Wallace McLaughlin

McLAUGHLIN, Dr. Wallace (Wally) A. Professor of Civil Engineering, doting grandfather and father, and loving husband, died in Kincardine Hospital, July 5, 2009, at the age of 82, after a two-year struggle with cancer. Wally was born in Calgary to Maria Katerina Krickau on May 5, 1927. Growing up through the Depression in Saskatoon, he excelled in his high school studies, sports and music while working to support his family. Upon graduation from the University of Saskatchewan, Wally worked for the Department of Highways, building roads including the Trans Canada Highway. In 1951, he married Phyllis Victoria Costyk. He received his doctorate in Engineering from Purdue University. They moved to Ontario in 1961, where Wally taught at the University of Waterloo until 1992, and was Dean of Engineering from 1974 1982. He was proud to be a part of the young university's development into a world-class institute, and loved to reminisce about his years there. Wally also served on the Kitchener planning department, and taught engineering in Brazil for CIDA. His passion for learning and teaching shaped his career, and his enthusiasm for life led him to pursue adventures in farming, windsurfing, camping and traveling. He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him. Survived by his wife of 57 years, Phyllis; children, Dawn Mongillo, Deborah (Peter) Trocewicz, Mari McLaughlin, Michael (Jane) McLaughlin, Heather (Dennis) Ropp; grandchildren, Ursula, Daniel, Douglas, Colleen, Brendan, Joshua, Matthew, Kerri, Fiona, Montana, Nathan and Rachael; and greatgrandchildren, Kevin, Zoe and Tate. Predeceased by his mother, Maria; sister, Vivian; and step-father, Benjamin. A family service will be held at a later date. As the family wishes to thank the hospital for their compassionate care, memorial donations can be directed to the Kincardine Community Health Care Foundation, 43 Queen St., Kincardine Ontario N2Z 1G6 Attn: Diane Baldwin.