Lieutenant Colonel Douglas Lyle Bland
Soldier, scholar, and denizen of Lisa Bay, Lieutenant Colonel Douglas Lyle Bland died quietly in Kingston, Ontario on February 5th, 2025, in his 84th year.
Born in Kingston on pay day September 30th, 1941, Doug was an army brat growing up in Bordon, Ontario and Winnipeg, Manitoba. At 18, he joined Canadian Armed Forces and served as a proud 8th Hussar for 30 years. He held commands in Canada and Germany where, as he would tell it, he was ‘holding back the creeping tide of communism’, and at the Canadian National Defence Headquarters. After retiring from the military, Doug served as a consultant for the Canadian Red Cross and a technical advisor to the Government of Canada, Somalia Inquiry.
Doug earned a MPA and PhD in Political Studies from Queens University and taught at Queens, the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, and the Canadian Forces College in Toronto. He retired Professor Emeritus in 2011.
Always willing to express an opinion, Doug was a well-regarded speaker and wrote or edited multiple books and journal articles. He was a regular contributor to newspapers, television, and radio.
Doug’s professional careers were exemplary, but he was most happy sitting with his brother, Dennis, in a tin boat on the marshes outside Winnipeg waiting for the ducks to fly by, or listening to the laughter of his children and grandchildren as they launched themselves off the dock at the cottage. The cottage on Lisa Bay was his ‘happy place’ and lovingly called the ‘work camp’ by the family. Papa will always be present sitting on the front deck sipping his gin and tonic.
Much loved and missed by his wife, Cori: son Ian (Cecile), daughter Heather (Dennis); step-sons Daniel (Rob) and Matthew (Jenn) Poulin; brother Dennis (Doris), sister Sheila Gluck; grandchildren Bradley and Damon Hinton, Connor and Laura Bland; great grandson Rowan, and his extended family, friends and colleagues
Doug received the most wonderful care at Fairmount Home, especially from the staff on Lilac Terrance. He was also blessed with the presence of Gayle Babcook and shared the joy of music with Alexa Choquette.
Cremation has been entrusted to James Reid Funeral Home, 1900 John Counter Blvd. Kingston, ON. There will be no visitation but a celebration of life will be held in the spring. As an expression of sympathy, a donation to the Alzheimer’s Society would be appreciated.
Gordon Black CMR RMC 1959
Submitted by the Class of 1959
We only recently learned that Gord passed away on December 28, 2010 in McDonough, Georgia, at the age of 74. Gord was born In Memramcook, N.B. on May 13, 1936. He attended and graduated from Moncton High School and then entered CMR in 1954. In 1957 Gord, for his final two years of his military college days, went to RMC Kingston, graduating in May of 1959.
Gord retired from the Royal Canadian Air Force where he served as a Logistics Officer. On retirement from the RCAF, Gord obtained his MDIV from the University of Toronto. On graduation from the University of Toronto, he became a member of the First United Methodist Church and served In Stockbridge, Georgia, U.S.A.
He was predeceased by his son Owen Black and survived by his spouse of 48 years, Janice Black, of Stockbridge, Georgia, U.S.A. and sons Mathew Black of Ottawa, Mark Black of Toronto, Kevin Black of St. Catherines, Michael Black of Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A. and daughters Shelley Black of Milan, Italy, Mimi Mills of California, U.S.A., and Martha Haberbosch of Stockbridge, Georgia, U.S.A. He is also survived by 14 grand-children. Gord is fondly remembered by his many military colleges classmates.
André Lacavalier CMR RMC 1959
Submitted by the Class of 1959
André est décédé subitement à Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, le 28 décembre 2024, à l’âge de 89 ans, quelques jours après avoir célébré la Noël. Il était l’époux de feu Édith Ann Gagnon. Il laisse dans le deuil ses fils François (Senia Rapisarda), Christian (Dominique Lachance), et Simon, ainsi que ses petits-enfants Gabriel, Massimo, Mathieu, Alessandro, sa belle-sœur Louisette Lessard-Gagnon ainsi que ses neveux et nièces, parents et amis.
