Alumni Obituaries 2007-2008

—Robert Edward Cundill, brother of John ’54 and father of William 2004 died peacefully at home on January 30, 2008 in his sixty-first year. Other children are: Matthew (Kim Frumkin), Elizabeth (Vytas Gruodis), Joshua (Christina Smith) and Henry. A memorial service was held on February 5 at the Church of St. James the Apostle, 1439. Donations to the Old Brewery Mission, 388 Saint Jacques St., Suite 730, Montreal H2Y 1N9 or the Montreal General Hospital Foundation, Palliative Care Unit, 1650 Cedar Ave. Bureau E6 129, Montreal H39 1A4, would be greatly appreciated.

—Lawrence David Rhea ’45 M.D., F.R.C.S. died peacefully December 27, 2007 at his home in Tucson, Arizona. He is survived by his loving wife, Mary Hare, his dear daughters Celia (Donnie Shannon), Cynthia (Harry Woods) and Caroline (Costaki Economopoulos) and his beloved grandchildren William and Robert Woods and Matthew Shannon and by his former wife, Margery Harper. He was born in Montreal, Canada and was educated at Selwyn House, TCS and McGill University and graduated in medicine in 1956. He was in private practice as an obstetrician and gynecologist in Montreal for over twenty years and taught at the McGill Faculty of Medicine (as did his father Dr. Lawrence J. Rhea.) In 1979, he continued his practice in Tucson, Arizona at Tucson Medical Center. He was a dedicated volunteer at the TMC Hospice for the six years following his retirement and a founding board member of The Individual Achievements Association, a non-profit organization which brought Conductive Education for children with cerebral palsy to the Southwest. The family requests that any donations in his memory be made to The Individual Achievements Association (www.aziaa.org). A memorial celebration will be held in the spring. Published in the Montreal Gazette on 1/8/2008. See photo.

—Irwin Roberts passed away peacefully on December 22, 2007 in Oakville, Ontario, surrounded by family in his ninety-eighth year. Mr. Roberts worked in the Selwyn House business office in the early 1970s. He was predeceased by wife Emily, née King, only four months ago; brother William, Sisters Elizabeth and Winnifred. He was the devoted father of Barry, Kirkland, Quebec, Elizabeth Fein (Jared), Oakville. Adored by granddaughters Joanna Jacob (Aaron), Burlington, Alison, Toronto, nieces and cousins. Born in Cabri, Saskatchewan, he never forgot his roots. He was an employee of the Royal Bank for 42 years before coming to Selwyn House. A long time resident of Montreal, he also enjoyed the last nine years with Emily in Oakville. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Published in the Montreal Gazette 12/26/2007. See photo.

—John L. (Jock) McLennan ’38 passed away on the evening of December 20, 2007. His memory will be cherished by Helen, his wife of sixty-one years, by his daughter Marian and son-in-law Trygve John Ringereide, his son Ian and partner M. Antoinette and by his niece Helen and extended family in Australia. Jock was born in Montreal on August 8, 1919, the only son of Guy S. McLennan, M.C. and Marjorie Fetherstonhaugh McLennan. He attended Selwyn House School in Montreal and Trinity College School in Port Hope, Ontario. During the Second World War Jock served with the Royal Highland Regiment, The Black Watch, 1st Battalion, 5th Brigade, 2nd Division. He was wounded in Normandy in July 1944. The majority of Jock’s working career was spent in various capacities with the Bank of Montreal, in Montreal. In 1971 he moved to Winnipeg as head of the Real Estate Department for the Prairie Region. In mid-life Jock’s artistic sensibilities found expression at the potter’s wheel. Many of his creations have given lasting pleasure to family and friends. In accordance with his wishes, there will be no service. Cremation has taken place and his ashes will be interred in the McLennan plot in Mount Royal Cemetery, Montreal. If desired, a donation in Jock’s memory to the Salvation Army would honour his lifelong respect for an institution he felt served the Canadian Forces so admirably during the Second World War. A gathering will take place at a later date to allow family and friends an opportunity to celebrate Jock’s dry wit and gentle spirit. Published in the Montreal Gazette on 12/26/2007.

—Lt.-General Robert William Moncel ’26 OC, OBE, DSO, CD, Legion d'Honneur, Croix de Guerre avec Palme, LLD, died at Veterans Memorial Hospital, Halifax, Nova Scotia, on December 10, 2007, in his ninety-first year. He was predeceased by his parents, Rene Edouard and Edith (Brady) Moncel, his wife of many years Nancy Allison Bell (Billie), daughter Renee, and sisters Marguerite and Renee.

