Beryl Alyce PLUMPTRE

PLUMPTRE, Beryl Alyce, O.C. (nee Rouch)
With her family beside her, Beryl died peacefully in her own home as she wished on Friday, April 4, 2008, nine months shy of her 100th birthday. Articulate, sociable and elegant to the end, she was predeceased by her beloved husband Wynne, with whom she shared a varied and fascinating life of public and community service, combined with a strong sense of family, a love of travel and cultural pursuits, and a flair for entertaining second to none.
Born in 1908 in Melbourne Australia, Beryl graduated from the Presbyterian Ladies College. Shortly after launching her career with the Bank of New South Wales, she won a scholarship to Cambridge University where she pursued graduate studies in economics with John Maynard Keynes. It was at Cambridge that she met Wynne who, having fixed his sights on her, had to sail to Australia to ensure she followed through on marriage plans. She was a devoted partner throughout his distinguished career, working by his side in posts at the University of Toronto, the Canadian Embassy in Washington, NATO in Paris, the Department of Finance in Ottawa and the U of T at Scarborough, where she and Wynne presided over the flowering of the College during his tenure as its first full-time Principal.
Unfazed by the fact that women in the professions were still uncommon, she established her own credentials as an economist, working with agencies such as the Wartime Prices and Trade Board, the Tariff Board and the Royal Commission on Coastal Trading. She also became a fearsome consumer advocate, serving as National President of the Consumers Association of Canada from 1961 to 1966. She played a determining role in the establishment of a new federal department responsible for consumer affairs – an effective but short-lived voice for Canadian consumers that subsequent governments soon muffled by burying it deep within the bureaucracy.
She also spoke up for consumer interest as a member of the now- defunct Economic Council of Canada. Then, in 1973, she was appointed to head the Food Prices Review Board, where she insisted that she would report not to the government, but directly to the people of Canada. With her no- nonsense attitude and independent spirit, she earned the respect and gratitude of Canadians across the country by speaking up for their interests and 'telling it like it is,' without regard for bureaucratic inertia or efforts at ministerial interference. This appointment was followed by another as Vice-Chair of the Anti-Inflation Board, from which she resigned to care for Wynne prior to his death in 1977.
Not content with retirement, she took up arms against forces threatening to destroy the character of the village of Rockcliffe Park by getting elected Reeve and serving as a member of the Regional Council of Ottawa-Carleton. Beryl also served on several corporate boards, including Dominion Stores and Canada Life, and as chair of various non-profit organizations, including the Vanier Institute of the Family and the Kidney Foundation of Canada.
An incomparable hostess, avid gardener and bird lover, she leaves behind her adored and caring children, Judith and Tim, along with their spouses, Alex Wedderspoon and Barbara Laskin. A proud grandmother to Caroline and her husband David Clarke of Vancouver, Michael Wedderspoon and his wife Marisa of Edinburgh, and Bora and Genny Plumptre of Ottawa, she took enormous pleasure in their accomplishments, many of which she aided and abetted. She was a delighted great-grandmother to Zachary, India, Scarlett, Sylvie and Layla. Her loss is deeply felt by her devoted caregiver, Tess Tapeceria, who was a great help in her last years, by her nephew Peter Rouch and his wife Anne in Australia, and by many loyal friends and former colleagues.
Her family expresses deep appreciation to the wonderful Dr. Frances Kilbertus, her colleagues at the Elisabeth Bruyère Health Centre, to the Community Care Access Centre, and to caregivers from St. Elizabeth Health Care for the compassionate and professional care they provided to Beryl in her latter days.
A memorial service will take place at St. Bartholomew's Anglican Church, 125 MacKay Street, Ottawa, on Wednesday, April 9 at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Elisabeth Bruyère Health Centre (SCO Health Service Foundation, 613-562-6319) or the Kidney Foundation of Canada would be appreciated.
Condolences/Donations/Tributes at mcgarryfamily.ca