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Struck off Strength (SOS)
Francois Alarie CMR/RMC |
Last updated: January 17th, 2013
Francois Alarie
Anthony Bowie Drowned in Navy Bay in September 1972 during our Recruit Obstacle Course. A tribute to our classmate was written by Brian Kroeker after the tragic event.
Dear Tony:
Tony, memories of all the too brief moments of life we shared with you still linger fresh in our minds. They always will. Some people think that men in the Armed Forces become accustomed to death or that they take it as part of their jobs. Don't believe them Tony. You yourself saw the buddy system in action during the brief span of time we were here. When we lost you, we lost a part of ourselves. A part that can never be replaced. We lost a smiling face in the midst of turmoil. We lost an example of spirit and determination to succeed.
Tony, you were on the verge of entering what could have been a very rewarding career. You're gone now and we'll have to carry on without you. We'll strive to do our best. I'm sure that's the way you would want it to be.
There's only one more thing I'd like to say to you Tony. Just before starting the obstacle course, we all heard you say that you were going to win. Thinking back to that fateful day, you must have won, Tony, because we all lost, we lost you.
Your Buddy,
Brian Kroeker
On behalf of the Cadet Wing
Rick
Glen Dodson (11063) died on January 1st of
2013.
He was living in Edmonton where he had remained since leaving the Army in the
mid-90s after having been the Officer Commanding the CF Parachute Team (Skyhawks).
Rick started at Royal Roads in 1972 in 3 Squadron (Lasalle). He was always squared away militarily and had a fraction of the circles that many of us managed to collect. Nor was he intimidated by senior NCOs; this was evident when he reported one morning to Sgt. Buxton that the flight kettle (we used for making coffee/tea at night) was ‘N/S.’ After classes that afternoon he returned to report that a classmate had managed to repair the kettle so they didn’t need a new one. Sgt. Buxton informed him that he didn’t care; he had already received a replacement and needed a broken kettle. “So what did you do?” several of his fellow victim-rooks asked him when he was relaying the story to us, “I took him a broken kettle, of course.” Throughout his Military College time Rick gained an admirable reputation for integrity, reliability, sense of humour, and duty.
Between 2nd and 3rd year and 3rd and 4th years many of us had the opportunity to visit St. Thomas with Rick and meet Ruby and Hank, as well as Rick’s brother and sister. Summers, meanwhile, were spent in a decidedly un-picturesque part of the ‘picture province.’ On one memorable occasion, after three days crawling about in the wilds of Camp Gagetown, we proceeded back to the barracks to clean up. So caked in mud were we that most of us started to de-rig and drop kit outside the building. Not Rick. He just proceeded inside, in full kit; rucksack, webbing, rifle, helmet, the works – straight into the showers. So the rest of us did as well. If only we had pictures.
When we graduated we went our separate ways of course, and we only bumped into each other very occasionally. Fellow RCR and Airborne officers unanimously regarded Rick as a calm, cool and very collected leader, who was an excellent mentor to wet-behind-the-ears 2Lts who became his charges. He was, said one, “all about setting us up for success and taking all the precautions necessary to ensure we avoided failure.”
A service was held for Rick on January 15th in St. Thomas. In addition to his family, several retired officers (including Neil Anderson from our class) were present among the ‘packed to overflowing’ memorial ceremony. Together with Rick’s parents and brother and sister was Rick’s daughter Lauren, whom Rick raised in Edmonton. Her eulogy was bright and full of adoration, relaying several warm stories of life with a dedicated officer and devoted father. She seemed to embody all that was good about Rick, and no doubt he was hugely proud of her. Rick did a fantastic job raising such a cultured, warm and compassionate young lady.
We will always recall with deep gratitude the loyalty of those early officer cadet and army days and Rick’s unwavering faithfulness to his friends; as well as the many occasions when we personally experienced that friendship and good will. We sincerely hope that his loved ones may find in their hearts strength and peace, and that they can find some comfort in our heartfelt condolences.
Our class has made a donation to the Edmonton Military Families Support Fund, in accordance with the desires of Rick’s mother.
Rest in Peace Rick.
11035 Neil Anderson, 11036 Bill Ard, E1347 Don Denne, 11113 Dave Marshall, 11151 Pat Sweetnam
Pierre Gauvin National Defence, Nepean Nomads Walking Club,
and Past Master of the Chaudiere Lodge #264. Gone too soon, finally at rest on
Friday, June 8, 2007 at the age of 52 years. He remained strong, feisty, and
funny, throughout a difficult 2-year fight with multiple myeloma. Beloved
husband
and best friend of Louise Ford. Loving father of Donna Dao. Dear brother of
Andre (Lyse) and Louise (Roger). Special uncle of Nanette, Lacey, Christopher,
Bradley, Jim, Andreeanne, Charles and Fredric. Great uncle of Tai-Lye, Riley,
Torin, Hollie and Paige. Predeceased by his parents Conrad and Berangere Gauvin.
