Deaths

3385 Peter Warren RMC 1955

Peter Howarth Warren, M.Arch., RCA, FRAIC Peter was born in Toronto on April 10, 1933, to John Hobart Cross and Edythe Florence Warren. He married Jane Alison Hill (nee Strathy) in 1958, with whom he was a proud father of John Peter (Judy), a welcome companion, James Strathy Warren, a self-made success, and Sara Jane Warren, precious, caring and generous. In 1983, he married Ann Wells Grey (nee Farmer), highly principled, responsible and intelligent. As well, a grateful stepfather of two beautiful ladies, Carole Cable (Paul) and Laurie Fialkov (Jeff). Brother of the late Teddy Warren; brother-in-law to Peggy Warren, Helen Strathy and Mary Lue Hinds. Adored “Grandpa Pete” to Christian, Melanie, Nico, and Dylan Warren of Zermatt, Switzerland, Justin (Rekka) and Hunter Francisco, Ari and Pippa Fialkov of Toronto, and Arabella and Toby Cable of London, UK. Great “Grandpa Pete” to Stella Theodora “Teddy” Francisco. He was very fortunate, having been well educated at Rosedale Public School, Upper Canada College, Royal Military College (No. 3385), University of Toronto and Yale University. He had many fond memories of Onondaga Camp and he was a member of the Delta Kappa Epsilon Fraternity. Peter joins the firm of John B. Parkin Associates in 1959 and was founding Design Partner of Parkin Partnership Architects in 1971. His 50-year professional career was truly satisfying, encompassing significant opportunities in almost all building categories. His most rewarding honour was to lead the winning team of architects and engineers in the National Design Competition for the National Gallery of Canada. From 1984 to 1996, Peter was a Principal of Dunlop Farrow Architects, and thereafter in private practice, working happily in association with PCL Constructors Canada. He was a member of the Boards of Havergal College, The Royal Canadian Academy of Arts, Belmont House and Seven Oaks Apartments. He was briefly a welterweight boxing champion, and only passably proficient in tennis, hockey, football and watercolour portraits of unsuspecting grandchildren. He thoroughly enjoyed his lifetime membership at the Toronto Golf Club, despite a consistently deteriorating handicap. In retrospect, Peter only regretted his insufficient attention to and appreciation of the quite incredible array of friends, relatives and business associates with which he was blessed. He had a nickname for everyone… Cremation has taken place. Private family service in May. If you would like to make a donation in Peter’s memory, please consider a Charity of Your Choice.

7685 Donald Pearsons RMC 1968

With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Don Pearsons at the age of 78. A devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend, Don will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him.

Don was predeceased by his parents, Kay Pearsons and Pete Copeman. He is survived by his loving wife, Adrienne; his children, Jackie (Marvin) and Rob (Ruby); his stepchildren, Lonny and Alyssa (Rachael) and his beloved granddaughter, Jade. He also leaves behind his brothers, Tom and his sister-in-law Marie, Dave and his sister-in-law Fern, and his nephew, Scott.

Don’s life was one of adventure, service, and intellectual pursuit. He attended the Royal Military College at just 16 years old before embarking on a remarkable career. He served as a helicopter test pilot for several years, pushing the limits of aviation, and later took great pride in his role as Chief of Protocol and Heritage Officer. After decades of dedicated service, he retired at the age of 62.

Beyond his professional achievements, Don was an exceptional bridge player who found great joy and camaraderie in the game. He played with remarkable skill and passion, forming lifelong friendships around the bridge table.

Don and Adrienne enjoyed many summers at their condo in Gimli, where they made lasting memories and cherished their time together. During the winter months, they also vacationed in Palm Springs, a place where they found relaxation and joy.

The family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to Don’s home care team, especially Marilyn, Remy, Bella, and many others, for their kindness, compassion, and unwavering support.

Those who knew Don will remember his sharp mind, warm spirit, and unwavering dedication to family and friends. His presence will be deeply missed, but his memory will forever be cherished.

A Celebration of Life will take place this summer. Details will be shared at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Veterans Affairs at https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng, the Humane Society at https://www.humanesociety.org, or a charity of choice in Don’s memory.

RCNC160 Glen Culham RRMC 1944

It is with great sadness that we announce the peaceful passing of Glenford Erwin Culham, on February 24, 2025, at the age of 97, at the Ottawa General Campus, surrounded by the love and care of his family.

Glen leaves behind his beloved and devoted wife of over 75 years, Jean Lyle Budd Culham (nee Carson). He is also survived by his sister, Margaret Ann Hicks (Regina, Saskatchewan).

