Hugh Garnet THORBURN

Hugh Garnet Thorburn
February 8, 1924-June 3, 2014

Hugh Thorburn was born and
raised in Toronto, Ontario. He
entered Victoria College at the
University of Toronto in 1942
but left the next year to join the
Canadian Army where he was
seconded to the British Army,
Intelligence Corps. Throughout
the rest of the Second World
War, he served with the Army,
rising to the rank of Captain by
the time he was discharged in
1946. He was quietly proud of
his service.
   He returned to Victoria College
where he completed the
honours course in Political
Science and Economics in 1949
From 1949 to 1952 he continued
his studies at Columbia
University where he was
awarded a Ph.D. He became a
professor of political science at
Queen's University where he
taught for close to 40 years and
served as head of the political
studies department. He was
President of the Canadian
Political Science Association, the
author of numerous books and
the editor of Party Politics in
Canada.
   He was a quiet man who said
little but thought much: who
cared deeply about duty to
country, hard work and family
He was a steady hand at the
helm, a quiet voice of reason
and a compassionate father who
was there when it mattered
most. He instilled in his children
the importance of education,
bilingualism and seeing the
world. In his later years he
enjoyed time with his
grandchildren always
underscoring the importance of
civic responsibility and the need
to become engaged.
   At the end of his long battle with
pulmonary fibrosis, his voice
became softer, his figure
diminished. But he was a
gentleman to the end who never
lost his quick wit or his sense of
humour.
   We will miss him very much.
   He leaves behind his wife of 64
years, Gwendolyn (Wendy), his
children: Janet, Julie, Alexander,
John, Maria, Malcolm and ten
grandchildren.
   Thanks to the staff at the
palliative care unit of St. Mary's
of the Lake Hospital for their
compassion.
   Private interment. Family and
friends are invited to a memorial
reception at James Reid Funeral
Home, 1900 John Counter
Boulevard, Kingston on
Saturday, June 7 from 2 to 4
p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial
contributions may be made to
Queen's University Political
Studies Scholarship Fund in
honour of Hugh Thorburn.
   www.jamesreidfuneralhome.com