In Memoriam

Departed Allisonians Summer 2018

Compiled from information sent to University Advancement from Jan. 16, 2018-May 15, 2018


Please feel welcome to submit memories of departed Allisonians you have known and loved.

Helen J. (Weatherston) Gillis — 1935
M. L. Bernice (Hughes) Cook — 1941
Joan J. (Spaulding) Goodall — 1943
Marjorie F. (Pridham) Atkinson — 1944
James W. Kempe — 1946
Marjorie (Estabrooks) Lorette — 1946
Rev. Charles J. Scott — 1946
Ronald E. Campbell — 1947
Dawn J. (Pivie) Mitchell — 1947
Dr. Eric J. Whyte — 1947
Sylvia J. (Monies) Yeoman, CM, FRSA — 1947
David L. Porteous — 1947
Jean E. (Kirkpatrick) Benson — 1948
Anne M. (Murphy) Chiasson — 1948
John E. Henderson — 1948
Elizabeth “Betty” (Murray) Coll — 1949
Major Kent Flemington — 1949
Ian W. Murray — 1949
Janet C. (Healy) Robb — 1949
Rev. James A. Fraser — 1950
Reginald L. MacKenzie — 1950
Commander Allison H. MacLeod — 1950
C. Patricia (O’Brien) Nichols — 1951
Joyce M. (Nickerson) Hamilton — 1952
Sheila A. (Sterne) Hutchinson — 1952
Irene B. (Richards) MacCready — 1952
Eric A. Rowley — 1952
Walter E. Blue — 1954
E. Allison C. Haley — 1954
Dr. Norman J. Lush, C.M. — 1954
Kathleen (Cock) Farmer — 1957
Rev. Ray A. Francis — 1957
Malcolm E. MacLean — 1958
Major-General (Ret’d) William R. Oldford — 1958
G. Derek Black — 1959
Owen G. Wheelock — 1959
Dr. Chris F. Young — 1960
Norman D. Niles — 1961
Ann L. (Lester) MacTavish — 1966
Rev. Ronald I. Maund — 1967
Natalie A. (Ross) Threlfall — 1967
Charles “Rufus” Fairbanks — 1968
Gerald R. Nixon — 1968
Duncan L. Searle — 1971
John J. Boyle — 1975
Neil D. Macfarlane — 1976
Susan E. Wood — 1976
Alan J. MacKeigan — 1981
Gail M. (Hopper) Tribble — 1982
Christine E. Scholten MacDonald — 1994
Emily R. Mann — 2013

Eric E. Wheaton — Former staff

Andrew Best — Parent
R.G. Douglas Oulton — Parent

Florence J. (Blackmore) Pike — Friend


Margaret Alice (Macdonald) Hamilton (’50)
Submitted by her daughter Nancy (’78)

Margaret Alice (Macdonald) Hamilton was a proud Allisonian and a lifelong proponent and supporter of MtA. She never missed an opportunity to extol the virtues of “Mount Allison so fair”, and her children and grandchildren learned at an early age all about the advantages of attending MtA!  Seven of them are grads — children Nancy (’78), Jim (’80), Sue (’82, ’85) and grandchildren Peter MacLeod (’07), Hilary Hamilton (’12), Ian Hamilton Burge (’13), and Emily MacLeod (’13).

Margaret graduated in 1950 with her BSc in Home Economics. She was active in drama, earning both her gold and silver “dramatic A”s, and was active on many committees. No doubt, her social life was a big part of her positive MtA experience. Not only did she look forward to and attend Mount Allison reunions over the years, but she and her husband, Peter, enjoyed regular informal get togethers with the “Mount A crowd,” keeping their MtA memories alive for almost 70 years!

After living several years with Alzheimer’s disease, Margaret died in September 2017, in her 90th year.


Nora Lynette Goreham (’60)
Submitted by friend Edie Hanington

On Dec. 13, 2017, Nora passed away peacefully at home in Halifax, at the age of 85.

Nora was born in Shag Harbour, NS. After attending Normal School in Truro, she taught school for a few years before attending Mount Allison. She studied one year of Fine Arts before changing to Applied Arts. After receiving her diploma in Applied Arts, she worked many years for the Handcraft Department of the NS government, teaching adult classes in jewelry making and hollow wear fabrication in sterling silver and pewter.

Nora was an excellent metalsmith. She was a member of the Metal Arts Guild of Nova Scotia and she had her own National Hall Mark which could be used for sterling silver jewelry, flat wear, hollow wear, and trays and work in pewter or copper.


