George Lindsey

LINDSEY, George Roy Gzowski, OC PhD
June 2, 1920 - September 6, 2011
Son of Lt. Col. Charles Bethune Lindsey, DSO and BAR and Wanda Casimira Gzowski, George was born in Toronto, attended UTS and received a BA from the University of Toronto (Trinity College) in 1942. He volunteered for the Royal Canadian Artillery and after being instructed about the recently discovered radar, was posted to the UK into the British Army Operational Research Group. He returned to Canada in 1945 and in 1946 was awarded an MA in nuclear physics at Queen's University. He was awarded an Exhibition of the 1851 Overseas science scholarship and attended Cambridge University, where in the Cavendish Laboratory he earned a PhD in nuclear physics. While there he played goalie for the Cambridge ice hockey team and continued to play in Canada until he turned 50, after which he switched to curling. In the Cavendish Laboratory he met his future wife June, who was working towards a PhD in X-ray crystallography. They were married in 1951 and had two children, Robin (Laura) and Jane. They have one grandchild Amanda. He also has a brother Casimir (Shelagh). George spent his career in the Defence Research Board and the Department of National Defence. After retirement he continued the work that had fascinated him and wrote many more papers. Most of his work before retirement was secret, but his outstanding contributions were publically recognized in 1989 when he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada. He had many hobbies including making wine, some good, some not so good! He could sculpt in marble and soapstone and made fine furniture. He is also, mostly in the US, known as the 'father' of baseball statistics, and on occasion, he could produce an amusing and appropriate poem. George had a long and productive life. Many thanks to the Edinburgh and Perley Rideau Veterans Hospital for making his last year as comfortable as possible. Cremation will be private. Donations to a charity of your choice would be much appreciated. Friends are invited to the house to reminisce about George on Saturday, September 24 from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.