Richard Ruggles

RUGGLES, Dr. Richard (Dick) Irwin June 27, 1923 to January 9, 2008 (Professor Emeritus at Queens University, Kingston, Ontario.) Died gently at his home in Duncan, B.C. on January 9, 2008, in his 85th year. Beloved husband of Mildred E. (Duncan) Ruggles and dear father of Myles A. Ruggles of Toronto and Margaret Arlene Ruggles-Eby of Wheatley, Ontario. Will also be very much missed by his sister, Norine R. Atack of Orangeville, Ontario and his nieces and nephews, Bev, Gay, Ray, Bob, and Tim. Also dearly loved by his grandchildren (Maya, Sara, Justin, Johanna and Diana), his great-granddaughter (Kayla), and greatly missed by his many friends, former colleagues, and students. Dick was a man admired by all who knew him for his kindness, gentleness, humility, fairness, commitment, creativity and integrity, and these qualities were expressed throughout his professional, public and personal life. Born and raised in Toronto, Ontario, Dick earned his BA in Geography from the University of Toronto (1945), his MA from Syracuse University (1947), and his PhD from the London School of Economics (1958). He taught at UBC from 1953-60 before moving to Queens University to found the new Geography Department in 1960, for which he served as Chair for several terms, and from which he retired in 1988. In addition, he taught courses at McMaster University (1947-50), Columbia University (1948), the University of Edinburgh (1963), and in Bermuda. His main fields of teaching and research interest were Canadian historical geography, Soviet and Russian economic and political geography, cartography, and urban geography and planning. Included among his many wellreceived publications are A Country So Interesting: The Hudson's Bay Company and Two Centuries of Mapping (1670-1870), and the Historical Atlas of Manitoba (the latter coauthored with John Warkentin). In addition to his teaching, research and administrative achievements, he belonged, and made significant contributions to numerous professional and community associations and government bodies, including the Royal Geographical Society, the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, the Canadian Cartographic Association, the International Geographical Congress, the National Commission for Cartography, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, and several Kingston-area planning and fundraising committees. Some of these contributions have been recognized and honoured: the Canadian Association of Geographers, the Canadian Cartographic Association, the National Archive of Canada, the Canadian Historical Association, the University of Toronto, and the American Association for State and Local History have all conferred awards. In his retirement years Dick had the pleasure and companionship of extensive travel with Mildred (and their cats), developed his talent for watercolour painting and photography, and offered, as both host and guest, his enlivening company and conversation to his many friends and family. His funeral service will be held at Sands Funeral Chapel, 187 Trunk Road, Duncan, BC, at 2:00 p.m.on Friday the 18th of January, 2008; and there will also be a time of remembrance in Kingston, Ontario. Interment at Cataraqui Cemetery, Kingston, Ontario. Expressions of sympathy, if desired, may be donated in lieu of flowers to the SPCA, or to the Richard I. Ruggles Scholarship Fund at Queens University. Online condolences may be offered at www.sandsfuneral.com 437458