Norman SCOTT

SCOTT, Norman (Mahalski) October 15, 1923-August 15, 2003
Neil Scott, Kay Giggie and Anne McLoughlin sadly announce the death of their father, Norman, at the Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital in Oakville, Ontario. Born in Goole, Yorkshire, Norman attended Oxford University to study mathematics. In 1943, at the age of 19, he was recruited from Oxford to work for the British government as a cryptanalyst in the Second World War first at Bletchley Park and later in Columbo, where he applied his mathematical gifts to breaking Japanese naval codes in the Pacific war effort.
His wartime work remained largely secret until 1994 when war documents were declassified, and several books on the secrets of code-breaking during the Second World War appeared, and he decided to write down the story of his wartime 'secret' work for his family. Parts of his account 'From Sums to Cyphers' subsequently appeared in cryptological journals and other books.
After immigrating to Canada in 1954, Norman used his mathematical skills in performing market research and analysis for Rowntrees Canada and Imperial Oil, retiring from there in 1983. He was predeceased by his wife Sheila, also of Goole, Yorkshire, in 1990.
When he lost most of his hearing as a result of Meniere's disease, he studied and practiced lip reading with the same analytical approach which he had applied to code-breaking and market research. He continued to enjoy his hobbies of solving cryptic crosswords, barbecuing for his family, re-telling the 'shaggy dog' stories for which he was infamous, and promoting the use of correct English grammar by both the population in general, and his children in particular.
In his later years, several falls and severe osteoporosis meant he had to move from his Etobicoke home of 40+ years to his 'second home' at Churchill Place, Oakville. In Oakville he became a well known figure on his daily walks along Lakeshore Blvd. and enjoyed writing humorous articles about his life in Yorkshire and Canada for the Churchill Place newsletter.
Sadly missed by grandchildren Adam, Lyle, Peter Michael, Allison, and daughter- in-law Peggy and son-in-law Joe.
The family wishes to thank staff and residents at Churchill Place, Oakville, and OTMII (4W) for their care and comfort during the illness that preceded his death.
A remembrance gathering will be held Tuesday, August 26, 2003 at 11 a.m. at Ward Funeral Home, Oakville Chapel, 109 Reynolds Street, Oakville, tel 905-844-3221. If desired, donations may be made to the Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital.