A tribute with tea

A touching speech, fabulous hats and fond farewells.

Dalhousie’s annual retirees tea was held last Tuesday, June 11, in the Victorian Lounge in Shirreff Hall. The event celebrates Dalhousie faculty and staff who have retired within the past year.

The reception had many delicious treats, coffee and tea as well as reminiscing and a speech from Dal’s president Tom Traves, who himself is stepping down as Dalhousie’s president after 18 years.

In his speech Dr. Traves addressed the time and dedication put in by the retirees.

“It’s impressive, the lifetime engagement, and from my perspective its wonderful to see personal stories and Dalhousie stories intertwined,” he said. “If this much has changed in my 18 years, imagine your 25, 35 and 37. We have all contributed in our own fashion, and everyone’s contribution is important.

“We are all part of this Dalhousie family and we make a profound difference in our community and in the lives of our students and their families,” he continued. “You’ve had a profound impact on the lives of the people who pass through here. At an opportunity like this, I want to say a profound thank you.”

Looking back

The retirees had many lovely things to say about their time at Dal.

Cathy Bradley-Thibodeau spent 34 years at Dalhousie in the Dentistry Clinic. One of her fondest memories were seeing students graduate, the progression and growth of the Faculty of Dentistry and the new technologies that have come through. Since retirement she says, “Life is good, I’ve been keeping busy and I’m happy. I’m surrounded by friends and family.”

Another retiree with fond memories is Connie DeSousa, who spent 32 years working in the Department of Biology — and before that, she was a student herself. “I’ve met good people and come away with many lifelong friends. I’ve been retired for the past seven months and I honestly don’t know where they’ve gone. I’ve done this and that, and gone on a few trips.”

Concluding his remarks, Dr. Traves shared the epitaph of Christopher Wren, the highly acclaimed 17th- and 18th-century English architect: “Reader, if you seek his monument, look around you.”

“The same can be said of Dalhousie,” said Dr. Traves. “Each of you has made Dalhousie what it is and, for that, we are very thankful.”

Retirees – 2012/13

Faculty and staff who retired from the university between March 2012 and March 2013:  

Archibald, Blyth - Business Administration
Arsenault, Denise
Bassett, B Raewyn - Health Professions
Bell, Dietlind - Student Services
Berrette, Ron - Facilities Management
Bowie, Dennis - Medicine
Bradley-Thibodeau, Cathy - Dental Clinic
Breckon, Rita - Medicine
Brimble, Lynn - Facilities Management
Buszard, Deborah - Biology
Carruthers, David - Building Services, Faculty of Medicine
Carswell, Anne - Occupational Therapy
Casey, Joe - Financial Services
Chisholm, Claire - Process Engineering & Applied Science
Chisholm, John K. - Continuing Education
Collins, Patricia - Biology
Conrad, Merrill (Rick) - Chemistry
Coughlan-Lambly, Judith - Kellogg Library
De Meo, Patricia - French
DeSousa, Connie - Biology
Dowling, Robert  - Facilities Management
Downe-Wambolt, Barbara - Nursing
Drysdale, Alison - Atlantic Research Centre
Fagan, Elizabeth - Facilities Management
Faulkner, Gary - Microbiology & Immunology
Finley, John - Pediatrics
Francis, Sandra - Facilities Management
Fraser, Douglas
Fraser, Valerie - Financial Services
Fry, David - Varsity
Fry, Stephen - Biology
Gardiner, Peter - Facilities Management
Geddes, Earl - Facilities Management
Gendron, Colleen - Dept. of Urology
Gerrow, Jack - Dentistry
Grise, Mary-Liz - Business Administration
Guppy, Susan - Planning
Henry, Andrew - Research
Hilburn, Ronald - Mathematics & Statistics
Howell, Robin - Dentistry
Ilson, Raymond - Safety Office
Kinsman, Suzanne - Faculty of Management
LaChepelle, Serge - Libraries
Langille, Douglas - Facilities Management
Leeds, Jeannette
Leslie,Ronald - Anatomy & Neurobiology
Lesser, Barry - Economics
Lesser, Barry H - Biochemistry & Microbiology
Longard, Sharon    Killam Library
MacCara, Mary - Pharmacy
MacDonald, Lynn - Registrar's Office
MacPherson, Brenda - Studley A/V
Maes, William - University Library
Marquez-Correa, Ignacio (Christian) - Dentistry
McCabe, John - Health & Human Performance
McCara, Elizabeth - Student Services
McCarthy, Patrick - Facilities Management
McGuiness, Wendy - External Relations
McInnis, Carolyn - Student Services
Morris, Annette  - Pediatrics
Norman, Richard  - Urology
Paterson, Grace  - Faculty of Medicine
Pothier, Dianne  - Law
Power, Gerald - Facilities Management
Rennie, Sandy    
Ruggles, Timothy - Kellogg Library
Rykers, Petra -  Pediatrics
Shea, W Ann - Dentistry
Sheppard-LeMoine, Debra  - Nursing
Singer, Doug - Engineering
Skeet, Lemuel - Print Shop
Smith, Gretchen - Science
Snyder, Linda - Faculty Of Health Professions
Stone, Sharon - Medicine
Taylor, Keith - Earth Sciences
Thomas, Murray - Facilities Mgmt
Timmins, Anne - Faculty of Enginerring
Tran, Hoa - Administration & Services
Usmiani, Tina - University Library
Vinci, Thomas - Philosophy
Wassersug, Richard - Anatomy & Neurobiology
Woodward, Pauline - Health Professions

This list was compiled by the President's Office and Human Resources in consultation with faculties and departments. If you believe anyone was left off this list in error, they are more than welcome to attend the event next year. Contact the President's Office at 494-3804.