Dianne Lynn Reid-Rolf (’63)
Submitted by her stepdaughter Cathy Scott

Dianne Lynn Reid-Rolf passed away peacefully on Aug. 14, 2017, at the age of 75. Sadly, she had suffered a massive stroke at the end of April 2017 and in May was transferred into the care of the wonderful staff at the Foyer Lacombe Hospice Centre in St. Albert, AB.

Raised in the village of Gagetown, NB, where she lived throughout her childhood, Dianne earned her BSc at Mount Allison in 1963. She continued her studies at the University of Guelph and in the Canadian military where she served overseas for many years.

Leaving behind to treasure her memory are her husband of 15 years, Ronald Rolf; stepdaughters, Cathy (Brian) Scott and Christine (Gary) Bray; sister, Keltie (Adrian) Creamer; and several beloved grandchildren, great-grandchildren, friends, and extended family members from all over Canada.

Dianne was an extraordinary woman who had a way of connecting with and enriching the lives of everyone she met. She also channeled that gift into her many professional and personal achievements and passions. She lived her life with quiet determination and dedication to her loving family, cherished friends, and spiritual faith community.


Neil Daniel Macfarlane (’76)
Submitted by his brother, Ronald Macfarlane (’76)

Born on Sept. 2, 1955 in Quebec City, Neil was the third of five sons of John and Marielle Macfarlane.  Soon the family moved to Africa and Neil went to secondary school in Nairobi (Kenya) where he met Dianne. They were married in1974 and had three children, Glenn, Geneviève, and Clayton.

Neil obtained his BSc in geology from Mount Allison and his MSc in economic geology from the University of Saskatchewan. During his career Neil worked in prospecting and exploration in various countries, including Kenya (KIAMBU), Canada (Selco Canada, Augmitto, Placer Dome, Agnico Eagle), Zambia (ZCCM), Mali (CME Consulting), and Ghana (PMI, Adansi, Goknet).

Neil died Feb. 3, 2018 in Bolgatanga, Ghana. He will be greatly missed by his three children, grandchildren Améllie and Raina, former wives Dianne Harrison and Fatima Siby, as well as friends and colleagues.


Marjorie Paulsen Crawford (’73)
Submitted by Jean Fensom Sealy (’67)

The Mount Allison community lost one of its staunchest supporters with the death of Marjorie Paulsen Crawford at the age of 96 on April 1, 2018.

Marjorie came to Sackville as a young bride with her husband, Bill, whom she had met when he was pursuing his PhD at the University of Minnesota. As she often said, moving from Minneapolis to a small town in New Brunswick was like going back in time to a previous era, but she adapted quickly and loved it. She and Bill raised their two sons, Bill and Fred, in Sackville.

Marjorie had not completed her degree when she moved to Sackville and she was determined that she would finish here, which she did in 1973 with a BA majoring in Music.

She found herself called upon in many different capacities — teaching violin in the Music department and eventually in Home Economics. As well she was a talented artist and active in the Sackville Art Association.

The Crawfords lived for a number of years on Salem Street where many students remember being entertained. They then moved to Cranewood and lived there during Bill’s term as University President.

Marjorie Crawford will be remembered by the Mount Allison community for her loyalty to the University over her long life in Sackville. She will be missed by her many friends.


Emily Ruston Mann (’13)
Submitted by her mom Kathy Ruston

Emily’s sense of adventure took her to Mount Allison in 2009 —1,700km from her home in Ontario.  That same spirit later took her to Pangnirtung, NU for a field course; New Zealand for a MtA exchange semester; Pemberton, BC to work on an organic farm; China for a research project on urban food security; France as a teaching assistant; Slovenia to WWOOF; and Inuvik, NWT as the community greenhouse co-ordinator. These are just a few of the places where Emily left behind a bit of her gentle, kind nature and sass that we all so dearly loved.

Emily found many loving friends while at Mount Allison. She was endlessly loyal and ensured her friends knew just how important they were to her.  Five years after their graduation, her Mount Allison friends immediately travelled from all corners of Canada and the U.S. to attend her funeral services. Emily’s friends from MtA — and beyond — meant the world to her.

In 2016 Emily completed her Master’s of Environment and Resource Studies at the University of Waterloo, where a Memorial Graduate Scholarship in her name has been established. While at Waterloo, she met the love of her life, her partner Matt Morison.  In October 2017 Emily excitedly began her new life in Winnipeg, MB with her beloved Matt, their new dog Gage, and a new job at Food Matters Manitoba.

Emily was only 26 when her life ended so very unexpectedly and suddenly on Jan. 16, 2018 from a pulmonary embolism. 

Emily’s love and beautiful smile will be forever remembered by her family and all who knew her.