In Memory
Read news and updates submitted by fellow alumni by date submitted, news category, faculty of graduation, decade or search for a name. Share your news here.
is throwing a memorial tribute for Riley Cerovcec, BESc’24, on September 5, 2026, featuring Riley’s band, KRUSH, and heartfelt tributes from his family and friends.
passed away on September 13, 2025 in Lewiston, New York.
died at his home near Seattle at age 94. He was born in a CPR camp in Canal Flats, AB, had a successful career with IBM, raised four kids and was a world traveller, lifelong learner, gifted writer and devoted father and husband.
passed away peacefully at home on August 6, 2025. She was the Gold Medalist of her class. She is survived by her husband, Douglas, BA’58.
passed away on August 7, 2025, at his home in Ottawa. Bob was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and respected pension policy leader. A longtime advocate and consultant, he helped shape Canadian pension reform and education, earning a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2025.
passed away on May 8, 2025 in Arizona. He received his PhD in 1996 from Indiana University Bloomington and made significant contributions in Instructional Design, problem-based learning, constructivism, and fostering student ownership.
passed away on February 23, 2025, at the age of 77. He will be remembered fondly for his ability to captivate those around him with his stories, his love of reality TV, current events, history, and the stock market, as well as his unyielding dedication to his work, and his ever-present sly sense of humor and dry wit.
passed away on January 30, 2025 at the age of 50. She was a passionate early childhood educator and will be missed by her friends and family.
passed away on January 28, 2025 in Castlegar, British Columbia. He was an instructor at Selkirk College.
Catherine “Kay” Easun (Miles), BA’54
passed away peacefully in Toronto, Ontario on February 16, 2025 in her 94th year after a four-year struggle with vascular dementia resulting from stroke.
passed away on December 27, 2024 at the age of 82. He was very proud of his accomplishments at Western and his education provided him with a very successful career in Calgary, Alberta in the IT Department of several different companies over the years.
passed away peacefully on November 24, 2024 in Leamington, ON.
passed away on July 20, 2024, in Kitchener, ON. He is survived by his wife Lesley MacDonald, their son Nicholas and his wife Sarah (Wilson). After Western, Michael obtained his law degree from the University of New Brunswick and practiced law for 37 years.
passed away in November 2023. Howard played basketball at Western under coach Jack Fairs and is missed by his loved ones.
passed away on December 11, 2023. Todd was a proud member of the 1979 Yates Cup winning football team. Well respected in a long career with General Motors and General Dynamics, Todd had a passion for military history, sports, politics and music. He is greatly missed by his loved ones.
passed away in Leamington, Ontario on July 27, 2024 at the age of 94. Donald spent three years with Ford Canada and a family tire business before a 32-year career in education with the Windsor Board of Education.
passed away peacefully at his home in Kyle, Texas on April 15, 2024. Cles worked as a lighting technician at the Stork Club as a teenager, before pursuing his medical degree at Western.
William (Bill) Schoedel, BA’51, MA’52
passed away on April 1, 2024 at age 94. After Western, Bill attended the University of Chicago, ending with a Ph.D. in New Testament and Early Christian studies. He had a successful career as a university professor. Bill was an avid reader of all subjects, particularly music and nature.
Betty Seldon-MacFarlane, BA’48, MLS’70
passed away in London on February 9, 2024. Betty taught in the Department of Secretarial Sciences and was an executive assistant for two Western presidents. She retired from Western in 1988, receiving the designation Professor Emerita. Betty had a reputation as a perpetual optimist, always looking on the bright side, as evidenced by her ever-present smile. She will be missed by her loved ones.
passed away on February 12, 2024. After graduating from Western, he studied at UofT and returned to Sarnia to take over his dad’s pharmacy. Neil and his much-loved wife Fay married in 1955 and had three children. He will be remembered for his kindness and humour.
died in March 2023 in Hamilton, ON at the age of 97. Trained as a medic during World War Two and later specializing in ENT, Don worked at the Hamilton McGregor clinic from 1954-1981.
passed away peacefully from acute Lymphoma on December 2, 2021 in Ottawa.
passed away peacefully on October 22, 2023 after a 33-year career as a nurse at the Chatham-Kent and Lambton Public Health Units.
passed away August 3, 2023 in Kingston, ON. She led a distinguished career at the Montreal General Hospital, becoming head nurse of the Postpartum Unit. In 1987 she wed Ron Cunningham and moved to enjoy retirement in the Thousand Islands region.
passed away in June 2023 after 27 years of achievements. She was a dedicated environmental, social and governance analyst, a climate action promoter, a mentor to and supporter of youth, and a graceful, silent cancer fighter.
passed away in November 2022. He was a career businessman and will be remembered with much love by friends and his extended family.
passed away in December 2022. Cherished by his family, William had a successful 37-year career with Toronto Dominion Bank.
passed away in April 2023. Walter retired in 2019 after a long career in medicine, including 22 years working at Homewood Sanitarium and at a private practice in Guelph. Beloved by his family, he played tennis, golf and bridge, loved to travel and was an avid sailor.
passed away in December 2022 in Waterloo after a long history of Multiple Sclerosis. Bob’s career was with Mutual Life of Canada at their head office where he helped clients and employees achieve financial security. He will be missed by his loved ones.
passed away December 19, 2022, at his home in Durham, North Carolina. A partner to his wife of 58 years and father to eight children, Winston was a distinguished professor of Mathematics and Statistics at Penn State University.
passed away from breast cancer on December 3, 2022. She was a loving, wonderful friend. She leaves behind her husband Scott and two beautiful daughters, Sophie (age 5) and Olivia (age 2). Read more.
passed away on July 4, 2022 at the age of 89 after a 37-year nursing career in Ottawa, ON. Read more.
Robert Mackenzie, BA’71, MBA’73
passed away on October 16, 2022. Rob was Western’s University Student Council president from 1971 to 1973. Upon graduation, Rob joined the diplomatic service, representing Canada over a 37-year career.
passed away on October 14, 2022 in St-Lazare, Quebec. He enjoyed a 38-year career with The London Life Insurance Company. He played with the Montreal Alouettes football club in 1954/55/56 and the Western Mustangs football and hockey teams.
Mary Ann Ruypers, BA’74, BEd’76
passed away on July 20, 2022, after a long teaching career in Petrolia, Ontario. Read more.
Virginia Armstrong, BA’52, BA’53
passed away after a short illness in August 26, 2022. Virginia enjoyed a fulfilling teaching career and travelled the world after retiring.
Joan Evelyn Ban (nee Valley), BA’55
passed away peacefully on August 26, 2022 in her 88th year.
passed away unexpectedly on August 10, 2022. Will’s close friends from King’s University College are establishing a memorial lecture in his honour.
passed away in March 2021.
passed away in March 2022. David had a life-long passion for athletics, from his days on the Mustangs football team and as a dedicated and well-respected teacher, coach and basketball referee. Read more.
Richard Raibmon, BA’60, LLB’63
passed away in May 2022 after retiring from a successful law career in 2019.
Peter Craig Campbell , BA’60, LLB’63
passed away on November 18th, 2021. He was a cartoonist for the Western Gazette in the ‘80s, a commissioned artist, property manager and bird of prey handler during his diversified career path.