were made to potential donors.

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More than 36,000 people donated to the Campaign.

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There were 17,000 new donors and 27,000 alumni donors.

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Nearly 20,000 donors supported students awards, totalling $30,654,157.

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35 new endowed research Chairs were created.

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The largest gift was $50 million from David Braley.

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33 Canadian and international leaders served on the Campaign Cabinet.

•

Mike Lalich

Mike Lalich


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make connections, and open doors. Among them was David Feather ’89, former president of Mackenzie Financial Services and now president of Russell Investments Canada. Feather did an undergraduate degree in economics at McMaster, and then went on to complete the co-op MBA. “It was an innovative program,” he says, “and I know I wouldn’t have been as fortunate in my career without it. My hope is that the funds raised through the Campaign will support other types of innovation along the same lines. That would be a real plus for students, for McMaster, and for the whole Canadian competitive environment.” During the four years of the Campaign, University staff and volunteers like Feather made nearly 10,000 face-to-face visits to

potential donors, including more than 1,000 outside Canada. Their hard work bore fruit. More than 36,000 individuals contributed to the Campaign, including 27,000 alumni, 17,000 first-time donors, and more than 12,000 younger alumni. Each donation came with a personal story of gratitude, success and hope for the future. The largest gift to the Campaign was $50

million from Senator and businessman David Braley, a Hamilton native who attended McMaster. The funds will be used to create the Centre for Primary Care at the McMaster Innovation Park, and Canada’s first human embryonic stem cell library, among other projects. Ron Joyce made a contribution of $10 million to jumpstart the creation of McMaster’s Burlington campus. It was the second $10 million gift from Joyce, who contributed in 2005 to create the Ron Joyce Stadium. Red Wilson '62, Chancellor of McMaster and chairman of CAE Inc., contributed $10 million to support the liberal arts and help create a signature liberal arts building. An additional gift of $2.5 million created the

L.R. Wilson Institute for Canadian History. A $15 million donation from the Farncombe family of Oakville resulted in the creation of the Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute at the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine. Paul MacPherson ’57, an entrepreneur with roots in northern Ontario, continued his strong support for the University with gifts totalling

$3 million to support the Centre for Leadership and Learning, to enhance the quality of faculty teaching, and to support the Indigenous Studies program through the creation of a bursary for First Nations students. Alex Wilson ’54, and his late wife Vera ’56, contributed $3 million to create the Gilbrea Centre for Studies in Aging and the Gilbrea Chair in Aging and Mental Health. Alex and Vera met at McMaster, where he studied geology and she pursued social work. Alex went on to build a successful career on Bay Street. Vera, who died in 2009, worked as a hospital social worker. The couple chose to support research in aging, a professional interest for Vera. The name Gilbrea comes from a farm in the Lake District

of the U.K. that was in Alex’s family for many years. “We hope our gift will support research that develops solutions for the difficulties of aging,” says Wilson. “Particularly in North America where the old European concept of looking after aging parents in the family home has long since disappeared, we need to find good alternatives.” The Wilson gift is already having an impact.

(from left to right) Roger Trull, Vice-President University Advancement, Campaign Chair Ron Joyce, and former President Peter George celebrate the success of The Campaign for McMaster University, which far exceeded its $400 million target.

Mike Lalich

“Giving to your university is about protecting the integrity and strength of your degree. We’ve all benefited from the McMaster

experience, so trying to provide a more comfortable and enjoyable place for the students who come after us is important.”


“This gives us reliable base funding,” says Margaret Denton, Director of the Gilbrea Centre. “It allows us to enhance our knowledge transfer activities that link research to practice in the community, and to develop a community of researchers in aging across the campus. Ultimately, the funding will help us better understand the aging process and address the needs of an aging population.” The Campaign created 35 new endowed research Chairs like Gilbrea. The Chairs, in turn, will help McMaster attract and retain top faculty members and grow its already strong research capability. That’s something that David Feather finds deeply satisfying. “I’m a bit of a research junkie,” he says. “Sound rigorous research is an important aspect of academic life, and of commercial life.” John Marinucci ’80, retired CEO of bus manufacturer New Flyer Industries Canada, and his family gave the University $1 million toward a classroom at the Burlington campus. The family foundation was also one of nearly 20,000 donors who contributed to student awards through the establishment of two academic grants for students in business and the arts. The scholarships were designed to honour his parents, Italian immigrants who did everything they could to ensure their children got good educations. “They had a passion for education,” says Marinucci, “and because of the sacrifices they had to make, they couldn’t fulfill it themselves.” Marinucci’s support for the Burlington campus reflects his belief in the value of education that is “relevant, impactful and dynamic.” The University also received strong support from alumni around the world. His Highness Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al-Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, made a gift of $1 million

to create the Sharjah Chair in Global Islam. Among others, Dato’ Loy Teik Ngan ’84, of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia established the Taylor’s Education Group Entrance Scholarship, and Shanghai’s Stanley Yip ’86, created a generous student award — the Wendy Wang Bursary in Medicine — to honour his wife. Some donors chose to make contributions realized after their lifetimes. Mona Campbell, chair and CEO of Dover Industries, left the University more than $2 million in her will. She passed away in 2008. The money will be used to build an elite track and field program at McMaster. In total, more than $63 million was raised in the form of bequests and other future gifts during the Campaign period. Future alumni also played a critical role in the Campaign. Ava-Dayna Sefa, for example, helped organize fundraising for the 2010 senior class gift. Sefa studied English and political, science at Mac, and will be pursuing a masters in Global Affairs at the University of Toronto this year. In addition to the traditional Red Tag event to raise awareness of alumni contributions to the University, she organized a new event, “The Tassle is Worth the Hassle,” for graduating students. “Giving to your university is about protecting the integrity and strength of your degree,” says Sefa. “We’ve all benefited from the McMaster experience, so trying to provide a more comfortable and enjoyable place for the students who come after us is important.” So, what will the unqualified success of The Campaign for McMaster University mean to the future of the University? The new physical spaces will support excellence for many years to come, but Trull believes the real value lies in human capital. “This Campaign is about the people,” he says. “It’s about helping students and getting the best and the brightest to work here.”

The Campaign for M

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The Lewis and Ruth Sherman •Foundation contributed $2.5 million to the McMaster Library, to establish an advanced digitization and preservation centre.

St. Joseph’s Healthcare •Foundation and LEO Pharma Inc. made a $2 million investment to create the LEO Pharma Chair in Thromboembolism Research at McMaster University

Walter Booth ’62• , chairman of the Timberland Group of Companies, donated more than $6 million to the Faculty of Engineering. A portion of the gift will establish the Class of 1962 Mechanical Engineering Chair in Ecoentrepreneurship within The Walter G. Booth School of Engineering Practice

Shelley Saunders• , an anthropology professor at McMaster, contributed more than $500,000. Saunders died of cancer in May 2008.

Teresa Cascioli '83• , the entrepreneur who brought Lakeport Brewery back to life, made a gift of $1 million through her private foundation to support entrepreneurship education at Mac.

Suzanne Labarge ’67• , ’71, a retired bank executive, donated $2 million for the establishment of the Raymond and Margaret Labarge Chair in Research and Knowledge Application for Optimal Aging, named to honour her parents.

An anonymous graduate in Hong •Kong contributed $1 million to fund a unique Chair in Aging and Chinese Culture in the Faculty of Social Sciences.

