Passed away at Oakville, Ontario, on December 2, 2011, succumbing at last to Parkinson's disease, with which he had co-existed - with acceptance and frustration, humour and occasionally anger, but mostly calmness - for fifteen years. Sheila, his wife of 61 years, now of Oakville, Ontario, survives him, along with their four children Peter, Tom, Jennifer and Stephen, and his sister Evelyn, of Langley, B.C. Alex was born in Saskatoon in 1926, the son of Scottish immigrants. He was educated at the University of Saskatchewan and the University of Ottawa (which made him an honourary Doctor of the University in 1987). He enlisted in the Canadian army upon turning 18 in 1944, serving for more than a decade. Alex was a great scientist and businessman. The first recipient of Canada's High Tech Person of the Year award (probably the professional honour of which he was most proud, although that can never be certain because he was never one to draw attention to himself or his achievements), he was recognized by his peers in Canada and around the globe for his work in telecommunications. It was more important to him, however, that he was able to help so many on a one-to-one basis, like tutoring students
struggling with math and physics, and making sure that the Big Red Ox arrived in Angola. And making sure that our first astronaut got his seat on the space shuttle. His daughters-in-law Susan, Elaine and Carol and son-in-law Colin were especially important to him, although it was a challenge to compete for his attention when his grandchildren Josh, Mackenzie and Hannah, were present. Alex will be sorely missed. Fortunately, however, his spirit will live on in those that knew him, for, as role models go, he was simply the best. His family and friends will celebrate his life at a service at St. Stephen's-on-the-Hill United Church, 998 Indian Road, Mississauga on Saturday, December 10, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Parkinson Society Canada would be appreciated.