Après avoir complété ses études à l’École Supérieure Le Plateau à Montréal, André débuta sa carrière militaire en 1954 au Collège militaire royal de Saint-Jean pour ensuite se diriger vers le Collège militaire royal de Kingston où, en 1959, il obtint un BA avec concentration en littérature française et canadienne. Il est important d’ajouter qu’au CMR Saint-Jean et à Kingston, André a démontré un grand dévouement pour les sports inter-escadrilles sans oublier qu’il fut membre des équipes représentative de ballon-volant durant ses 5 années aux collèges.
À son départ de Kingston, André a également reçu son brevet d’officier des Forces canadiennes au grade de lieutenant et, fort de son entrainement pendant les mois d’été aux Collèges, fut muté au Régiment royal d’artillerie canadienne au sein duquel il œuvra avec compétence pendant environ 5 années.
André quitta les Forces armées en 1965, ayant par le fait même bien rempli ses obligations contractuelles envers le ministère de la défense du Canada. Ensuite, il s’est joint au corps professoral du Collège militaire royal de Saint-Jean et, par après, il accéda au poste de secrétaire-général du Collège. De 1976 à 1978, il occupa le poste de président de l’Association du corps professoral du C.M.R. Saint-Jean; le quatrième à occuper cette fonction.
Homme dévoué et engagé et fier Johannais, André apporta un soutien précieux à plusieurs organismes de la région pendant plusieurs années. Il œuvra pendant vingt-six (26) ans à Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu comme Directeur du scrutin. Il fut membre du conseil d’administration du musée du Fort Saint-Jean pendant plus de vingt-ans où il réussit à communiquer son amour pour le C.M.R. Saint-Jean et à le faire rayonner. À cet effet, il participa activement aux différents projets et effectua des visites du site du C.M.R. où il témoigna de son expérience unique.
André fut aussi membre des conseils de la Corporation du Fort Saint-Jean et du musée du Haut-Richelieu et il a également, pendant 11 ans, représenté le musée du Haut-Richelieu au Comité culturel de la MRC du Haut-Richelieu.
Fier membre de la promotion de 1959 et énormément apprécié pas ses copains de promotion ainsi que ses nombreux amis et collègues, André fut assidu, au fil des années, aux rencontres de la promotion tenues à Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu et à Kingston.
Nous sommes heureux de l’avoir connu et côtoyé pendant de nombreuses années.
À la revoyure, cher André.
Ubique
VDV
André passed away suddenly in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu on December 28, 2024, at the age of 89, a few days after celebrating Christmas. He was the husband of the late Édith Ann Gagnon. He is survived by his sons François (Senia Rapisarda), Christian (Dominique Lachance), and Simon, as well as by his grandchildren Gabriel, Massimo, Mathieu, Alessandro, his sister-in-law Louisette Lessard-Gagnon as well as his nephews and nieces, relatives and friends.
After completing his studies at l’École supérieure Le Plateau in Montreal, André began his military career in 1954 at the Royal Military College Saint-Jean before moving on, in 1957, to the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston where, in 1959, he obtained a BA in French and Canadian literature. It is important to add that during his years at both Colleges, André demonstrated great dedication to inter-squadron sports and as a member of the representative volleyball teams.
Upon graduation from RMC Kingston, André received his commission as a Canadian Forces officer in the rank of Lieutenant and, with the benefit of his training during the five summer months during attendance at both Colleges, he was posted to the Royal Canadian Artillery Regiment where he served very competently for 5 years.
André left the Armed Forces in 1965, having by then fulfilled his contractual obligation to the Department of National Defence of Canada. He then joined the faculty of the Royal Military College Saint-Jean, eventually rising to the position of Secretary-General. From 1976 to 1978, he served as President of the RMC Saint-Jean Faculty Association; the fourth person to hold that position.
A dedicated, committed and proud Johannais, André for many years provided valuable support to several organizations in the region. For twenty-six (26) years, he occupied the post of Returning Officer for Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu. And for over twenty years (20), he joined the Board of Directors of the Fort Saint-Jean museum during which time he successfully promoted and communicated his love for RMC Saint-Jean. To this end, he actively participated in various projects and regularly conducted visits to the Saint-Jean campus where he shared with others his unique experience.