He will be sadly missed by his in-laws Mac and Betty Tigwell. Louise and Donna
are grateful for the compassionate care of all the staff of Module L, the BLT
team, MDCU and 5-West at the Ottawa General Hospital. A Masonic service was held
in the Garden Chapel of Tubman Funeral Homes, 3440 Richmond Road, Nepean
(between Bayshore & Baseline) on Saturday, June 16, 2007 at 2 p.m. Donations to
the Little Angels and Bone Marrow Transplant Fund, 501 Smythe Road, Ottawa, ON,
K1H 8L6 would be appreciated.
Terry McKenzie
Dale McLaughlin
Don Oxley
Published: June 8, 2010
May 17, 1954 – June 1, 2010
John passed away suddenly near his home in Invermere, B.C. on June 1, 2010.
He was predeceased by his father, Herbert Rose in 1995.
John will be sadly missed by his wife Denise (Lemaster) Rose, sons Trevor and James, mother Edith, brothers Paul (Denise) Rose, Kevin Rose and Derek (Joan) Rose, nephews Glen, Wesley and Spencer, Eric and Joel and his many other family members and friends.
Johnson was born in Saskatoon, Sask. on May 17, 1954 and was raised in Cranbrook, B.C. where he graduated from Mt. Baker in 1972. Johnson graduated from RMC in 1976 with a BSc., went on to UBC where he attained a B.A. Psychology in 1979 and his Doctorate in Medicine in 1983. After an internship in Regina, Johnson returned to Cranbrook and established a practice in 1990. The family moved to Invermere in 2002 where Johnson continued to practice medicine. His great joys in life were his family, his passion for medicine, and his love of sports, especially hockey, skiing and golf.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Arthritis Society, B.C. and Yukon Division.
Captain(N) Richard Keith
Taylor June 20, 1954
June 19, 2006 Captain(N) Richard Keith Taylor passed away, much too soon, on
June 19th, 2006 at 7:31pm from his 34 month battle with brain
cancer. He was
four and half hours shy of his 52nd birthday. Family gathered at his bedside
as he left this world with a joyous smile upon his face. His passing was
without pain or discomfort and was peaceful in every sense of the word. It
has been an amazing journey over these last several years. There were
moments of shed tears and immense pain, but his determination and will to
survive was nothing less than inspirational. Richard never wavered in his
fight against cancer. He fought his battle like any astounding Naval
Officer, with dignity and perseverance. Hope for a cure motivated Richard's
struggle to survive. Richard devoted 32 years of his life to the Canadian
Forces and he was very proud to wear the Navy uniform. He was a loving and
charismatic husband, father, son, brother, friend and human being. His sense
of humour and spirit lives on in the memories of the people who knew and
loved him. You do not have to fight anymore dad. We all love you and miss
you. Till we see you again. Richard is predeceased by his mother, Margaret
Taylor (1999) and his father in-law John Tapp (2000).
He is survived by: his
father, Ronald (Fud), sister, Wendy (Naggy), brother, David, loving and
devoted wife, Patricia, sons Ronald (26) and Robert (22), daughter, Melanie
(24), mother-in-law, Josephine Tapp, sisters-in-law: Shirley, Caroline
(Paul), Linda, Eileen (Gordon) and Judy. A special thank you to family and
friends, Dr. Ross and staff at CDU1, Dr. Atwell, Dr. Pai, Dr. Sun, Dr. Yam,
Wanda, Yvonne, Donna, Maggie, Richard, Ian, Dave, Peter, Hospice Staff,
WeCare Nurses, Community Home Care Nurses, family and dear friends. All of
you have made this journey for Richard and his family a little less painful.
You have all honoured his wishes and his integrity. A Full Military Funeral
was held at CFB Esquimalt, drill hall, on June 24th, 2006 at 10:00 am followed
by interment at Veterans Commentary (God's Acre). A reception was then held at the Wardroom. In lieu of flowers, donations may be
made to the Brain Cancer Research Foundation. Please visit
www.rktaylor.ca We
imagine you cancer free, running through fields of golden yellow. We can
imagine you cancer free, dancing on a sandy beach and you are a lucky
fellow.
Bertin Tremblay (Bert)
After a courageous battle with Osteosarcoma, Bert went home to
the Lord on Friday, October 27, 2006 in his 52nd year. Beloved husband and best
friend of Debi (nee Borenko) and their children Philippe, Stephanie and
Danielle. He is survived by his parents Roger and Celine Tremblay of Alma,
Quebec and by his brothers and sisters Jacinthe (Gervais) Girard, Mario
(Denise), Fabienne (Luc) Tremblay, Richard (Chantal), Odile (Marcel) Faubert,
Vital, Nicolas and Melanie (Robin) Tremblay. He is also survived by his
mother-in-law Hope (Jerry) Lethbridge, sisters-in-law Catherine (Grant) Tremblay
and Shari (Ron) Neal. He is predeceased by his sister Caroline of Quebec and by
his father-in-law Mike Borenko of Napanee. Special thanks to Dr. Verma, Dr.
Werier, Dr. Donahue and the staff at the Ottawa General Cancer Centre. Funeral service was held at the Metropolitan Bible
Church, 453 Bank Street at Gladstone on Tuesday at 11 a.m. Interment of Urn at a
later date at the National Military Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, those wishing
may make donations to the Canadian Cancer Society.