Timothy Raleigh Brown Cook, C.M., F.R.S.C., Ph.D. (November 10, 1971 – October 25, 2025)
Tim Cook was no stranger to battles. He researched and wrote about them endlessly, but he also faced his own. Tim was optimistic, fatalistic, realistic and stoic all rolled in together. He never let adversity weigh him down and would continue to push forward, to keep living his life, to keep reading, researching and pounding away at his keyboard, sharing his passion for history with the world. He was the funniest person, constantly cracking jokes, and setting them up beautifully. Tim carried the room in conversations, could navigate any kind of event, effortlessly connecting with others. He showed great humility, loyalty and an easy-going nature with his many longtime friends. He was eager to share his love of hockey, reading, Star Wars and music. He coined many a Tim-ism that his family will remember forever: secret missions, double digits, straight up Charlie, Daddy sandwiches, and “Are we winning?” While he was an award-winning author and historian, he was also the best father, husband, brother, son, and friend. Tim prioritized his daughters above everything else, which was no easy feat given how prolific he was in his writing career. When asked for his secret, he would often joke that he had enlisted the girls or had a team of typists working away in the basement. But the secret to his success was his discipline, his absolute love of writing, and the balance provided by having such an active and close family. There was always time to craft that sentence, edit that paragraph, help coach hockey, watch that TV show or have that conversation. He never wasted a moment. Tim was truly loved, and his absence will be felt profoundly. He is survived by his wife, Sarah; daughters, Chloe, Emma and Paige; and his dog, Bear. He is also survived by his mother, Sharon; brother, Graham (Ankai); along with his mother-in-law, Jennifer; sister-in-law, Samantha (Graham); nieces, nephew, uncle, aunts, cousins, and his many close friends and colleagues. Tim would often conclude his book talks imploring Canadians to care about their history and to keep telling and reading our stories. He might also cheekily add that they could buy his latest book. Tim has left a legacy of deeply researched yet accessibly written books on Canadian military history. Pick up one of his books from your local bookstore if you can – and keep reading, sharing and supporting Canadian history. A private Celebration of Life will be held for friends and family at Beechwood, Funeral, Cemetery and Cremation Services.
Florian Rompré CMR RMC 1958
C’est avec une grande tristesse que nous annonçons le décès de Florian Rompré, survenu chez lui à Montréal le 27 février 2025, à l’âge de 89 ans, entouré de ses proches. Époux de feu Claudette Rompré (née Therrien), il laisse dans le deuil ses enfants Jean-François (Colette Lubin), Simon (Stephanie Artz), Mathilde et Marie, ainsi que sa petite-fille Solana (Mark Weber), et ses arrière-petits-fils Zev Benjamin et Ezra Florian.
Il était le fils de feu Léon Rompré et feu Marie-Blanche Bacon. Il était le frère de: feu Rita Rompré, feu Éliane (feu Henri St-Amand), feu Berchmans, feu Marcel (Clémence Gervais), feu Armande (feu Jean-Grégoire St-Amand), Sylvio (Lise Vermette), feu Louiselle, Viviane (Guy Légaré), Grégoire (Louise Trudel), feu Jean-Yves, Michel (Claire Bellemare)
Il était le beau-frère de: Jean-Philippe Therrien (Micheline), Jacques Therrien (Colette), René Therrien, Clément Therrien, feu François Therrien (Elke), Louis Therrien
Il laisse également dans le deuil plusieurs neveux, nièces, cousins, cousines et amis, sans oublier ses aides soignantes qui ont contribué à son confort et maintien à domicile. Nous tenons à remercier Dre Aylwin et toute l’équipe de soins à domicile du CLSC de Verdun.
Allan Morrison RMC 1958
On May 11th, 2025, in his 91st year, Al Morrison died peacefully in his sleep after several years of battling cancer. Al enjoyed a long and rewarding life, and enjoyed his time on the peaceful ‘Upper Scotch Line’ farm, where June and Al resided since 1977.
The eldest son of the late Helen and William Morrison of Owen Sound, Al leaves behind his loving wife of 63 years, June Morrison (nee Greer), and their children Susan Truelove (Terry), Steven Morrison (Debbie) and Scott Morrison (Laura), his eight grandchildren Carolyn and Michael; Kyra, Amber and Mitchell; Alexander, Emily and Nicole, and his five great-grandchildren Ella and Oliver; Mya, Madison and Jacob. He will also be greatly missed by his sister Sharon Beatty, sister-in-law Norma Cameron as well as his many nieces, nephews, extended family and friends. Al was predeceased by his brother, Don Morrison.
Al graduated from OSCVI in 1954, after a high school sojourn that included academics, sports, orchestra, and student council. Al enjoyed 4 years at RMC in Kingston as a Naval cadet (Class of 58), where he undertook civil engineering and obtained his B Eng degree in 1959 from U of T. Al met June in Ottawa while he was on his first posting, and after falling in love at first sight and a whirlwind courtship, they were married in 1961. Al’s career in the navy took him from Ottawa, to Norfolk Virginia, to Toronto and back to Ottawa, with some exciting courses and trips to places like California and the Arctic. Al obtained a Master’s in Public Administration, and transitioned to the Department of Public Works in 1973 as a property manager. The highlight of this 2nd career was when he was responsible for ‘Special Areas District’ in Ottawa, which included Parliament Hill and Rideau Hall, amongst other high-profile properties in the National Capital Region.