André was also a member of the board of the Corporation du Fort Saint-Jean and of the musée du Haut-Richelieu. And for eleven (11) years, he also represented the musée du Haut-Richelieu on the Cultural Committee of the MRC du Haut-Richelieu.
A proud member of the Class of 1959 and greatly appreciated by his classmates as well as by his many friends and colleagues, André was a regular attendee, over the years, at Class gatherings held in Saint-Jean and in Kingston.
We are happy and grateful for having known and worked with him for so many years.
Till we meet again, dear André,
Ubique
TDV
Robin Richard Anthony Lynch Carter RRMC RMC 1959
It is with great sadness we announce the passing of our beloved husband, father and grandfather, “Robin”. Rob passed away peacefully at University Hospital, London, Ontario, surrounded by his family. Rob is survived and will be greatly missed by his loving wife Barbara of 64 years, son Greg, daughter-in-law Leslie, daughter Jenn and son-in-law Chico Martin. To carry on the Carter name, Rob is also survived by his three grandsons, Nick (Heather), Alex (Alyssa), and Ben (Amberlea). Rob was predeceased by his parents, Richard and Molly Carter, and in-laws, Jack and Gladys Belwa.
Rob was born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta, where he spent his carefree youth exploring the vast river valley, discovering the beauty and adventure that awaited him in his favourite place, the Rocky Mountains. Upon graduating from high school, Rob joined the army, receiving his post-secondary education at Royal Roads Military College, Victoria, BC, and Royal Military College of Canada, Kingston, ON.
After serving 3 years as an infantry officer with the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, completing the US Army Ranger course and time with the Princess of Wales Own Regiment, Rob decided it was time to further his education, attending Queens University, Kingston receiving his Masters and PhD in Economics. A professor of Economics, Rob began his career at the University of Victoria before moving to Western University where he worked until his retirement in 1997. Rob subsequently took academic sabbaticals at several universities, including Mannheim, Cambridge, Chicago, Iowa and Victoria. While on sabbatical to both Mannheim, Germany and Cambridge, England, Rob, never one to be still, took advantage of this time to share many adventures with his family. During one family holiday to Scotland, Rob convinced his son Greg to climb Ben Nevis with him, an experience they laughed and talked about for many years. A keen and devoted mountaineer, belonging to the Alpine Club of Canada, Rob also enjoyed being active in Aki-do for many years. Another great passion for Rob was his love of music, enjoying various genres. An evening spent on the dance floor with Barb was an evening well spent. Upon his retirement from Western, Rob heard the mountains beckoning, so he and Barb moved to Cochrane, Alberta, where they spent their spring and summer months for 25 years, enjoying time there with family and friends, returning to their home in London, Ontario for the winter season.
As requested by Rob, he will have one last great climb to his final resting place in his beloved Rockies. In accordance with his wishes, a private family service will be held.
Robin Bryan RRMC RMC 1958
On Wednesday Frebruary 12th 2025 we peacefully lost Robin Gordon Ingram Bryan.
This funny, kind and gentle man was the beloved spouse of Lyn Bryan of 62.5 years, father of 3 (Sue, Mike and Judy), grandfather of 9, and great grand-father of 3.
Robin had a wonderful and full life. He served in the Armed Forces for 30 years, had another full career at University of Toronto’s Scarborough Campus, and then as a woodturner, active world-traveller and adventurer.
He was born in Manilla, Philippines, on October 12, 1935 and emigrated at age 6 with his parents to Hudson, PQ. He had a busy childhood outdoors sailing, exploring the woods and riding ponies as everyone should spend their youth, and attending Ridley College in St. Catherines to complete his high school years.
He attended McGill and RMC and enjoyed attending RMC reunions to march with the ‘Old Brigade’ with the cadets on the parade square. A military engineer, he took pride in being the first commanding officer of La Grande Cinquieme, a battalion that he and his colleagues built from the ground up in Valcartier. He served a tour in Vietnam on an international peace-keeping team sent in to monitor the ceasefire and headed up a prisoner-of-war exchange team there.
