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FRANK OGDEN Obituary

Published by Vancouver Sun and/or The Province on Jan. 12, 2013.

FRANK OGDEN Nov 5, 1920 - Dec 29, 2012 Frank Ogden (Dr. Tomorrow)

Passed into the future on

Dec 29, 2012 at the age of 92.

Ogden was one of Canada's most controversial and respected futurists. He was a free spirit who never accepted the popular or widely accepted ideas on any current issues. Maclean's Magazine described Frank as "Having more ideas in a weekend than most people have in a lifetime". He gave over 700 speeches around the globe and constantly pushed audiences to look beyond the present to a world in which technology would change the way we live. The author of 22 books, he was one of the foremost practitioners of the art of future-telling. A close friend and colleague of Science Fiction writer and fellow futurist Arthur C. Clarke, Frank was one of the earliest predictors of how the Internet would come to dominate the way we do things. Dr. Tomorrow was presented with the National Speakers Bureau Hall of Fame award in 2011. Ogden was born on a fast track train near Toronto in 1920 and never slowed down. He was a flight engineer in WWII; held the world's altitude record of a single engine aircraft of 19,400ft; managed Montreal's controversial radio station CKGM; taught at the Ontario College of Art, founded Canada's first "Think Tank"; and was an elected fellow of The Explorers Club whose members have included arctic explorer Robert Peary, mountaineers Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, and astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin. Predeceased by his wife, writer Carol Baker, Ogden is survived by his son Ted, grandson Trevor, daughter Lodei, granddaughter Sarah and great granddaughter Halle. A gathering will be held at a later date and those who wish to share a memory of an "Encounter with Frank" at that gathering may email it to [email protected].

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Recent Activity

February 19, 2017

Donnie Mccallum posted to the memorial.

January 9, 2014

Daniel Archambault posted to the memorial.

January 9, 2014

donnie mccallum posted to the memorial.

15 Entries

Donnie Mccallum

February 19, 2017

I was his houseboy in the summer of 1959, I cleaned his pool, around the house etc. I was close friends with Frank Sinatra, and flew through the National expedition in 1959 in Toronto along with Bud and John (Columbia Records) Farqueson. Please feel free to contact me at 780 200 2028 ps. I lived with him all summer and his mother 1959.

Frank Ogden in 2010 with his friend Slowie.

Daniel Archambault

January 9, 2014

Frank altered how my future unfurls. We were friends at the Ontario College of Art and as shipmates sailing the 96 foot The Lady Anderson aka "The Wet Orchid" from Newfoundland to Toronto. When The National Research Council of Canada attempted to look at "The Future" their Information Research Specialists quickly pinned Frank as one of the most likely sources to consider valuable. Impressive indeed as were many of Frank's abilities. I will maintain my wonderful memories of him and will meet him again in the future, someday.

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donnie mccallum

January 9, 2014

hi frank this your go for boy 1959 and latrine guy am now in ed sorrybi missed your i first met you in pickering donnie mcallum 1587 710 3004 or bluelinein@gmail;.com

Bill Phillips

November 23, 2013

Frank Ogden's impressive longevity had an unfortunate effect in that many of his friends and colleagues predeceased him. As one of those who Frank and Paul Barry invited to join Canada's first think tank, the International Synetics Foundation, I am forever grateful for the experience of learning to think systematically "outside the box." That was Frank's most notable quality, and he gladly shared his insights and abilities with all who approached him, and they were many. We will not soon see a generalist, futurist or lateral thinker to compare with Frank Ogden. Long may his fame endure.

Alan Morgan

September 1, 2013

I had the great pleasure of meeting Frank back in the early eighties while I was with BC Tel's international venture - TSI. We became fast friends. For the next twenty odd years, I would visit Frank on his houseboat and we would chat endlessly about anything and everything. He loved my puzzles and my quirky nature and I loved his whimsical sense of humour and, of course, his intrepid mind. He once told me to "find a way to get fired' from my institutional employer and as fate would have it, nearly ten years hence, I did find that way to be terminated and move onto greater things. He was indeed a remarkable futurist but most importantly, for me, a true pal, confidant and brilliant human being. I'll always miss Frank.

Blain Armstrong

July 9, 2013

I met Frank at a speaking event in Prince Rupert, BC back around 1994. He was talking about the Internet, and spoke at length about the World Wide Web when it was still in its infancy. I also remember him talking at length about what Japan was doing. He inspired me to start learning about the Internet, and to eventually come to Japan and see it for myself. Thanks for everything, Frank. You've inspired more people than you could ever possibly know.

Paul Barry

January 14, 2013

Frank was a good friend and an inspiration. Together we founded the International Synetics Foundation, which we proudly called, Canada's first Think Tank. Featured in McClean's Magazine Sept. 1968, we and 7 other colleagues embarked on yet another of Frank's wonderful adventures. Gone but not forgotten.

Glyn Bevan Edwards

January 14, 2013

Today is The Tomorrow that I worried about Yesterday. Thankfully - Frank Ogden may be gone Today but not forever & Tomorow will always be there !

Gillian Hannah

January 14, 2013

"Dr. Tomorrow" gave a talk at WCB a number of years ago and I will never forget it. I have narcolepsy and fall asleep at every meeting I have attended along with other events. But with Frank I was awake and alert the whole time. The time went so fast and I had not heard nearly enough. I remember him talking about being able to check our pictures on the camera and either deleting them or saving them at the time we thought Poloroids were the thing of the future. I see so may of his predictions that have come true. I would love to have spent time with this man. He is the most interesting person I have ever met. I still have discs that I bought years ago that he produced. One hell of a man!

Ursula Maxwell-Lewis

January 13, 2013

I met Frank, and Carol, years ago through the Travel Media Association of Canada (BC Chapter). He was fascinating, unassuming, entertaining, warm, and friendly. It really was pleasure and a privilege to have known him. I have a feeling that, for Frank, RIP only means: Research In Progress. #Inspiring

Aileen Gerlinger

January 12, 2013

My memories of Frank Ogden are of the early years in Scarborough Ontario. He was the only person I knew that had a helicopter in his office. He had a helicopter pad by the swimming pool at his home where he gave the very best parties. He was an individual with great ideas and certainly an "eye to the future".

Brian Adams

January 12, 2013

I first met frank in Toronto in 1955. We lived in the same apartment building in Scarborough. He became my office facility landlord when I started the Scrborough Advertiser and we had many an escapade together. Frank managed a number of office buildings in the Geco area. He also managed an insurance business. He thrived on publicity and was always thinking up ways to get himself and his business promoted by publicity stunts. He had a marvellous sense of humor. He moved to Vancouver and I moved to New York then Los Angeles, then returned to Australia in l967. We met up on my many visits to his lakefront boathouse and shared many a meal together. He had an optimistic attitude and the "future" was his bag. He came to Australia and I arranged several media and TV interviews for him. He will be sadly missed. A great thinker and friendly exuberant personality.RIP Frank.

Tony Whitney

January 12, 2013

Frank was a truly remarkable Canadian who never quite got the recognition he deserved - he should have been made a Member of the Order of Canada decades ago. He travelled all over the world - even long after retiring age - lecturing on all kinds of subjects and never failing to entrance audiences. He had a unique mind and a kindly manner - he falls firmly into the "we shall not see his like again" category and will be greatly missed.

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