Spirit of GenerosityOther major gifts received by The Campaign for McMaster

University

Some of McMaster's many loyal friends and benefactors were among the guests at an end-of-Campaign celebration. They include, from left: Tom Weisz '67, June Barber, Doug Barber '98, Sheila Pether, Don Pether '06 (honorary degree), Chair, McMaster Board of Governors, and Sasha Weisz.

Mike Lalich

Probing the Future of Health Care

JD Howell


When John Valliant was young, his mother, a physiotherapist, used to bring home copies of Scientific American given to her by a retired doctor. As mother and son pored over the magazines together, Valliant’s fascination with science began to take root. Today, it is bearing fruit. As an associate professor of chemistry and medical physics and CEO and Scientific Director of the Centre for Probe Development and Commercialization, he is helping to change the face of medical imaging. He is also positioning McMaster as a leader in the growing field of molecular medicine. Valliant was born in Montreal and grew up in Kingston. In high school he fell in love with chemistry, a subject that brought together his interest in physics, mathematics and biology. He arrived at McMaster as an undergraduate in 1989, and got his first taste of hands-on lab work when Dr. Ed Hileman hired him as a summer student. “That changed my life,” he says. “You never know what doing research is like until you get the real experience. I knew immediately that I wanted to do research.”

When it came time for grad school, Valliant ended up working with two McMaster professors, Russell Bell and the late Colin Lock, on an early project to turn radioactive isotopes into imaging probes. “It combined all my different interests and sounded like an incredible field,” says Valliant. And so it has proved. Medical imaging lies at the heart of modern medicine, allowing physicians to detect disease, diagnose it correctly and monitor treatment, all without opening up patients. It began in the early 20th century with the invention of X-ray technology. Imaging has become increasingly sophisticated over the years, but until the past decade, most technologies imaged anatomical structures, such as bones, organs, and tumours. Valliant and his team are working on the new frontier – functional or molecular imaging. This rapidly advancing technology detects the biochemical changes that lead to disease and helps physicians diagnose disease long before conventional imaging can show anatomical changes. Molecular imaging uses chemical probes or biomarkers in combination with imaging

techniques like positron emission tomography (PET) scanners. The probes are drugs that are designed to carry radioactive isotopes to the disease sites, bind to target receptors on the diseased cells, and then emit a signal that a PET scanner uses to create an accurate image of the biochemistry at the site. For example, tumours generally grow rapidly and consume more glucose than normal cells. Radioactive isotopes attached to a probe made from glucose will accumulate in diseased cells at much higher concentrations than in healthy cells and alert physicians to the presence of a tumour. The next generation of probes that Valliant and his team are developing will be used to indicate the aggressiveness of a tumour and the likelihood of a tumour spreading — important information that physicians can use to personalize patient care. Molecular imaging can also be used to monitor treatment. The probes can indicate declining biochemical activity of a tumour within just a few days of starting treatment, quickly providing doctors with an accurate idea of how each individual patient is responding to

Meet M

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Centre for Probe Development

John Valliant ‘93, ‘97, leads the Centre for Probe Development and Commercialization,

one solution to Canada’s innovation gap.

Left: John Valliant and Karin Stephenson of the Centre for Probe Development and CommercializatonAbove: Lead-lined container used to ship Glucovision to a PET imaging centre.


fields of science,” she says. “Everybody contributes something different. We have great scientific discussions... and a lot of fun!” The CPDC has proven to be swift and nimble in realizing the opportunities of molecular imaging and nuclear medicine. It has attracted millions of dollars in government funding, developed strong partnerships with other universities, research institutes and industry, and attracted a raft of outstanding graduate students and researchers. The Centre is increasingly sought out as a collaborator by researchers who want to realize the clinical and

commercial value of their work. CPDC’s annual probe development workshop helps unify the imaging community, attracting experts from around the world to learn about new research, revolutionary advancements and the opportunities that lie ahead. Recently CPDC brought together McMaster University, Hamilton Health Sciences, GE Healthcare, and the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research (OICR) to conduct an evaluation of a cutting-edge molecular breast imaging (MBI) technology for the early detection of breast cancer in high-risk women.

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chemotherapy or other treatments. This approach improves outcomes and can also help reduce the cost of health care. As a graduate student, Valliant realized that molecular imaging was a burgeoning field with untold potential. He completed his PhD at McMaster, spent a year as a post-doctoral fellow in a joint program at Harvard and MIT, and then returned to McMaster as a faculty member. It was a good time for science at Mac. The University’s nuclear reactor program was changing its focus to medical isotopes, the nuclear medicine department was growing, and new faculty were being hired in chemistry. “There was a renaissance going on,” he says. “I saw an opportunity to come back and be part of the exciting growth.” One of his first graduate students at McMaster was Karin Stephenson '00, '05. He supervised her fourth year thesis in 1999, and they produced a paper and a patent together. Stephenson went on to do her PhD under his guidance, and then did post-doctoral stints at the University of Pennsylvania and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) in Toronto. After she had been at CAMH for a year and a half, Valliant invited her to have breakfast with him one Sunday. He laid out his vision for the new Centre for Probe Development and Commercialization (CPDC) and she was soon caught up in his excitement. Researchers in universities regularly create new imaging probes, but many never find their way into clinical use. The CPDC bridges the gap between discovery in the lab and clinical application by providing expertise for the in-between steps. “We go from basic chemistry and chemical biology, right through to medical science, regulatory affairs and clinical trials,” says Valliant. “Our vision is to be a world-class centre for the development, validation, translation and commercialization of molecular probes.” And that, says Stephenson, who is now Director of Synthesis and Production at the CPDC, is an intriguing prospect for scientists who rarely see their discoveries have a practical impact. She finds the multi-disciplinary approach of CPDC stimulating. “We have a wonderful team from all Karin Stephenson (left) works with fellow scientist Neva Lazarova at CPDC.

JD Howell

“We go from basic chemistry and chemical biology, right through to medical science, regulatory affairs

and clinical trials.”

“Our vision is to be a world-class centre for the development, validation, translation and commercialization of molecular probes.”


“We have a wonderful team from all fields of science. Everybody contributes something different.”

The trial, the first of its kind in the world, brings international visibility for Ontario in a critical area of health care and science. “Women in Hamilton are in a clinical trial being screened with this technology because of the dedication and skills of our collaborators,” says Valliant. “Our ability to forge mutually beneficial partnerships and to produce novel probes are also key factors.” Dr. Karen Gulenchyn, Chief of Nuclear Medicine, and Dr. Mark Levine ’83, Chair of Oncology, are important contributors. The future looks promising. The Centre continues to grow and become further integrated in Ontario’s health care system. It supplies its Glucovision™ (FDG) probe to

imaging centres throughout the province, where it is used for diagnosing tumours and monitoring response to treatment. New expanded facilities are currently under construction with support from the government’s Knowledge Infrastructure Program, and Valliant has been awarded new funding to advance basic science, train more students and create new probes. CPDC has been approached by several other universities interested in setting up similar centres as part of a global network. In recognition of the work at the CPDC and the advancement of research and education of students, Valliant himself was named to Canada’s prestigious Top 40 Under 40

list in June. Even with everything that’s happening in his research program and at CPDC, Valliant continues to value his role as an educator and insists on teaching a first-year chemistry course. There’s lots of energy on the home front, too. Valliant and his wife Laura (Vyvyan) Valliant, ’92, ’94 have three daughters, Diana, six, and Jacquelyn and Kathleen, both four. “I feel very fortunate that I get up every morning excited to go to work,” says Valliant. “And then at the end of the day, I’m even more excited to go home and see my family!”

CPDC production technologists manufacture the Glucovision © (FDG) probe in a sterile clean room. This is done daily and the probes are sent to PET imaging cen-tres throughout Ontario.

Mike Lalich

Meet M

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Centre for Probe Development


In the summer after his first year at McMaster, Hamilton native David Adames landed a dream job for a history major: he became a tour guide at the city’s famous Dundurn Castle. As he pursued his studies in history, he also lived it through increasingly senior positions at Dundurn, the magnificent mid-Victorian home of Sir Allan Napier MacNab, one of Canada’s first premiers. When he graduated he joined the City of Hamilton as cultural marketing coordinator. Other positions in culture and recreation followed, until Adames left Hamilton in 2000 to complete a Masters in Public Administration at Queen’s University. After a stint in Ontario’s Municipal Affairs ministry, he started his current job eight years ago. One of his proudest achievements was

contributing to the successful Toronto/Hamilton bid to hold the 2014 PanAm Games. Not surprisingly, Adames is enthusiastic about Hamilton as a destination. “I would challenge anyone to find another city of our size that has the breadth of tourism experiences we have here,” he says. “The city has a great story, and a wonderful geography defined by the lake and the escarpment.” He points to Hamilton’s excellent museums and art galleries, sports teams, performing arts, and Royal Botanical Gardens, the second largest botanical gardens in the world. Adames describes his fellow Hamiltonians as “warm and generous but with an edge to us.” He sees the city at a pivotal point in its history, in transition from being Canada’s manufacturing capital in the 20th century to becoming a 21st century knowledge economy based on health care and education. “McMaster is a significant part of Hamilton’s economy,” he says, citing the development of the McMaster Innovation Park. “It helps our image to have one of the top 100 universities in the world here, and it positions us well to grow the economy in the future.”

McMaster Proud, Hamilton Proud

David Adames ’92

Executive Director, Tourism Hamilton President, McMaster Alumni Association

Recently the Hamilton Jobs Prosperity Collaborative, a group of community leaders committed to pro-moting Hamilton’s future, launched a special campaign titled “Proud Hamilton.” The campaign encour-aged city residents to share thoughts, photographs and their sense of pride in belonging to a very special community. That got us thinking at the Times – over the years, many McMaster graduates have stayed in or returned to Hamilton, contributing their talents to make the city a vital and creative place. In the spirit of “Hamilton Proud” and to mark the 80th anniversary of McMaster’s arrival in Hamilton, we introduce a few proud McMaster alumni and Hamilton residents.

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Musician Darcy Hepner has done it all. He has played with greats like B.B. King, Henry Mancini and Aretha Franklin, toured with Artie Shaw and Blood, Sweat & Tears, worked as a session musician in New York, taught at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, and much more. But for the past five years he’s been living it up on the lively Hamilton music scene. Hepner grew up with music in Hamilton. His father was on the music faculty at McMaster and his mother was the founding chair of music at Mohawk College. He played in the Philharmonic Youth Orchestra from Grade Six, and graduated to the Symphony Orchestra before he finished high school. He entered McMaster as a cello player but soon fell in love with the saxophone. Hepner went on to study at the University of Miami and New York University and to teach at music schools across North America. From 1999 to 2004, he was part of the Blood, Sweat & Tears horn section. In 2005 he returned to Hamilton with his wife Astrid, a saxophonist and music executive, and two-year-old daughter Camilla. Soon he had established the Darcy Hepner Jazz Orchestra and was playing regular gigs. He and Astrid also founded the Hamilton Music Collective, which brings together musicians of all kinds to perform and introduce young people to music. “I have no regrets about New York,” says Hepner. “Hamilton is an incredibly beautiful city to live in. There are lots of great musicians here and they have a generous spirit. And Hamiltonians come out and support good music.” Dale McDonald doesn’t remember a time before he was involved in the construction business. His father, a carpenter by trade, started his own company in Hamilton before McDonald was born. Growing up, he spent weekends and summers working with his father on job sites. “It was a way of life for us,” he recalls. “There just wasn’t any question about it.” McDonald completed a BA at McMaster and then joined the family firm. His father had passed away in 1971, but McDonald and his brothers were determined to carry on the business. Under second generation leadership, Ira McDonald Construction has grown, remaining focused primarily on the industrial, commercial and institutional sectors in the Hamilton/Burlington area. “I love the idea that our history is here,” McDonald says. “We know the lay of the land, the people, and the institutions. It’s not a matter of coming into the city and getting a job – what we do is part of the development of the community we live in.” Although it’s difficult to choose a favourite project, McDonald admits to having a soft spot for the award-winning Camille and Peter Dalglish Atrium at the Royal Botanical Gardens. “It’s a real jewel,” he says. “And what’s wonderful about that is that it was done right here with local expertise, and yet it has earned national and international recognition.” McDonald is also proud of his company’s involvement with projects at McMaster, especially the McMaster Innovation Park created on the site of the former Camco plant. Hamilton has changed dramatically during McDonald’s lifetime and he remains optimistic about its future. “It can only get better,” he says. “By partnering within the community, we can go nowhere but up!”

Hamilton Proud

“Hamilton is an incredibly beautiful city to live in. There are lots of great musicians here and they have a generous spirit. And Hamiltonians come out and support good music.”

- Darcy Hepner

Darcy Hepner ’78 Professor of Music, Mohawk College Leader, Darcy Hepner Jazz Orchestra

Dale McDonald ‘73

President, Ira McDonald Construction Limited

JD Howell


When Carolyn Milne and her future husband were considering where to settle, they unanimously chose Hamilton. As a nurse, she was attracted by the unique health care environment at a time when McMaster’s innovative medical school was taking shape. “Hamilton was leading edge, a pioneer in problem-based, self-directed learning,” she says. “It was very exciting to be here.” She went on to complete a BA and Master of Health Science at McMaster and to build a diverse career in health care. Over more than 20 years, she worked in hospital and community settings, as a nursing professor, and ultimately as CEO of VON Halton. Approached to lead the Hamilton Community Foundation, she saw her training as an ideal background. “Nursing is about seeing the human being as a complex, integrated system, not a bundle of parts. That’s true of community too.” During her tenure at the Foundation, assets increased tenfold, and its annual investment in the community went from less than $500,000 to more than $6 million. Among many other projects, she helped found the Hamilton Roundtable for Poverty Reduction, an award-winning community collaboration. “My job was a unique opportunity to join generous people with a very creative charitable sector,” she says. “In the process, I was able to watch the great satisfaction – in some cases, the resurgence of meaning in life – that donors felt in seeing their philanthropy come alive.” Milne says she would never live anywhere but Hamilton. “Above all, it’s the people. They are forthright in their views, passionate almost to a fault, and willing to work together.” She also appreciates the city’s often-overlooked natural beauty, and its exceptional academic and health care resources. “We’ve got a great vision for this city,” she says. “We’re in transition, but there’s no question in my mind that we will accomplish the transition successfully. It will take a new kind of leadership and collaboration, and bold strategies. We can do it.”

“We’ve got a great vision for this city. We’re in transition, but there’s no question in my mind that we will accomplish the transition successfully. It will take a new kind of leadership and collaboration, and bold strategies. We can do it.”