Glen is survived by his four children: Douglas (Maureen), Allan (Mira), Barbara (Lincoln), and Beverley (Michael), four grandchildren Katherine (Keith), Andrew, Jeffrey (Colleen), and Allison as well as two great-grandchildren (Killian and Eleanor).

Predeceased by his parents Erwin Brice and Gladys Margaret Culham (nee Hooker). Glen was born in St. George, Ontario on August, 9, 1927, and entered the Royal Canadian Naval College in 1944. Following his graduation in 1946, he served on many Royal Canadian navy ships, including the HMCS New Liskeard and HMCS Margaree. A highlight of Glen’s naval career was being appointed an exchange Staff Officer with the Royal Navy. While based in Portsmouth, England, he served on HMS Blackpool, on service in the Mediterranean. Glen retired from the Navy in 1972 with the rank of Lieutenant Commander. As part of his professional development, he received a BA from Carleton University and an MBA from University of Western Ontario. Following his retirement from the Navy, Glen joined the Federal Public Service with the Treasury Board where he formally retired from in 1989.

Glen married Jean, a young nurse, in 1949. They raised their family in various locations from Halifax to Victoria. Stops in between included Portchester, England, London (Ontario), Montreal and Ottawa.

With Jean, they settled at the Ravines Retirement Residence in Ottawa where they were always treated with much kindness from both the staff and fellow residents. Glen’s family would also like to extend their thanks and appreciation to the staff at the Ottawa General for their exceptional kindness and sensitivity in taking care of Glen in his last days.

Family and friends are invited to visit at the Central Chapel of Hulse, Playfair & McGarry, 315 McLeod Street (at O’Connor) on Monday, March 3 from 2 p.m. until Service time in the Chapel at 3 p.m. Reception to follow. For those who wish to view the livestream of the service, please visit the funeral home website.

“If you think of me, I live.”

5045 Ralph Awrey CMR RMC 1961

Ralph Michael Awrey died at home in his sleep December 14, 2024. He was born on July 31, 1938 in Hamilton, Ontario. He was a proud Royal Military College graduate who adored his friends and family and he showed it in his actions and in his words. Joan, Ralph Jr. and Susan, Karyn and Parker, Lisa, and his grandchildren; Ben, Matthew and Adam Awrey, Adrian Ng and Aaron Switzer, and Anne and Scott Mullin miss him dearly. We honour the love he gave us, his intelligence, and his wit.

Ralph was a member of the RMC class of 1961. He entered CMR in 1956 after attending high school in Hamilton, ON. He serviced in the RCAF following graduation. After his discharge, he had a career with Ontario Hydro, working in Toronto.

Fellow Classmate Ron Murray writes “I can also tell you how proud he was of his graduation from RMC, and his military service. He flew the RMC flag from his front porch, attended local schools for their Remembrance Day services, and purchased RMC T-shirts for children on our street and encouraged them to apply to RMC.”

The following is an excerpt from a Toronto star article written by Ralph’s neighbour – Ralph showed Toronto’s Geoffrey Street how to be a neighbour

Ralph Michael Awrey died at home in his sleep December 14, 2024. He was born on July 31, 1938 in Hamilton, Ontario. He was a proud Royal Military College graduate who adored his friends and family and he showed it in his actions and in his words. Joan, Ralph Jr. and Susan, Karyn and Parker, Lisa, and his grandchildren; Ben, Matthew and Adam Awrey, Adrian Ng and Aaron Switzer, and Anne and Scott Mullin miss him dearly. We honour the love he gave us, his intelligence, and his wit.”

And a comment from Ron Murray: “I can also tell you how proud he was of his graduation from RMC, and his military service. He flew the RMC flag from his front porch, attended local schools for their Remembrance Day services, and purchased RMC T-shirts for children on our street and encouraged them to apply to RMC.

A video of an 85-year-old widower named Doug, wearing a baseball cap and walking with a cane in the cold as he hand-delivered invitations to his “winter party,” has captured the internet’s heart. One neighbour shared their interaction on TikTok, and soon, people of all ages were clamouring for an invite to the Pennsylvania bash.

Across social media and beyond, people instantly recognized something familiar in Doug’s warmth and humour. His handwritten invite reads, “4 p.m. until the cops arrive.” Turns out, Doug’s originally from Hamilton.

His invitations weren’t just about a party — they were a lifeline. They reminded me of Ralph, my 86-year-old neighbour in Toronto, who passed away in December. Like Doug, Ralph understood that community doesn’t happen by accident — it’s something you build conversation by conversation.