Al was known to volunteer with his children’s sports and can be remembered for being on the bench for hockey and behind the plate in little league baseball. After purchasing the farm in 1977, Al and June developed into full-time ‘hobby farmers’ for many years, but also found time to snowbird in Florida during the cold months for about 15 years. Al always had a glass ‘half-full’ attitude, an outstanding work ethic, and cherished life to its fullest.
Family and friends are invited to a Celebration of Life to be held at Blair & Son Funeral Home, 15 Gore St. West, Perth on Sunday June 15th, 2025 from 1:00 to 3:00 P.M. with sharing of memories at 1:30 P.M. Al will be interred in the Upper Scotch Line Cemetery, where he will continue to enjoy the peacefulness of Lanark County.
Earl Mansfield RRMC RMC 1958
On Thursday, November 6, Earl passed away suddenly at home. That morning we lost our beloved father, grandfather, mentor, and friend to many. He will be remembered for his sharp intellect, quick wit, kindness and phenomenal sense of humour. He loved spending time with others, sharing stories, playing cribbage, completing crosswords, debating sports news or just watching his Edmonton Oilers or Toronto Blue Jays play. He leaves behind a loving family – daughters Mary and Beth (James) and his cherished grandchildren – Gillian, Hugh, Tom and Adam, and his niece Kim (Jesse & Brett) and nephew Brian. Earl was predeceased by his parents Arthur & Louise Mansfield, his beloved wife of 60 years Ruth Anne Loucks, and his brother Daniel Mansfield.
Earl was born on April 12, 1935, in Biggar, Saskatchewan. He reminisced about his childhood on the prairies with great fondness. He graduated from the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC) in Kingston in 1958 and went on to complete an Honours BA in History at the University of Toronto. He was posted to the 2nd Battalion of Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI) in Edmonton. It was there that he met the love of his life, Ruth Anne, and had two daughters.
Earl left the military to pursue a career in education, earning his BEd and his PhD at the University of Alberta. From 1963 – 1972, he worked with the Edmonton Public School Board, first as a teacher & counsellor, and then as the Director of Educational Research. In 1972, he joined the Government of Alberta, holding various roles over the years including Senior Assistant Deputy Minister (Finance & Administration) in the Department of Career Development and Employment.
Although Earl retired from public service in 1993, he remained active in his community. He volunteered over the years with the National Executive Committee of the RMC club of Canada, the Army Cadet League of Canada (AB), the Edmonton Academy, the Canadian Mental Health Association, the Canadian Club, and the PPCLI Association.
With the passing of his wife in 2020 he moved to Manotick, ON where he lived with his daughters, son-in-law and grandchildren until his passing.
Above all, Earl was a devoted husband, a loving father and a cherished grandfather. Our lives were enriched by having him with us.
Cremation took place at Capital Funeral Home and Cemetery at 3700 Prince of Wales Dr, Ottawa, ON. A Celebration of Life will be held in the summer of 2026, where friends and family will gather to honour Earl’s remarkable life.
Rolf Rugge RRMC RMC 1968
It is with profound sadness that the family of Rolf Rugge announce his passing on September 22, 2025 at the age of 82 years. His generous heart gave out.
Rolf was born in Unna, Germany on April 16, 1943 to Meta and Alfred Kalle, and later adopted by Rudolf Rugge. Preceded in death by his parents, he is survived by his wife Pauline, daughter Tanya (Aaron), and brother Rudolf and family.
Rolf came to Canada with his family as a child, settling in Kitimat, British Columbia. He attended the then Canadian Services College Royal Roads in Victoria, where he met his sweetheart, Pauline. They moved to Kingston, Ontario for Rolf to continue at the Royal Military College of Canada, where they married, and Rolf graduated as an Aeronautical Engineer. Rolf (Lieutenant Colonel, Retired, 1963-96) dedicated his life to the Royal Canadian Airforce, a military career that took them around the world. Upon retirement, they settled in Lyn, Ontario, where Rolf became involved with Lyn’s Heritage Place Museum, serving as treasurer for many years.
A proud Canadian, Rolf maintained strong ties to his German heritage, and his memory will live on with family and friends in both countries. Rolf’s love of travel continued until the day he passed, evidence of a life well-lived. He will forever remain in our hearts with his spirit protecting us. We take comfort that he is now with his parents and friends who preceded him, and was met at the gate by wagging tails.
Paul Newcombe RMC 1959
It is with great sadness that we announce that Paul Henry Newcombe, 89, passed away on the 20th of October 2025 at the Veterans Memorial Lodge, Victoria, BC.
