W.B. PEARSON

PEARSON, W.B, C.M., DFC, MA, D.Sc. (Oxon.), FRSC,
Died peacefully at home in Ariss, Ontario on Wednesday, February 23, 2005. Born on July 1, 1921, he emigrated to Canada with his parents in 1927. He was educated at Kingston Consolidated School in New Brunswick, at Christ's Hospital, UK and at Oxford University where he obtained first class honours in chemistry and completed his studies as a D.Phil. student with William Hume-Rothery, FRS, the legendary alloy pioneer. He served in W.W.II as a pilot on Ferry and Transport Commands of the RAF. Bill loved activity, hated ambition and committee meetings; thus he was the 'creator of beautiful gardens, builder of many buildings, and a landowner who felt compelled to produce food'. Bill was the author of several books and many scientific papers on low-temperature physics, physical metallography, Fermi surface, the chemistry of semi-conductors and crystallography while working at the National Research Council, Ottawa, and the University of Waterloo as Dean of Science and Professor of Physics and of Chemistry. In addition, he edited 26 volumes of Structure Reports for the International Union of Crystallography. What pleased him greatly in a lifetime of ignored opportunities due to pressures of current interests, was the award of an honorary D.Sc. from the Royal Military College of Canada in 1984
based on his previous military capability and on his very visible and active participation in the Canadian Metals Physics Conferences held at R.M.C. since their inception in 1952; 1952 – 1969 Research Scientist, National Research Council of Canada; 1969 - 1984 University of Waterloo
Dean of Science & Professor of Chemistry and Physics; Distinguished Professor Emeritus and Hon. D.Sc. He was a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, and held 'Hume-Rothery Awards' from The Metallurgical Society of the A.I.M.E. and from the Institute of Metals (London). He was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada in 1996. He is survived by his wife of 38 years, Ellen Mary (Pipe); son, Cedric, daughter Cecily (Billy Loper) and their mother, Lois Jeannette Pearson (Ottawa); sisters Jean Stuart (Corpus Christi, Texas) and Christine Garnet (Ottawa). Respecting Bill's wishes, there will be no formal funeral service; cremation has taken place. Friends will be invited to share Bill stories in May or June when the weather is more clement. Those who wish an 'in memoriam' may like to support: The University of Waterloo - WB Pearson Medal (Faculty of Science, Univ. of Waterloo, 200 University Ave W, Waterloo N2L 3G1), RMC Foundation, (The Ex-Cadet Club, c/o RMCC, Kingston ON K7K 7B4) or Christ's Hospital (The Counting House, Christ's Hospital, Horsham, West Sussex RH13 7YR). Funeral arrangements entrusted to Wall- Custance Funeral Home & Chapel, 206 Norfolk St., Guelph, 1-519/822-0051 or www.wallcustance.com).