JD Howell

Carolyn Milne ‘75, ‘84 Former CEO, Hamilton Community Foundation

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Featuring performance sport shirts in CoolPlus fabric, nylon running suits and quality athletic suits for both men and women, durable McMaster alumni bags and stadium blankets. For product details, ship-ping costs, and to order, please visit us on the web at: www.mcmaster.ca/ua/servicesandbenefits/alumniclothing or, by phone: 905.525.9140 ext. 27255, toll-free: 1.888.217.6003.

MURA is offering unique note cards featuring “Fall Colours at Mac,” an original watercolour by McMaster retiree Stephanie Lisak. All proceeds support the MURA special projects fund. For more information: [email protected]

WINNING STYLEWear your pride with our great new McMaster alumni athletic apparel, now available online!

The McMaster University Retirees Association


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Looking forwardDavid Adames ’92Alumni Association President

Karen McQuigge ’90Director, Alumni Advancement

There is always a time – for some of us, there were many – when we looked at something that a teacher asked us to learn and we wondered why. Sometimes, the value of information is just not immediately apparent. For example, I had a hard time picturing a future in which knowing the capital of Mauritania (which is Nouakchott) would be integral to my personal or professional development. When you finish school, however, you realize that information is often less important than the learning process. We have to learn how to learn. We have to learn how to learn well. Here at McMaster – as any grad knows – we put a great emphasis on the importance of the learning process and we have a wonderful tradition of being learning innovators. Problem-based learning and inquiry are McMaster’s pedagogical trademarks. This focus on the learning process necessarily leads to a strong interest in building lifelong learning skills. Though my beleaguered fourth-grade teacher probably wouldn’t believe it after what I put her through back in 1976, I have embraced lifelong learning with great enthusiasm. In fact, I now take great advantage of the learning opportunities provided by the McMaster alumni program. So as we prepare the Fall 2010 alumni program, here are my five favourite bits of new knowledge from the past year’s event schedule:

1. When we eat a salad, it’s still alive. Yikes. That’s from Dr. Susan Dudley’s lecture called “Plants Have a Social Life Too.” 2. When we drop a four-letter word (and I don’t mean “cake”), there are real psychological consequences. I learned that from Professor Joe Kim and his Discover Psychology lecture “The F-Bomb and Lessons of Language.” 3. A dramaturg (or dramaturge if you like spelling things with the letter “e” on the end) is a theatre company’s researcher. I came back

from our Stratford Seminar Series with that one. 4. The ingredients of pork souvlaki are stuff like lemon, olive oil, oregano and, you guessed it, pork. The recipe for Turkish doughnuts with rose hip syrup includes stuff like eggs, flour, cinnamon, cardamom and, shockingly, rose hips. I picked that information up at our “Discover the Aegean Sea” event that highlighted alumni travel destinations Turkey and Greece. 5. You can’t – or probably shouldn’t – always be friends with your work colleagues. That one came from the panel discussion “She Said What?: Office Etiquette” that was part of our Young Alumni and Student Program. So if you like learning, there’s probably a McMaster Alumni Association program for you. From our branch events around the world, to our young alumni program, to our Women’s Series, to the venerable and award-winning Albert Lager Lecture Series, the McMaster Alumni Association not only connects you to your alma mater and your fellow alumni, it connects you to new information and new ideas. It’s all in keeping with the McMaster learning spirit.

I’m the new guy. Taking on the role of McMaster Alumni Association president feels a bit like starting a new job or moving to a new city. The change feels like an invitation to think about both the past and the future. I would like to take this opportunity to thank past president Rebecca Bentham for her dedication to the MAA this past year and say how much I look forward to working with her this year on the Board. Our University’s past is, of course, a great source of pride and nostalgia for our 111,280 living alumni. In particular, the last 15 years under the leadership of Peter George have been a time of remarkable growth and accomplishment. From Peter’s first day in office he was a staunch supporter of the McMaster Alumni Association and an

enthusiastic participant in everything we asked him to do. On behalf of the Mac alumni family, I thank him for his exceptional service and wish him a happy and healthy retirement. Mac is also looking forward. With Patrick Deane at the helm now, I know that our alma mater won’t miss a step. I had the opportunity to meet Dr. Deane on May 4 at a send-off in Kingston, as 50 alumni gathered at Kingston City Hall to wish him well as he prepared for the move to McMaster. Karen McQuigge and I also welcomed Dr. Deane on his first day in the office on July 2. We let him know that the MAA will be arranging for his new presidential robes, and he was most appreciative of this kind gesture. The MAA will help introduce Patrick to our alumni soon and I promise that you will not be disappointed when you meet him in person. It is easy to see why he and McMaster are such a good fit for each other. Continuing with the theme of arrivals, I want to welcome three new colleagues to the Association’s Board of Directors. Mark Stewart ’06 joins the board as second vice-president and Sean Baker ’09 is our executive councillor for student relations. The third new face is a long-time MAA volunteer who is returning to the board after serving with great distinction not long ago. Ian Cowan ’71 is now one of our four representatives on the University Senate, but he is also a former Association president. As someone new to that position, I look forward to benefiting from Ian’s experience. One of the first agenda items that Ian, Mark, Sean and the rest of the MAA Board of Directors will tackle in 2010-2011 is implementing our new strategic plan. The Association’s activities are always well-considered and exceptionally well organized, but it had been a while since the Association’s volunteers led a formal planning process. I’m looking forward to introducing some new programs and following through on some great new ideas developed through this process. I invite all Mac grads to view the strategic plan on the Alumni website at any time, and share your hopes for what the MAA could become or services it could deliver by contacting us through the Alumni Office at [email protected]. Finally, we have a quick piece of news about the McMaster Times itself. In 2011, the Times will become a semi-annual publication, dropping one of its three annual issues to allow us to direct more resources to our online offerings. While this reflects the changing demographics and reading habits of our alumni, the downside is that my next president’s column will be my last. That’s a lot of pressure to put on a mere 500 words.

Learning for life


Alumni Album

1940sHarry Shore ’45 is enjoying retirement after a long and successful career, including active duty with the Canadian Navy, a position with Trans-Canada Airlines, and rewarding roles with the Community College System of Ontario. He raised three children with his now departed wife Elizabeth and remained active with his church and community and his many hobbies, including writing. Shore married Joy Secord Dinnen in 2006 and the couple spends much of their time at the cottage in Haliburton and cruising the Caribbean.

Gerald Wagar ’46 retired a year ago after a long and successful career as a psychiatrist in Kingston, Ontario. Dr. Wagar is an avid sports enthusiast. He was a star hockey and football player and had the opportunity of playing football with the then Hamilton Wildcats, but turned it down to pursue his studies in psychiatry at Queen’s University. Over the years he coached, mentored and sponsored many excellent athletes, and remains a loyal Marauders fan.

1950sMidge Ishii Ayukawa ’52 & ‘53 was interviewed by a Fuji Camera crew at her home in Victoria, BC for a documentary on her childhood growing up in Vancouver, and then living in the Lemon Creek Internment Camp during the Second World War. The film will be shown in Japan. She was recently visited by Betty Stirling Simpson ’52 who lives in Glencoe, Ontario.

