Cecil Ernest LAW

CECIL ERNEST LAW It is with great sadness that the family of Cecil Law announce his passing on 20th April 2011. Although his wife of 65 years, Gerarda Johanna (nee Gommers) had already passed in 2010, he is survived by their children Marijke Watson (John), Trixie Lutz (Robert), Henk Law (Rose Oakley), Jane Law, Jennifer Gray (David), David Law (Beth Ross), as well as his grandchildren Melissa, Robyn, Adrienne, Remy, Owen, James, Rebecca, Evan, Ben and Jacob, and great-grandchildren Ryan, Sydney and Meaza. He is also survived by his second wife Maysel Grace Armstrong Law, who brought great joy and happiness to his last year of life, and compassion and solace to his passing, for which his children will be forever grateful. Born in Vancouver on 27 November 1922, Cecil joined the Seaforth Cadets at 13 where he learned to play both drums and bagpipes. After enlisting in the 1st Canadian Scottish Regiment in 1940, he was shipped to England, but later returned to Canada for officer training. He returned to action in 1944, becoming company commander of the South Saskatchewans in Dunkirk and eventually joining in the liberation of Holland, where he met his future wife Gerry while billeted in her family home. A decorated war veteran, Cecil returned with his wife and young family to study biology at UBC and was planning to complete his PHD on fellowship to Berkeley. The Korean War and finances intervened, however, and Cecil accepted a position in Suffield, Alberta with the Defence Research Board (DRB) of Canada as a research scientist. He was soon transferred to Fort Churchill, Manitoba, where he oversaw the Arctic Operational Research Team and was in charge of equipment, weapons and navigation experiments and trials, including reconnaissance of potential DEW line sites. In December 1954 he was posted to the Joint Services Staff College in the UK, though he later returned to Ottawa to continue with the DRB. In 1960 he moved to Montreal and began managing operations research and computing first with Canadian Industries Limited (CIL) and later with Canadian National Railways. Whilst serving as President of the Canadian Operations Research Society in 1966, he was invited by Queen's University and the School of Business to become a professor and head of Operational Research and Computing. During his time at Queens, he became Executive Director of CIGGT Canadian Institute of Guided Ground Transport) from 1972-1983, while still teaching in the business school. After a sabbatical with IBM, he then returned to the School of Business full time and established their microcomputer labs; he would continue with the School of Business until his retirement in 1992 as a professor emeritus. In addition to his varied professional endeavours, Cecil also played a significant role in the Kingston community with his lengthy involvement in he Church Athletic League in both softball and hockey (coach and manager from 1971-85), the Kingston Minor Hockey Association (Director for 10 yrs. and President for 4 yrs.), and the Kingston Minor Soccer Association (Director and Secretary 1973-83). After his reluctant retirement, Cecil remained active at the university for many years. His war experiences led to his writing a book documenting the capture of Camp Westerbork (a German transit camp for Jews in Holland). Most recently he had been teaching computing and a variety of other subjects (including neuroscience) to seniors, and was working on a history of the South Saskatchewan Regiment at the time of his death. He was about to return to live in BC with Grace when his health faltered. Cecil was a remarkable man with a broad range of interests, skills and expertise, a true polymath. He was an inspirational teacher and mentor to many, and will be greatly missed by all who knew and worked with him. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Professor C. E. Law Commerce Entrance Scholarship by contacting the Queen's University School of Business, Goodes Hall, Kingston, Ontario K7L 3N6 (613-533-6164) or email development@business.queensu.ca.