Born in 1938 and a proud Air Force veteran, we all called him the “King of Geoffrey Street.” Even on the coldest days, he’d be on his porch — witty, opinionated, and always ready with a chirp for the kids. My kids saw him daily and always had a story to share. But this kind of relationship? It’s vanishing. Something is broken in how generations interact today. Older adults are lonelier than ever, and communities are more fragmented.

Not Ralph, though.

He held court from his porch year-round, chatting with anyone who passed. He engaged in political debates, made wagers on hockey games, and teased kids about their latest antics.

Ralph’s front yard was a living record of our community. He hung up the names of new babies with exclamation points in plastic sleeves on his maple tree, printed out all the neighbourhood kids’ names with animations around the holidays, and even posted his own brand of memes and political cartoons — proudly conservative in our liberal-leaning area. Ralph also petitioned for speed bumps to keep kids safe.

But what mattered most was how he made you feel seen.

He welcomed new families with playful emails, ours read: “Beware of a balding, portly man a few houses west of you. Also, be warned that in the fall, you’ll be asked to participate in the Geoffrey Street Charity Challenge. ‘Participate’ means donate money, so save your loonies and toonies.”

Just days before he passed, Ralph stopped my son and pointed to his winter hockey hat. “Do you see my hat?” he grinned, proudly wearing the logo of my son’s team — a team his whole family had played for. The day before he died, Ralph sent one last email welcoming a new family to our street. Even in his final moments, he was making sure everyone felt included.

At his funeral, neighbours spoke about how passing Ralph’s house always added extra time to their walks — because stopping for a chat wasn’t optional.

Doug’s video resonates because we know, deep down, that people like him and Ralph are disappearing. The pandemic left many seniors isolated, yet little has been done to bridge the gap. How often do we really talk to the elderly people on our street? Do our kids know their names? Or have they become invisible in a world moving too fast to notice?

Doug’s party is on Feb. 15. Though thousands wish to attend, his daughter said it’s for the local community, but from what I’ve seen online, there may be a livestream for others.

The real test isn’t whether people show up for a viral, feel-good moment — it’s who checks in after the internet moves on.

We shouldn’t need a TikTok video to remind us to care about our neighbours. If handwritten invitations and porch conversations feel like relics of the past, then we need to ask: What kind of future are we building?

Because community isn’t something we watch happen online. It’s something we create — right outside our own front doors.

3928 Donald Smithies RMC 1958

Donald was born on August 11, 1934, son of Harold and Gwendolyn Smithies. He attended Rideau Public School and K.C.V.I. At KCVI, he joined the army cadets and the local Reserve Regiment – Princess of Wales Own Regiment and qualified for the ROTP. He received a BA degree in history from Royal Military College/Queen’s University. Upon graduation he was posted to the 2nd Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, then based in Edmonton. In 1964 he transferred to the supplementary reserve and began his career in museums and historical preservation. Upon returning to Ontario, he served on the planning team for the Ontario Science Centre. In 1967 he joined a small consulting company which provided development and production of the Canadian pavilion for Expo 67 as well as acting in a consulting role in the development of museums and exhibits in North American and Europe. In 1970 he became the first full-time training officer for the Canadian Museums Association in Ottawa, followed by a term as its Executive Director. In 1975 he became Executive Director of the Peterborough Museum and Archives where he spent a happy decade developing the building, its programs and exhibits. In 1984 he accepted the position of Assistant Director – Exhibits at the Royal Alberta Museum in Edmonton from which he retired in 1992. He and his wife, Cynthia, returned to Kingston in 1998 where he served on Boards of Directors, did other volunteer work for several local organizations, and enjoyed recreational sailing. He was predeceased by his beloved wife, Cynthia Nute, in October 2024. He leaves behind his daughter Sarah (Danny Knight), his son Michael, his stepson Scott Carter (Reagan Gale) and grandsons Gordon and James Carter, his stepdaughter Meredith Carter (Rob Swales) and grandson Emerson Swales, his sister Marian Smithies, and his brother Robert Smithies (Sharon).

A funeral service will be held on April 11, 2025, at 3pm at St. George’s Cathedral. Family and friends are invited to gather at the Cathedral at 2pm for refreshments and to share memories of Don prior to the service. A private interment will be held at a later date.

Memorial donations may be made to the Marine Museum of the Great Lakes, or the Seniors Association, Kingston Region.