He met the love of his life skiing on Mt. Baker in Washington State just before she took off for a tour of Europe. He was so taken by Lyn, a lovely Australian nurse, that he persuaded her to return, then waited 24 rainy hours for her delayed train in Vancouver, greeting her with a bunch of drooping daffodils. Together they raised Sue (Mike), Mike (Margaret), and Judy (Murney) as they moved back and forth across the country with the military, finally settling in Markham in 1982.
He will be sorely missed. We hold his memory close in his grandchildren Meg (Mack), Zach, Quinn (Kim), Erika (Stephen), Claudia, Griffin, Bronwyn, Kiera, Ryan and great-grandchildren Toni, Wren and Kelly as we see our dear Poppa’s creative traits and sense of humour in all of them.
We are all so grateful to have had so much time with him on this earth.
He was a great man!
John S. Mothersill, Principal, RRMC
This message was submitted for publication by Classmates and Friends of the late John S. Mothersill, Principal, RRMC.
A native of Ottawa, John passed away in Victoria B.C. on December 4 2024 at age 93. Some of us knew him as a superb boxer. Many more knew him as the Principal of Royal Roads Military College [RRMC]. John was with us for our first two years at RMC. He was with our RMC Team at the RR/RMC Tournament at Royal Roads in 1952. John earned a BSc degree at Carleton University and a degree in Geological Engineering at Queen’s University enabling him to enjoy an adventurous career as an Exploration Geologist with large US corporations exploring for oil in many countries including Africa. John returned to Queen’s to earn his PhD in Geology in 1964. A period of years as an Educator and Researcher followed. Fast forward to 1984 when John and his wife Diane moved to Victoria B.C. and John assumed the role of Principal of RRMC. Despite a successful 11-year tenure, budget cuts forced the closure of RRMC in 1995. John’s Robes and the RRMC Mace have been and still are on display in the Lobby of the Grant Block at Royal Roads university [RRU]. John is remembered for having had many connections to RRU including being a member of the Military Heritage Committee and a mace bearer at a RRU convocation. Well done, mate.
Austen Cambon, Class Secretary, Class of RR52/RMC54
Jacques Choquette CMR RMC 1959
À l’Institut universitaire de cardiologie et pneumologie de Québec (IUCPQ), le 21 janvier 2025, à l’âge de 88 ans, est décédé monsieur Jacques Choquette, conjoint de madame Céline Labrecque, fils de feu madame Marguerite Vallerand et de feu monsieur Fernand Choquette. Il demeurait à Québec.
Il était le frère de feu Madeleine (feu Paul Thériault), feu Marguerite (feu Lorne Power), feu Guy (feu Josée Clift), feu Marc (Marie Galipeau), feu Pierre (Lucie Amyot) et feu Auguste.
De la famille Labrecque, il laisse dans le deuil feu Thérèse (feu Robert Lavigne), feu Jacques (feu Gertrude Gosselin), feu Claude (Denise Asselin), feu Véronique (feu Louis-Philippe Savard), Gabriel (feu Gisèle Drapeau) et Louis (feu Claire Crépeau).
Il laisse également dans le deuil de nombreux neveux et nièces des familles Choquette et Labrecque de même que de nombreux amis et amies.
Les funérailles auront lieu le samedi 1er mars 2025 à 14 h à l’Église St-Mathieu (3155 Chemin des Quatre Bourgeois). La famille recevra les condoléances à compter de 12 h 30.
La famille tient aussi à remercier chaleureusement le personnel médical du 5e étage de l’Hôpital Laval pour les bons soins et conseils prodigués.
Vos témoignages de sympathie peuvent se traduire par un don à l’organisme de votre choix.
Captain (retired) Philip Roy Berikoff
Fellow Royal Canadians, It is with regret that we announce the passing Passing of Philip Roy Berikoff, a Princess Patricia Canadian Light Infantry soldier.
It is with profound sorrow that we mourn the passing of Philip Roy Berikoff. Philip passed away suddenly in his home on February 10, 2025, at the age of 76.