Russell J. Donnelly ’51, ’52 & ’99 (honorary degree) continues as Professor of Physics at the University of Oregon. Donnelly’s research is in low temperature physics, principally relating to the quantum fluids. His two-hour NOVA production “Absolute Zero”

has aired in the U.S., England and the EU countries and won the American Institute of Physics 2009 award for “Best Scientific Writing for Film.”

Russ Jackson ’58 was recently inducted into the Hamilton Sports Hall of Fame. Jackson was an all star pro quarterback with the CFL’s Ottawa Rough Riders. He played in more than 200 games during his 12 years with the team.

1960sWarren Lundy ’69 has been a partner with Feldman Daxon Partners Inc. in Toronto for the past 14 years following 26 years as an HR executive with several high profile firms. He also runs his own company, Executive Career Choice.

1970sDaryl (Whatley) Bailin ‘76 lives with her husband George in Monroe NY and works for Hospice of Orange & Sullivan Counties in New York State. Her nursing activities include staffing the 11-bed residence in Newburgh, and providing home care for patients. She looks forward to each visit and finds her interfaith studies and

practices offer useful perspectives on a stage of life that has profound spiritual implications for so many people.

Michael Brennan ‘77 ran the trails around Mac then got serious a few years later to run marathons (he’s done 57 to date). He’s one of the few Canadians to have a story in the new book, Chicken Soup for the Soul: Runners that includes touching and inspirational stories about runners, by runners. His story is a revealing look at the high Arctic and the challenge of running a marathon there with a broken toe.

Terri Favro ’79 was shortlisted for the 2009 CBC Literary Awards in creative non-fiction, her third nomination for these awards since 2007. Favro’s articles, fiction and humour pieces have appeared in a number of commercial and literary magazines. She is currently writing a novel and co-creating a graphic novel with illustrator Ron Edding. A recent example of their work, Bella and the Loyalist Heroine, can be seen at www.coxwellstation.ca. Favro works as a freelance copywriter in Toronto’s advertising and marketing community. While at McMaster, she was a winner of the McMaster Medal for the Creative and Performing Arts.

Dennis Hazelton ’72 enjoyed a long teaching career which began in France in 1972, and included seven years in Hamilton and many more in Surrey, BC where he taught French, French Immersion and Spanish. He ran the Surrey Secondary Chess Tournaments for 22 years, founded the SATML (district languages association), served as president of the BCATML (provincial level) and was a long-standing department head. Hazelton has now retired to his Maple Ridge home with his wife, Nancy.

Mark Henkelman’70 was awarded a 2010 Killam Prize in the field of health sciences. These prizes, each valued at $10,000, represent Canada’s most distinguished annual awards for outstanding career achievements. Henkelman is an internationally renowned biomedical imaging researcher who uses state-of-the-art digital imaging technologies to research human diseases.

Mike Henry ’72 has retired from AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals after serving as President of the Canadian operations, Senior VP Japan, Regional VP Asia Pacific and Global VP Licensing. He has joined the Board of the Niagara Health Systems as Vice Chair.


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professional life who exemplify the Public Policy Forum’s commitment to achieving greater understanding and cooperation between the public and private sectors to improve the quality of government in Canada.

David Feather ’85 & ‘89 was appointed President and Managing Director with Russell Investments Canada Ltd.

Cheryl Fletcher ‘87 recently earned an Accredited Business Communicator designation (ABC) from the International Association of Business Communicators. Candidates have to “demonstrate an understanding of the goals and philosophy of organizational communication as well as direct, implement and evaluate a broad range of communication programs, applying that knowledge to real-life situations.” There are roughly 850 accredited communications professionals in the world.

Robert Hooton ‘81 was awarded the Industrial Research Chair

in Concrete Durability and Sustainability with the University of Toronto.

Dr. Martin Lees ‘82 was named vice-president, chief medical executive and chairman of the medical advisory committee at Royal Victoria Hospital in Barrie, Ontario.

Kevin Lynch ‘80 was appointed vice-chair of BMO this past spring. Lynch was formerly Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet.

Karen Maidment ‘81 was appointed to the Board of Directors of TransAlta Corporation.

Peter Ostapchuk ’82 & ‘06 was elected in April 2010 to the Board of Directors of Alterna Savings, and appointed to the board of Alterna Bank – Schedule I bank – and is the Vice-Chair of the Finance and Audit Committee of the bank board. Ostapchuk is the founder and president of icorp.ca inc., a

Joseph Ingram ‘68 & ‘70 was appointed President and CEO of the North-South Institute, Canada’s premier independent think tank on foreign policy and international development issues. Ingram comes to NSI after a 30-year career at the World Bank, serving in a variety of senior management positions, most recently as the Bank’s special representative to the World Trade Organization and the UN specialized agencies in Geneva.

Audie (Tatti) McCarthy ’74, owner and founder of The Marrek Group (corporate training, coaching and consulting), has been recognized twice this year for her work with her clients and in her community. She received the Mohawk College Enterprise Partnership Award and was nominated for a Woman of Distinction Award in the category of Mentoring and Education.

Linda Joyce (Gombos) Ott ’72 recently released Auto Parts, a full-colour photo art magazine celebrating a pedestrian’s vision of vintage cars. The publication coincided with a month-long exhibition of 17 archival ink-jet large format photographs from the magazine at the Artword Gallery in Hamilton in June. Auto Parts magazine is available online at wwwlindajoyceott.magcloud.com. Garry Postma ‘77 was appointed President of Voortman Cookies Ltd.

Raymond Seabrook ‘75 is the new Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Global Packaging Operations, with Ball Corporation in Colorado.

Ganes Sen ’74 was elected to Fellowship in the American Academy of Microbiology (Academy). Fellows of the Academy are elected annually through a highly selective, peer-reviewed process, based on their records of scientific achievement and original contributions that have advanced microbiology.

Brian Yaworski ‘74 was appointed to the Board of Directors with Terra Energy Corp. in Calgary.

1980sScott Arbuthnot ’88 is Vice President Product Development at Acron Capability Engineering, Inc. and has more than 25 years experience in software design and development. He is a retired Canadian Air Force Major who served in many critical roles as a pilot as well as an expert in modeling and simulation.

Brian Bentz ‘87 was appointed Chair of the 2010/2011 Electricity Distributors Association Board of Directors.

Gerald Brown ’82 & ’94 has been promoted to associate professor of electrical engineering at Cedarville University in Ohio. Cedarville is an accredited, Christ-centred, Baptist university of arts, sciences, professional and graduate programs.

Kevin F. Brown ’86 won the 2010 Forest R. McFarland Award by SAE International. The award recognizes his accomplishments in promoting the environmental vision of SAE. Brown is the marketing and regulatory affairs manager for Engine Control Systems.

Paul Cummings ’88, President and CEO of Auto World Imports, last year purchased Grand Touring Automotive, a Toronto landmark dealership of British car brands.

John Trevor Davies ’73 & ’85 recently retired from TD Bank after a 31-year career which included several senior executive positions. Davies lives in Mississauga with his wife Dorothy and plans to travel and enjoy time with his two grandchildren.

Tony Dean ‘80 received the Testimonial Award at the Public Policy Forum Dinner this past April. The award honours men and women from various walks of


business strategy and financial management consulting firm. He makes his home in Ottawa and has three active boys aged 20, 17 and 14.

Paula Schnurr ’87 & ’88, two-time Olympian (‘92 & ‘96) and four-time recipient of McMaster’s Female Athlete of the Year award, was inducted into The Burlington Sports Hall of Fame. Schnurr is also coaching cross country and track at McMaster.