After attending Selwyn House, Robert went on to Bishops College School and McGill University. He joined the Militia (Victoria Rifles) in 1937, and when World War II broke out, he went overseas in 1939 with the 1st Canadian Infantry Division as a platoon commander in the Royal Canadian Regiment. In June 1940, he and his platoon were among a very small group of Canadians who actually landed in France before the expedition to reinforce the allies. It was aborted due to the collapse of resistance to the German onslaught. On his own initiative, Robert was able to get his platoon back to the U.K.

In August 1943 he was promoted Lt. Col. To command the 18th Armoured Car Regiment (Manitoba Dragoons), and in August 1944, he became Canada’s youngest World War II General Officer, in the rank of Brigadier, when he assumed command of the 4th Canadian Armoured Brigade in Normandy, which he continued to Command until VE Day in Germany.

General Moncel was invested as an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire for his services with Headquarters 2nd Canadian Corps, the Distinguished Service Order for personal gallantry and leadership in the Hochwald fighting in Germany. His citation for the latter notes that the gallant bearing of this officer and the complete disregard for his own personal safety were an inspiration to all troops under his command and the successful outcome of the attack was in great measure due to his vigorous leadership. He was mentioned in dispatches for his valour in the Battle of Falaise, and the French Government made him a Chevalier of the Legion of Honour with the award of the Croix de Guerre avec Palme.

After the war, General Moncel continued his military career at Army Headquarters in Ottawa and became the first Director of the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps, after which he was appointed Director of Military Training. He served as the Army member of the Canadian joint staff in London as a Brigadier, and the joint secretary observed that when the Chairman wished opinion on matters of substance, the other members invariably wanted to know “What does Bob Moncel think?” Bob served as Deputy Chief of General Staff at Army Headquarters in Ottawa, after which he was appointed Senior Canadian Military Officer to the Canadian Delegation on the International Control Commission in Indochina and the acting Canadian Commissioner of the International Commission for Supervision and Control in Vietnam (ICSC). He returned to Canada to Command 3 Canadian Infantry Brigade in New Brunswick. Subsequently, in the rank of Major-General, he became the Quartermaster General of the Canadian Army in Ottawa and, later, the General Officer Commanding Eastern Command in Halifax. On promotion to Lieutenant-General, he became the first Comptroller-General of the Canadian Armed Forces and later, was appointed Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff. See photo.


—Harry Workman, father of Andrew Reid-Workman 2004, died on Thursday, November 29, 2007.

—Dal Russel ’36 died November 20 at his home in Knowlton following a stroke, three weeks before he turned 91. His obituary in the Gazette describes Dal as one of Canada's great Second World War fighter pilots, having flown 286 operational sorties during the war, shooting down five and a half enemy aircraft during the Battle of Britain and coming home without a scratch. He was considered so lucky his ground crew nicknamed him DeadEye Dick and had the ace of spades painted on the fuselage of his Spitfire aircraft.

The son of a family-owned steel finishing manufacturer, Blair Dalzell Russel was born in Toronto, Dec. 9, 1916, moved to Montreal as an infant and went to Selwyn House and Trinity College School. He learned to fly at the Montreal Light Flying Club in a Gypsy Moth single-engine biplane. He was working for Dominion Steel and Coal in Toronto in 1939 when the war began and he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force.

At 22, he was one of the youngest officers to go overseas with Fighter Squadron No. 1, and at 23, was one of the first Canadians to be awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. During the war, Dal wrote several articles about his experiences for the Gazette, including one about Sept. 15, 1940, a when and other RCAF pilots officially shot down 185 aircraft, with many more kills unconfirmed.

Back in Canada, Dal took a cut in rank from Wing Commander to Squadron Leader so he could return to Britain and fly Spitfires. He won the bar to his DFC for escorting bomber missions without the loss of a single aircraft, and King George VI presented him with the Distinguished Service Order in 1944.

Later he received the French Croix de Guerre with Silver Star, was decorated by the Netherlands with the Order of Orange-Nassau with Swords, and given the Czech War Cross.

When the war ended, he married Lorraine MacKimmie and worked with Canadair as a senior sales executive and sat on the board of directors of John Labatt Ltd. In 1966, he and his wife bought Heaney's Linen Shop, which used to be on Mountain St. They retired to Vermont in 1981, and moved to Knowlton in the early 1990s.

His wife died six years ago on their 55th wedding anniversary. He is survived by his children, Diana, Blair and Charles. See photos.

—Richard Eaman Udd ’54 died October 1, 2007 in Stuart, Florida, at age 67. See photo.

—Charles M. Harris ’36 died in Montreal on September 25, 2007 at the age of eighty-seven. He will be very sadly missed by his three children, Susan Lister, Mary-Anne (Peter) Morrison and Jim (Karen), his step-sons Michael and Marcus (Andrea) Johnston, 11 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Charlie was a Veteran of WWII, having served in the RCAF, he was President and owner of A.F. King Press and was very active in the community of Montreal West. His many friends remember him for his kindness, generosity, cheerfulness and his joy of life. Charlie was predeceased by his first wife, Joan (Holland), and his second wife, Cynthia (Mellanby).