8919 Ronald Halpin RRMC RMC 1971

Ron passed away peacefully with his family by his side at May Court Hospice in Ottawa. Ron, in his 76th year, beloved husband of Françoise Halpin for 49 years. Loving father of Sarah (Pablo), Alexei (Melanie). Special Grandpa to Yann, Noémi, Hugo and Simon. Dear son of the late Redmond and Mary Halpin. Dear brother of Janet, Helen and Brian Halpin, and brother-in-law of Anne and Benoit Lacasse. Uncle of Dan and Gary Lacasse, and of the late Claire Halpin.

Ron grew up in Pine Falls Manitoba. He moved away to study at Royal Military College, from which he graduated in 1971. Following military service, including peacekeeping duties in Cyprus, Ron joined the Department of External Affairs in 1975. Soon after arriving in Ottawa, he met Françoise while skating on the Rideau Canal, and they married in 1976. He then served in Canadian embassies in Pretoria, Moscow and Warsaw, where Françoise and he raised their young family. Ron achieved many successes during his career in the public service, culminating in two appointments as head of mission at Canada’s embassies in the Czech Republic (1997) and Hungary (2002), as well as senior roles at headquarters in Ottawa, such as Director General of the Central, East and South Europe Bureau.

Ron’s career was curtailed when suffered a severe stroke on Nov 14, 2003. As a result, he suffered from aphasia and apraxia, which he was unable to overcome through speech therapy. Despite having lost most of his ability to communicate, he retained most of his other physical capabilities, and turned to woodworking and swimming during his recovery. Ron’s health problems worsened, however, when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer in his early 60s. Thanks to the work of physicians at the Ottawa Hospital Cancer Centre the disease was manageable for nearly a decade following diagnosis, but its spread eventually became too difficult to control and led to his passing.

Ron always believed in the value of hard work, and of keeping his word. He was fiercely loyal, and stood firmly by his principles. Ron drew comfort from family and friends in his last days, fighting hard until the end, and will be missed by many.

A special thanks to the May Court Hospice caregiving staff and volunteers for the wonderful care given to Ron in the last four weeks.

A Memorial Visitation will be held at the Central Chapel of Hulse, Playfair & McGarry, 315 McLeod Street (at O’Connor), on Friday, May 9, 2025, between 1:00 and 4:00 p.m.

Obituary supplied by the Class

1 October 1949 – 22 February 2025

#8919 Ron passed away peacefully with his family by his side in Ottawa in his 76th year.

Ron was born and raised in a Pulp and Paper town in the boreal Forests of Pine Falls, Manitoba. He travelled by train to Royal Roads the summer of 1967, along with dozens of other eager young men to begin their military journey. His time at Roads introduced him to Rugby which became his passion and where he excelled as the team “hooker” – one of the forwards’ key decision-makers. He went on to study at the Royal Military College, from which he graduated in 1971 with a BA in International Studies (Honours) College Number #8919. Ron trained as an Armoured Corps Officer until eyesight limits had him transfer into the Provost Corps.  As an MP he served as a Security Officer at CFB Comox, UNICYP and CFB London – he particularly enjoyed his Cyprus Peacekeeping tour. Ron continued his dedicated service to country by joining the Canadian Foreign Service in 1975. Soon after arriving in Ottawa, he met Françoise while skating on the Rideau Canal, and they married in 1976. His early overseas postings included Pretoria, Moscow and Warsaw. The latter two postings established his expertise in matters related to Eastern Europe during the Cold War and its aftermath. In 1997 Ron became Canada’s Ambassador to the Czech Republic with concurrent accreditation to Slovakia. Later, in 2003 Ron became Canada’s Ambassador to Hungary with concurrent accreditation to Slovenia. Back in Ottawa in between his two ambassadorships, Ron served as Director-General for Canada’s relations with the countries of Central, Eastern and Southern Europe. Other earlier assignments in Ottawa included the management of issues related to security and counter-terrorism and, later, resource planning.

Ron’s career was curtailed when he suffered a severe stroke in November 2003. As a result, he suffered from aphasia and apraxia.

Ron was married to Françoise for forty-nine years and she courageously and lovingly provided for Ron who relied on her strength since being diagnosed with aphasia. Their two children, Sarah and Alexei and his grandchildren were his great pride and joy.

A Memorial Visitation will be held at the Central Chapel of Hulse, Playfair & McGarry, 315 McLeod Street (at O’Connor), Ottawa on Friday, May 9, 2025, between 1:00 and 4:00 pm.

2912 John Howard RMC 1952