Tom Tobin ‘89 is currently CEO of HSBC Vietnam and lives in Ho Chi Minh City with his wife Lisa and their three children.

Monika Turner ‘81 was appointed Director of Policy at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario.

George Zegarac ‘84 was recently appointed Deputy Minister of Children and Youth Services.

1990s

William Amos ‘98 was appointed Director of the uOttawa-Ecojustice Environmental Law and Policy Clinic, where he had previously served as staff lawyer since 2007. Amos is also a part-time professor at the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Common Law. Ecojustice is Canada’s leading advocate on environmental legal issues, and its Ottawa clinic provides students with the opportunity to assist with pro bono litigation and law reform projects in the public interest. Shawn Atkinson ‘97 joined the global law firm of Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge in London, England as Partner.

Carl Brown ’95 & ’98 was appointed Head of the Division of General Surgery at St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver. Dr. Brown is a specialist in general and colorectal surgery and Clinical Assistant Professor of Surgery at UBC.

Michelle Campbell ’94 &’ 96 and Andrew Holford ’93 created a company called 2Go Energy. With the help of a sports nutritionist, they developed a line of wheat/gluten/soy free energy bars, truffles and cookies with digestive health in mind.

Neil Lamont ‘80, ‘87 & ‘92 with Gwen (Morrison) Lamont ’90 & ‘02 and family own Coffin Ridge Vineyard and Winery, Grey County’s first winery. Signature wines include “Into the Light White,” “Resurrection Rose” and “Back from the Dead Red.” Further information is available at www.coffinridge.ca.

Doug MacDonald ’90 is the new President of Aviva Investors Canada Inc., the Canadian subsidiary of global asset manager Aviva Investors.

Neil Madden ‘94 received the Young Entrepreneur Award from the Burlington Chamber of Commerce.

Alon Marcovici ‘93 was appointed Vice President, Digital Media with CTV Inc.

Lauren (Renzetti) McKinley ‘94 enjoyed her undergraduate studies in studio fine arts and theatre, but discovered her real passion was teaching. After working for both the Art Gallery of Hamilton and The Art Gallery of Ontario, she began working at a small Toronto art school called Art Works Art School. She is now currently the Assistant Director and a senior teacher at the school which features a gallery, art/book store, resource library and a fully equipped four-studio space, as well as a school for all ages.

Alumni Album

Steve McGrail ‘97 was named one of Major League Baseball (MLB) and People magazine’s “All-Stars Among Us.” MLB and People teamed up to find 30 individuals who serve their communities in extraordinary ways, to represent each big league team. McGrail represented the Toronto Blue Jays and was honoured during a pre-game ceremony at the All-Star Game on July 13 at Angel Stadium in Anaheim. McGrail and his wife Lisa (Scales) McGrail ‘79, created Kylie’s Kause in 2004 in memory of their daughter, Kylie Marie, who passed away due to complications from a premature birth. Kylie’s Kause is a two-mile charity walk, run and silent auction that in just five years has attracted more than 1,000 participants and raised more than $171,000 for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at St. Joseph’s Health Centre in London – the largest individual fundraiser for the NICU. The event continues to grow. McGrail was a multi-year member of the Marauder baseball team. During the 1994 season he was the Canadian Intercollegiate Baseball Association (CIBA) National Tournament All Star selection at second base, and the CIBA Defensive Player of the Year. The couple lives in Wyoming, Ontario with their son Jace.

Mac All-Star honoured


Three distinguished McMaster alumni received their Arch Awards at the McMaster Alumni Association Awards Ceremony on Thurs-day, June 3, 2010 as part of the annual Alumni Weekend festivities. The Arch Award recognizes McMaster’s most recent graduates for their unique and interesting contributions to society, their local com-munity and to McMaster University.

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Dr. David Morgan ’85 & ’90, Associate Professor of Medicine with McMaster’s Department of Gastroenterology, was appointed President of the Canadian Association of Gastroenterology.

Madhur “Muddy” Ramrakha ’90 has spent 14 years with JP Morgan working in Canada, the UK, Russia and most recently, Brazil. As Senior Business Manager for Brazil he will partner with local and regional leaders to design and implement JP Morgan’s Brazil expansion plans.

Arch Wong ’87 & ‘90 has been promoted to full professor at Ambrose University College/Seminary in Calgary and has been appointed Academic Dean, Faculty of Theology.

2000sDevon (McInnes) Baldry ‘01 and her husband Matt welcomed their first daughter, Findley Karen Margaret, on March 3, 2010.

Richard Burgess ‘06 and Jennifer (Hammers) Burgess ‘04 welcomed another son on April 1, 2010. Taiten Seth joins his big brother Anderson. Stephanie Davidson ’07 and Daniel Shuster ’08 were married at Cave Spring Vineyard in Jordan, Ontario on August 9, 2010. They met on campus through their classes and involvement with on-campus theatre and writing for The Silhouette. Davidson is currently the Marketing and Communications Manager at Theatre Aquarius and Shuster works as a web designer.

Chelsea Howland ‘09 & ‘10 is graduating this fall with an M.A. in the Department of Health, Aging and Society’s new graduate program, Health and Aging. She is currently working full-time at the Alzheimer Society of Oxford as a Family Support Worker for individuals in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias.

Richard Kirkham ‘07 spent the summer in the Grenadines, working in collaboration with the Caribbean Farmers Network in order to strengthen the regional agricultural trading system. Kirkham was selected as one of the 20 youth interns to participate in the Coady International Institute’s Youth In Partnership Program, which gives Canadian university graduates experience working with development organizations in their field of study.

Joanne Malar ‘02 was inducted into the Hamilton Sports Hall of Fame. Malar is one of Hamilton’s most decorated athletes having represented Canada at the Commonwealth, Pan Am and three Olympic Games in swimming.

Robert Gerald Porter ’02 & ‘05 and his business partner launched a new green web design company, CartaNova (www.cartanova.ca) aimed at helping to cultivate the ‘green sector’ by providing design, marketing, and business strategies to clients including renewable energy industries, eco-businesses, and social profit organizations.

Laura Reid (Marshall) ’06 and Tony Reid ‘08 welcomed their first child, Elena Evelyn Reid, on April 10, 2010.

Lindsay (Scott) Reynen `04 and Steve Reynen `04 welcomed their first future Mac student, Luke Alexander Reynen, on March 26, 2010.

Holly Rockbrune ‘07 and her husband Naser Avdullahi celebrated their one-year wedding anniversary on May 17, 2010. The couple was married last year at Tosca Banquet Hall in Whitby and had a second wedding in Kosovo in August 2009.

Janice (Malcolm) Spencer ’06 got married on June 12, 2010 in Toronto at the Old Mill Inn.

Mark Stewart ’06 & ’10 is the new Director, Commercial Activities at the Art Gallery of Hamilton. Stewart recently completed his tenure as president of the

Michael McGillion 1996 BScN Health Sciences (Nursing) Michael McGillion leads a national team of scientists, clinicians, and patient representatives in the development of Joint Canadian Cardiovascular Society – Canadian Pain Society Guidelines for the management of refractory angina, a debilitating disease characterized by severe cardiac pain. He has been a major contributor to the Canadian Pain Society and has also served on a number of other committees over the past 10 years.