—Edmund P. Rossy (1928-2007) Passed away peacefully, at the age of seventy-nine years, after a courageous battle with cancer, on September 22, 2007. Husband of Shirley, father of Carol (Peter Malouf), Alan ’79 (Roula Zeenni) and Joanne. Grandfather of Stephanie, Patrick, Christopher, William and Daniel Malouf; Michelle, William 2016 and Christopher Rossy; Philip and Eric Tabah. Son of the late Salim and Katrina, brother to Georgette Chacra, Michael (Celia Shamy), Agnes, Edward, Raymond and the late Theo, Walter, Fred and George. He was a past president of St George Antiochian Orthodox Church and a life member of the Order of St Ignatius of Antioch. Edmund was a partner of S. Rossy Inc. and founding partner of Dollarama stores. He was highly respected by his employees and associates, and will always be remembered for his courage, grace and honour.

—William David (Bill) Mulholland Jr., father of William ’75, Charles, James ’78 and John ’80, died peacefully at home with his family on September 8, 2007, at the age of 81. Born in Albany, N.Y. to the late William David and Helen Elizabeth (Flack) Mulholland, Bill graduated from the Christian Brothers Academy in 1944 and immediately enlisted in the U.S. Army, where he was commissioned in the infantry and served in the Philippines until honourably discharged in 1946. He then completed his education at Harvard College (B.A. cum laude 1951) and Harvard Business School (M.B.A. 1952). Joining Morgan Stanley & Co. in 1952, he became a general partner in 1962 and spearheaded the then largest-ever sale of corporate securities to finance construction of the Churchill Falls hydro-electric project in Labrador. In 1970, he accepted the position of Brinco President & CEO, driving construction of the $1-billion hydroelectric plant to its successful completion, ahead of schedule and under budget, in 1974. In 1975, he moved to the Bank of Montreal, where he served as President (1975-81), Chief Executive Officer (1979-89) and Chairman of the Board (1981-90). During his tenure, he led Canada's oldest bank into the modern era of financial services, orchestrated its expansion into the United States with the purchase of Harris Bank, and significantly improved the bank’s performance, readying it for the intense competition of the emerging global marketplace. Bill was a champion of excellence and believed strongly in the importance of ethics, setting a clear standard in all of his business undertakings and consistently delivering this message publicly, especially to business students. He contributed actively to many organizations and served as a director of numerous companies. In recognition of his public service, he was awarded honorary doctorates by Memorial University (1972) and Queen’s University (1988), as well as Israel’s Prime Minister’s Medal (1987) and the Knight Commander’s Cross (Badge and Star) Order of Merit from the Federal Republic of Germany (1989). On his retirement, Bill was able to realize a lifelong passion, working with his wife, Nancy, son James and daughter-in-law Elke to build one of the premier Hanoverian stud farms in the world, Windswept Farm. In lieu of memorials, donations to the Parkinson’s Society of Canada - Ontario Region (416-227-9700) are welcomed with gratitude. Bill will be interred in the United States with full military honours in recognition of his service to his country.

—Jessie Myrtle (née Muir) Rumsby, wife of Eric Rumsby, who worked at Selwyn House from 1968 to 1972, died on September 2, 2007, in her 75^th year. Services in Howick, Quebec.

—Michael Henry Dunn ’57 died suddenly during a trip to Zurich, Switzerland, on Saturday, September 1, 2007 at the age of 65. He was predeceased by his parents Winifred Munderloh and William Dunn. A former investment banker and book dealer, Michael moved from Montreal to Newport, Vermont in 1978, where he became deeply involved in community life. A Director of both the Community National Bank and North Country Hospital, he was also on the Executive Committee of the Northeastern Vermont Development Association. He had a quick wit and generous heart, making countless colourful and meaningful contributions to the lives of others. He leaves a multitude of friends on both sides of the Canada-US border and overseas. A celebration of Michael’s life will be held on Wednesday, October 3rd, at 2 pm at the Elks Lodge, Derby Road Newport, Vermont. Donations may be made to the North Country Hospital, 189 Prouty Drive, Newport, Vermont, 05855 -9329 or to the charity of your choice.

—Anthony Casullo ’89 reportedly died in a fishing accident on July 29, 2007. His funeral was held on August 1 at the Notre-Dame-du-Mont-Carmel Church in St. Leonard. See photo.

—Valerie Coulter Brooks, mother of Richard ’92 and James ’97 and wife of Gordon, passed away peacefully with her family on May 20 after a short battle with cancer.

—Richard Peter Shatilla 1939-2007 passed away peacefully on April 27, 2007 surrounded by his loving family. He was the husband of Janet Webster and father of Peter ’86 and Bryan. See photo.