Paul was born in Port Hill, Prince Edward Island in 1936 to Walter and Ruby Newcombe. He attended Royal Military College and Queen’s University from 1954 – 1960, obtaining a Bachelor of Applied Science (BA Sc), Mechanical Engineering.
He joined the Royal Canadian Navy in 1960, serving with various ships in the Pacific fleet as an Engineering Officer. While in Esquimalt, Paul met his future wife, Joyce Rogers, and they were married there in 1962. Paul left the Navy in 1964, moving with Joyce to Arvida, Quebec to work for Alcan.
In 1970, Paul and Joyce moved to PEI, where Paul held various positions with Maritime Electric Co Ltd and retired as Vice President, Operations in January 1995. In Charlottetown, Paul and Joyce operated a bed and breakfast called Reddin House for over 25 years in their historic 1915 home. After retiring, Paul and Joyce moved to Victoria, BC.
In retirement, Paul volunteered as a committee member for the Township of Esquimalt with the Board of Variance, Access Awareness, Advisory Planning Commission and the Design Review Committee.
Paul valued community and always had many projects on the go. He could fix and build anything and was often engaged in woodworking projects or working on his motorcycle.
Paul is survived by his beloved wife Joyce Newcombe; his children, Peter (Line), Kari (Scott), Andrew and his grandchildren, Emily, Ben, Karina, Jake, Julia, Emma and Matthew. He is also survived by his sister, Marjorie McCarty and his brother Leigh Newcombe.
A memorial will be held in Spring 2026.
The family would like to express their gratitude to the Veterans Memorial Lodge care team for their compassion and support during Paul’s final days.
Frederick Butler RMC 1960
Frederick Thomas Dufour Butler, aka Ted, passed away peacefully on November 3rd, 2025, after a brief illness. Ted is survived by his beloved wife of 61 years, Vorna Butler (née Johnson); daughter Bethany (Glenn), sons Kristjan, Michael (Emma) and James (Cindy); brothers David (Donna), John (Sherry) and Edward (Lynn, dec. 2022); eleven grandchildren: Jacob, Linnea, Dylan, Daniel, Tildy, Anthony, Matthew, Sam, Hannah, Cadence & Desmond; and was pre-deceased by his father Fred, mother Esther, stepmother Ann and his beloved eldest daughter, Altaire (Steve).
Born in Ottawa, Ontario on October 16, 1937, Ted grew up at his family’s motel “The Butler”, on the Montreal Rd. Ted graduated from Royal Military College in 1960, received his Civil Engineering degree at McGill, then served 25 years in the Canadian Air Force, with postings in Ontario, BC & Nova Scotia, plus an exchange to Texas. He met & married the love of his life, Vorna, early in his career, while posted in BC.
Following the military, Ted spent 6 years with the BC Forest Service, then 15 years as a Real Estate Agent. Ted volunteered as a Scout leader, a fundraiser for the Kidney Foundation & Salvation Army, and was involved in many clubs & associations, from the Military Engineers Association of Canada, the Engineering Institute, to the RMC Club and not least his church, where he contributed in numerous ways.
Ted will be remembered for his affable, easygoing personality, crazy antics, fascinating stories, passionate political views, loyalty to friends, kindness to strangers & generosity to all, and his unfailing devotion to his wife & family.
A service to celebrate Ted’s life will be held at St John the Divine Anglican at 1611 Quadra St, Victoria at 11:30 am on November 24, 2025.
Jacques Marcotte CMR RMC 1965
À Montréal, le 22 septembre 2025, à l’âge de 83 ans, est décédé M. Jacques Marcotte, époux de feu Micheline Lesage et prédécédé de sa sœur Gisèle et de son frère Jean-Louis. Il laisse dans le deuil ses enfants Annick, Stéphane (Jaimie) et Serge, ses petits-enfants Jaelyn, Cole, Alexi et Liam, autres parents et ami(e)s. La famille recevra les condoléances, le vendredi 3 octobre 2025 à compter de 11h00. Une liturgie de la Parole, sera célébrée sur place, à 13H00, suivie d’un buffet. Vous êtes invité(e)s à lui rendre un dernier hommage au: 8005 Notre-Dame Est, Montréal Qc H1L 3K9
J’ai appris avec tristesse le décès du professeur Florent Tremblay. J’ai eu le bonheur de le côtoyer lors de mon passage à titre de professeur au CMR dans les années 70. Son dévouement, sa gentillesse et son altruisme à l’égard de ses élèves et ses collègues étaient remarquables. On se souviendra de son implication dans la communauté du CMR durant de nombreuses années. Nous perdons ici une figure marquante du Collège et un gentlemen généreux estimé de tous. Son attitude positive et chaleureuse et ses conseils nous manqueront. À sa famille, je transmets nos sincères condoléances. 9905 Jean-Claude Champagne
To the family of Ted Butler: I was a close friend of Ted while we were at RMC and pursuing Civil Engineering together. He was a
well-rounded and pleasant person to be around. My condolences to his wife Vorna and his family,
who I am sure will miss him. I am sad he has left us.. Rudy Gall