Milica Radisic 1999 BEng Engineering (Chemical Engineering) Milica Radisic was named one of the Top 35 Innovators Under 35 by the MIT Technology Review in 2008 and one of the 2010 People to Watch by the Toronto Star. Her research interests include the development of injectable biomaterials to help heart tissue regenerate.

Adam Spence 2004 BA Social Sciences (Geography) Adam Spence is the Executive Director of the Ontario Association of Food Banks and a leader behind a number of innovative social enterprise and development projects in Canada, including a community food centre project in Sandy Lake, a remote First Nations community in Northern Ontario. He speaks to audiences including students, CEOs, and politicians across the country on issues related to education, poverty and social issues.

Arch Award recipients make important contributions

DeGroote MBA Association and remains an active member of the Hamilton Jobs Prosperity Collaborative.

Kyle Wilson ’03 and Mandy Thompson ’08 got engaged on top of Blue Mountain on Christmas Eve and will be married in September 2010. They are both working on postgraduate degrees at McMaster.

Robin Young ‘00 recently received a PhD in science from the Department of Botany at the University of British Columbia. She is continuing her research career as a post-doctoral researcher at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, BC studying plant cell biology. In addition to her bachelor degree in science from McMaster she received a master’s degree from Université de Montréal.


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The Honourable Justice C. R. Ball ‘53 of Union died December 22, 2009 at the age of 78. He was a Justice for the Ontario Provincial Court for 30 years. He was the beloved husband of Linda Ball and loving step-father of Daniel Blagdon.

Ralph James Banner ‘51 died on March 24, 2010. He is survived by his wife Eleanor, two sons, two daughters and seven grandchildren. He was a chartered accountant and a retired employee of Westinghouse and Wentworth Mould & Dye. He served as Treasurer of Zion United Church and was a member of the Canadian Club of Hamilton.

Melvin H. Bridgman ‘39 died March 24, 2010. He is survived by his seven children, 11 grand-children and two great-grandchil-dren. After working as a chemist for Coca-Cola Ltd. for 35 years in Montreal and Brockville, he retired in 1982. He enjoyed life at his cot-tage on Charleston Lake and spent his winters in Florida.

Jane Brown ‘37 died on April 12, 2010. She was a graduate of the Faculty of Humanities.

John William Bush ‘70 died on November 6, 2009. He graduated with a BSc in computer science.

Jessica Cruse ’09 died on March 28, 2010. She graduated with a BSc in Nursing and was employed with Hamilton Health Sciences.

Helen Ann D’Amico ‘71 died on May 15, 2010. She was a graduate of the Faculty of Social Science.

Helen (Eubank) Dunn ’38 died in Sarnia on Dec. 16, 2009. She was a Faculty of Humanities graduate.

Alan James Eatock ‘47 died Jan. 26, 2010 at the age of 95. Loving husband of Claire Fisher for 58 years and dear father of Robert of Quebec City and Colin of Toronto, he is also survived by his sister Margaret Christie of Guelph and several nieces and nephews. He was a teacher with the Hamilton Board of Education for 36 years and was a

first Lieutenant in the R.C.A.S.C. from 1941 to 1946.

Edwin Franczak ‘61 died May 27, 2010. Dr. Franczak was a family physician in Agincourt, Ont. for 43 years. He will be deeply missed by his wife Olga, children Michael (Monique), Stephen (Nancy) and Susan, granddaughters Alexandra and Victoria and many relatives and friends.

Patricia Ann Hatton ‘94 died on March 26, 2010 at the age of 51. After receiving her MHSc at Mc-Master she went on to help thou-sands of elderly patients suffering from varying degrees of dementia and other mental illnesses. In her own time, she rescued and found new homes for 500 dogs and five cats.

Ralph Hindson ‘38 died on June 21, 2010. He was an enthusiastic promoter and supporter of Mc-Master.

Donald Hughes ’71 died in May 2010. He was an Application Spe-cialist and Assistant Professor with McMaster’s Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Laboratory. His talents and understanding of high-resolu-tion NMR spectroscopy made him renowned in the field of small mol-ecule structural determination.

Rosemond James ‘85 died in Haiti on January 12, 2010. He was a graduate of the Engineering and Management program.

Howard Roy Krouse ’56 & ‘60 died on March 2, 2010 in Calgary. He was a Faculty of Science gradu-ate with a BSCH degree and a PhD in chemistry and physics.

Margaret Jean (Dryden) Leaman ‘29 died on January 16, at the age of 100. She was predeceased by her husband Robert Leaman and her youngest daughter, Janet, and survived by daughters Nancy and Barbara. She worked as a private secretary to the Ontario Minister of Mines and later worked with the Canadian Cancer Society and the Canadian Osteoporosis Associa-tion. She had many talents and

interests and leaves behind scores of beloved friends and relatives of all generations.

Mary Frame (Stephens) Lick ‘28 died March 28, 2010. As a gradu-ate of the Class of 1928, she at-tended McMaster in Toronto and was captain of the women’s hockey team. She was retired from the Department of Energy, Mines and Resources.

Warren Linkert ’47 died in March 2010. He was a graduate of the Faculty of Science. He was a long-time resident of Ancaster with his wife Helen Linkert ’51.

John Wyatt Lowry ‘47 died on Jan. 27, 2010 at the age of 84. He obtained his BA in Political Econ-omy. He is survived by his wife Joan (Weston) Lowry ’53, his four children, Susan and Cam Faris ’77, Kevin ’81 and Carly Lowry, Carrie and David Vert, and Wyatt ’87 and Jennifer Lowry ’86, and seven grandchildren. Jack and his brother Les operated Lowry Fuels Ltd. successfully for many years in Hamilton.

Joanne (Christensen) McDonald ‘62 died on March 6, 2010. She was a Faculty of Science graduate.

James MacKay ’88 & ‘91 died in April 2010. A graduate of Sir Allan MacNab Secondary in Hamilton, he earned BAs in French and Polit-ical Science, a master’s in Interna-tional Relations (U.K.) and worked with community organizations after moving to Vancouver in ’97.

Mary Frances Madill `56 died Feb. 14, 2010. She held various posi-tions, helping clients with legal and health concerns and was interested in social justice issues involving women, children, the handicapped, animals and the environment. After retiring in 1977, she began a career as an artist, studying and exhibiting her paintings in South-ern Ontario and California.

Theodore C. Morrison ‘78 died on Feb 3, 2010. He graduated from the Faculty of Science, majoring in psychology.

Roy Nishikawa ’81 & ‘86 died Nov. 12, 2009 in Markham, Ont. He is survived by his wife Joan and his children Lori, Robert and LeeAnne, seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

Patrick O’Sullivan ’08 died in a tragic traffic accident on July 24, 2010. He was a graduate of the Faculty of Social Sciences (eco-nomics) and was working for the federal government in Toronto.

Mary Phillips ‘82 died in Edmon-ton in March 2008. She was a Fac-ulty of Health Sciences graduate.

Lois Mary McKelvie Powell ’55 died May 7, 2010. She devoted her career to nursing and worked her way through the ranks to become Associate Director of Nursing at the Hamilton General Hospital. During her retirement she enjoyed her favourite activities: spending time with family, travelling, golf-ing and gardening.

Hugh Radford ‘69 died May 7, 2010 in London, Ontario. He is survived by his wife Linda, children Christine, William and Trevor, step-daughter Catherine and six grandchildren.