Philip was a loving husband to Suzanne Bryant-Berikoff. He was a devoted father to his children and grandchildren. Survived by son Garrett Berikoff, son Lance Berikoff and his wife Helen Berikoff (née Yung), and step-daughter Jennifer Thorkelson (née Wagnell) and her husband Jason Thorkelson. Phil is also survived by his loving sister, Twyla Somagyi (née Berikoff).
He most loved being a grandfather to Gabriel Berikoff and Maximus Berikoff and would happily spend whatever time he could with them.
As a 17-year-old street kid from Vancouver, Phil Berikoff walked into a recruiting centre and joined the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry. It was the start of a military career and a life that would take him around the world.
From the start, he was an outstanding soldier who was infantry, Airborne, Pathfinder, sniper, and a military bodyguard. Following his infantry days, which saw him personally inspected by Queen Elizabeth II, he re-mustered into intelligence as an INT OP and was commissioned from the ranks as an Intelligence Officer.
He would be in Cyprus when the Canadian Army stunned the world by bringing about the Turkish invasion of Cyprus, which halted the famous airfield battle in 1974. His photo for that operation can be seen in the Canadian War Museum.
He also served in the former Yugoslavia during Operation Storm and in Kosovo during the dark days. Other tours would see him in the Golan Heights, Germany, the Sinai Desert, Jamaica, NORAD HQ, and the high arctic.
From the killing fields of Bosnia and Kosovo to a Canadian government cabinet meeting with Prime Minister Mulroney, his expertise was personally sought out by commanding generals, Defence Ministers, Chiefs of the Defence Staff, and the lead Prosecutor of the War Crimes Tribunal.
While Phil was one of the first soldiers to be awarded the Order of Military Merit (OMM), one of the greatest compliments to him, as he saw it, came from one of the warring factions in the former Yugoslavia. They had put his picture on a poster offering a substantial reward for his assassination. In Phil’s world, this was high praise! He must have been doing an excellent job if one of the warring factions hated him that badly. However, he would occasionally carry a small piece of shrapnel in his pocket – the one that had missed killing him by inches during the fall of Knin in 1995. As many veterans like himself had learned, life has a certain randomness to it that cannot be calculated.
Following military days, Phil went to work in an intelligence role for the International War Crimes Tribunal (ICTY) in Den Haag. Following several years of dedicated work, the Court granted him the extraordinary title of Amicus Curiae – a friend of the court. His time at the ICTY saw him develop a professional relationship with Chief Prosecutor, Madam Justice Arbour. While Phil grew into having the strongest respect for the institutions of Canadian society, he also still had a soldier’s sense of humour. Phil was given a personal tour of the Supreme Court of Canada by (then) Supreme Court Judge Arbour, who was ‘stature challenged.’ Phil looked at the imposing nine red chairs that seat the judges in the main hearing room. Turning to the Judge, he said “You must sit in that chair.”
Madam Justice Arbor turned and responded, “How would you know that?”
“It is the only one with an extra pillow,” said Phil.
In yet another turn of events, Phil also worked for the Pima Country Sheriff’s Department in Arizona. Starting as a volunteer, the office soon recognized what they had in Phil’s experience. Before long, he was working on intelligence issues related to border security and the operation of Mexican cartels on US territory. He was recognized for his contributions to the department.
Phil had an amazing ability to stay calm. This may have been due to earlier training that saw him make HALO (high altitude low opening) jumps as a paratrooper. Free-falling from 22,000 feet with an oxygen mask and then delaying opening your chute until just before you hit the ground teaches you a certain amount of tolerance; so does completing an underwater egress from a submarine torpedo tube during Pathfinder training! The sniper course also taught patience (along with a bunch of high-end math skills). All of this together produced an individual that could remain focused on the task at hand while others panicked or fell apart.
Throughout his life, Phil was a student and an admirer of the institutions that built Canada. He was proud to serve Canada at home and abroad and represented Canada well on the world stage. His life, from homelessness in Vancouver to the battlegrounds and hallways of power in the world, should serve as inspiration to those who see their own challenges as limitations.
Phil would wish to be remembered not only for his service and devotion to his country but for the love of his friends, family and fellow comrades.
We have been notified of the passing of Doug Maybee CMR Class of 1974 who passed away recently from complications from cancer treatments. An obituary will be published when made available.