Lawrence Sinclair ’81 died November 4, 2009. He was a Fac-ulty of Engineering graduate. He leaves behind his wife, Mary Lou (Chiarella) Sinclair ‘81, his moth-er, Joan (Newell) Sinclair ’47 and father, Robert Earl Sinclair ’48.

Margaret Anne Zavitz ‘68 died April 9, 2010, at Joseph Brant Memorial Hospital in Burlington. Margaret is survived by her hus-band Larry and children Craig and Kate. She belonged to many groups and loved sharing laughter, stories, music and recipes with her many friends and extended family. She was dedicated to her career with the Halton District School Board as a teacher, department head, and coordinator of Special Education. Her sense of humour, wit, and compassion will be missed greatly by family and friends.


Jacqueline Borowick ’79 wrote The Cuckoo’s Song/Le chant du coucou (Inanna Publications & Education Inc.), a bilingual collection of poems.

John Boyko ’79 has written his fourth book, Bennett: The Rebel that Challenged and Changed a Nation (Key Porter Books, 2010).

Wayne Brouwer ’89 & ’99 has written Cov-enant Document: Reading the Bible Again for the First Time.

Gil Caldwell ’67 published From Rustic to Re-gion, an account of old buildings in the region of Peel, and Expressions, a fully illustrated cata-logue of his career as a visual artist.

Paul Duff ’51 has written his autobiography My Life, My Art.

C. Ray Fortune ’67 wrote A Fortune in Fabric (LuLu.com, 2010), a story set in Scotland in the 1800s.

Penny Gill ’04 wrote Coach in the Kitchen: Cooking With Autism.

K.V. Johansen ‘94 wrote The Shadow Road, Book Four in The Warlocks of Talverdin series.

Phil Johnson ’69 wrote SOULWISE: How to Create a Conspiracy of Hope, Health and Har-mony (NanoHouse Press, 2010).

W. Andy Knight ‘83 co-authored Global Politics (Oxford University Press Canada, 2010).

Stevan Krajnjan ’81 published Timesavers for Teachers, Books 1 and 2 (Jossey-Bass, 2009).

Karen Lee Lewis ’83 published What I Would Not Unravel, a collection of poetry. (Writer's Den, 2010).

Stephen MacNeil ’83 has written a children's book, Woolies and Worms (Cricket Books).

Nawin Mishra ’67 recently published Intro-duction to Proteomics (John Wiley).

Carol Morley ’99 wrote a cookbook, Delicious Detox (Otterville Press, 2010) featuring recipes for healthy, tasty meals.

Patricia Moser ’80 & ’81 and Barbara Moser co-authored and self-published 1 Piece of Ad-vice.

Elaine Schmidt ’93 wrote Hey Mom! Listen to This!: A Parent's Guide to Music (Hal Leonard, 2010).

Caroline Stellings ’83 & ’86 recently pub-lished The Dot Com Leprechaun (Breakwater Books, 2010).

Lisa Timpf ’83 wrote and self-published A Trail That Twines, a collection of poetry and short non-fiction pieces.

F. Stewart Toll ’61 published a personal mem-oir, The Wonder of It All.

David Wand ’82 & ’84 has written Government Institutional Performance and Social Capital in Ghana (Lambert Academic Publishing, 2010).

In our Winter issue, we reported that Heather (Roberts) Cadsby ’61 had released a collection of poems. Could Be is available from Brick Books.

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On page 20 of the Spring 2010 edition, there is a picture of President George, Ron Foxcroft and Ed Minich. You did not include Dr. Minich’s honorary LLD degree that he received from McMaster in June 2004. Just wanted to point this out as Dr. Minich is a very proud and distinguished member of the McMaster community. Dylan O. Bailey, Office of the Dean, Faculty of Science

At his farewell on June 17, Dr. George stressed that McMaster’s successes were a testament to a large cast, not one player. In contrast, McMaster Times’ statement that, “through his leadership McMaster has evolved into a leading national university and an international powerhouse of research,” is hagiography, is simply wrong, and detracts from his accomplishments. To infer that McMaster’s present stature is a culmination of his 45 years there ignores the crucial accomplishments of previous presidents. A few points: construction of the nuclear reactor, acquisition of the Bertrand Russell Archives, the School of Medicine and its world famous model for learning, put McMaster on the international

map. . . It would be more faithful to the genuine accomplishments of Dr. George’s presidency to print an honest and fuller picture. Dr. Helen Hatton, ‘78

Most of your readers will know about the Paralympics which were held in Vancouver in March. What you may not know is that the Korean team in wheelchair curling, which came very close to beating the Canadian team in the final game, has a relationship to McMaster. Home for this Korean team is Yonsei University Wonju Community Center for People with Disabilities. I am the director of that Center, as well as a Yonsei University alumnus and former professor in the College of Nursing at Yonsei. I am also a Mac grad in Nursing (1966). Marg Storey ‘66

Correction In the Spring 2010 edition of the McMaster Times there was an incorrect description of the company run by Chandra Kudsia ‘66. The story should have read that Mantrix Inc. provides consulting services in the area of space programs and education.

Continued from page 4


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As a fourth year honours Life Science student and Marauder Scholar, I understand the dedication required to succeed at university. Being organized and well prepared is a must to get through midterm and exam time. However, participating in a university sport only increases the challenge of being successful. I am currently a member of the McMaster Marauder football program and have been for my entire university career. During this time, I dressed nearly every game in my first and second years, playing special teams and rotating in at the defensive end position. By my third year, I was named a starter at the defensive end position and was named a conference all-star for my play. My success at the university level in both school and football has come from my ability to prioritize and organize the tasks at hand. When I first arrived at university, I thought it wouldn’t be too hard to balance school and a varsity sport because football season is only a few months long. However, the reality is that football is an eleven-and-a half months sport, with off-season training being as time-consuming as season practices and games. I learned fairly quickly to fit studying into the limited amount of time remaining outside of football. When there is little available time to study, procrastination is not an option. That being said, the life of a student athlete is also very rewarding and fulfilling. The skills I have learned, such as time management and organization, are the very same that will help me to succeed in a career after university. When deciding on a university to attend I weighed many options. The strength and potential of the football program played an important role, but the academic environment and ability to aid student athletes was equally significant. After meeting with Coach Ptaszek, I knew McMaster filled all of these requirements and would allow me to succeed both as a student and as a football player. As with all first year football players, I was set up with an academic advisor to help ease my transition into

university. This assistance allowed me to make sure I stayed on top of all my assignments and tests. It has been rewarding to see the development of the McMaster football program during my time at McMaster. As the football seasons have progressed, I have been a part of the tremendous dedication to the off-season training to better prepare our team for upcoming seasons. The Marauder football family has displayed an extraordinary work ethic,

allowing us to improve each year. Our continuously improving team made it to the semi-finals last year, losing to the Vanier Cup champions, the Queens Golden Gaels. The defining moment of this Marauder family season was witnessed as we defeated the number two-ranked Western Mustangs on their home field, at their Homecoming. When I look back on my years as a Marauder, I will be thankful for the skills that I have learned. The skills of prioritizing tasks and managing my time will be useful wherever my life shall take me. I am blessed to be a part of such a great university and football program.

JD HowellBy Steve Cecchini

When I look back on my years as a Marauder, I will be thankful for the skills that I have learned. The skills of prioritizing tasks and managing my time will be useful wherever

my life shall take me.

Team Player

fall 2010 mcmaster times

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