老教授，一路走好！

 

在我們萊橋市，他是位德高望重的人物，朋友來電話，說他駕鶴西去了，走的很平靜，在他的睡夢中離開，沒有痛苦。他是位96歲的老人，離開也純屬正常，沒有痛苦，應該是老天給他的恩賜！看他的生平，挺讓人敬佩的。

這段日子，好多追悼他，向他salute 的文章。作為他們的朋友，我也應該留下一筆。

記得剛來到這個城市時，那是八十年代末，幾乎沒有華人學生。我經常被邀請到他家參加聚會，討論各種社會問題，中國問題，作為新人來的這裏之後，對這裏社會的看法，等等...。

我們經常爭論，而且很認真，記得有一回，我們爭的雙方急眼了，他太太出來解圍，說那個話題是你提出來的，她回答了，你怎麽著急了呢？ 從此我們成了朋友。與他討論，辯論，一般情況下，我一定是說不過他的，心裏也挺鬱悶的。後來我先生，大家稱呼他為《老P》來了，老P在他的工作係統內是著名的毒舌。我馬上把他介紹給了他，總算有報複他的機會了， 讓他們英國人之間去爭論吧。不出所料，他們真的經常為一些社會敏感性的問題討論，爭論的麵紅耳赤。同時也成了好朋友，知音。他參加我們的聚會，我們也參加他們組織的聚會。

記得曾經寫過文章，描述過參加兩個不同聚會後的感受，以及老教授給他太太係鞋帶的故事等，很受大家的歡迎。

每次參加他們的聚會，真的是很開心，因為很特別，沒有那麽多的老套，隻要他在鋼琴前一坐，客人們很自然的開唱，他彈到哪裏，大家唱到那裏。然後吃飯，然後喝茶或喝咖啡，然後大家開始為一些感興趣的問題開始嚴肅的討論。

記得剛來到這裏，我不會唱歌的，他們唱，我默默的坐在那裏聽，他發現了，要求我單獨唱，唱我熟悉的中國歌。我實在想不起來我能唱什麽，就唱了一首當時流行的軍港之夜，反正他們也聽不懂，不會知道是什麽意思，不會明白這歌與當時的場景不相符。唱完了，他既然讓我再唱一遍，然後他就可以給我彈琴了，當時覺得他好牛啊！

他是典型的蘇格蘭人，與現在女王的先生很像，體型，說話的腔調都很像，經常會刺到別人他自己渾然不知。認識他的人，知道他沒有惡意，大家都很尊重他，不了解的人，覺得應該與他保持距離，別莫名其妙的被他諷刺，挖苦，取笑。

老了，他反而變得像個小孩，有次聚會，我準備了一道紅燒豬肘子，還怕那些老人們不敢吃呢，沒想到他喜歡的不得了，一次次的吃，又一次次的要我再接著做，還要我介紹製作方法，當時感覺非常的受寵若驚，因為我對我的烹調技術從來是沒有信心的。我先生也覺得他怎麽老了反而變成孩子了呢？

他的故事很多。總之好人，會永遠活在人們的心裏。老先生，一路走好！

 

 

 

CAMPBELL, Gordon

POSTED: MAY 15TH, 2017

GORDON CAMPBELL, PHD

August 21, 1921 – May 1, 2017

Born August 21, 1921, in Medicine Hat, Alberta, to Ruth and Duncan Campbell. The youngest of four boys (Neil, Lockman and Duncan), Gordon learned to play the piano early, achieving a performance diploma from the Toronto Conservatory of Music. Money was scarce for the Campbell family so Ruth bartered for Gordon’s piano lessons with home-canned goods, most often pickles.

Gordon had a taste for debate that was legendary and the more controversial the topic the greater his enthusiasm. Gordon’s life as an educator and administrator took root when he became Vice-Principal of the Iron Springs School and Principal of Monarch School in Alberta from 1939 – 1940.

Gordon was a World War II Navy Veteran, serving in the Atlantic Fleet from 1943-45. His active service left him with lasting difficult memories. After the war, Gordon became the First National Executive Secretary of the World University Service of Canada (“WUSC”) in Toronto. Gordon received an MA from the University of Toronto in 1951. He continued graduate studies at Harvard University where as a bell ringer, nimbly manipulating an intricate series of ropes, pulleys, and pedals he sent a string of chimes through the Cambridge, MA, air. His musical gift enabled him to play some of the great pipe organs of Europe, as a “drop-in”, to the amazement of many church and cathedral curators. Gordon had a catalogue of 10,000 songs in his head that he could play without written music, at will, in any key.

Meeting at a Toronto conference in 1957, Gordon fell for and smartly married Sylvia Anne Woeller, of Kitchener, Ontario. They settled in Regina with baby Douglas where Gordon was the Director of Adult Education for the Province of Saskatchewan. In 1962, Gordon was appointed Director of Extension, University of Waterloo. In 1964, he and Sylvia moved to Trail, BC, where he became the Founding President of Selkirk Community College in Castlegar (now Selkirk University). Darroch, Lachlan and Janet joined the family in 1965, 1966 and 1968. The family moved to Lethbridge where Gordon joined the newly established University as Founding Faculty and associate professor of Education. He obtained a PhD from the University of Calgary in 1971.

In Lethbridge, Gordon and Sylvia were active leaders in their new community. In 1968, Gordon began the Southern Alberta Council of Public Affairs in Lethbridge. Its mandate was to explore issues of community concern and controversy, and to Gordon’s delight was varyingly characterized as conservative, communist and socialist, depending on the style of the last speaker. Always a Scotsman, Gordon felt it was important for those attending to obtain the equivalent of a university seminar with a sandwich, pastry, and beverage, at below cost.

Gordon taught his children a reverence for the natural world from countless adventures hiking, camping, swimming, beach combing, clamming and star gazing, especially on Hornby Island and in the Lethbridge coulees. These experiences endure as the happiest of family memories. Gordon and Sylvia were indulgent parents in only one way, the number and species of pets allowed in the household. Visitors might find dogs, cats, turtles, pigeons, chickens, piranhas, guinea pigs, rabbits, hamsters and goldfish all coexisting in our lively Lethbridge household.

In 2015, Gordon and Sylvia moved closer to family in Vancouver where he continued to play the piano giving delight to all. He tapped into his vast song catalogue up until his last days. On May 1, 2017, succumbing to health challenges associated with old age, Gordon died in his sleep after being surrounded by family, friends and song.

Often described as larger than life, Gordon filled myriad roles: husband, father, grandfather, friend, advisor, challenger, educator, communicator, facilitator, musician, mentor, world traveler, and peacemaker. An indelible figure, he leaves a great imprint on our souls. Gordon loved nothing better than a gathering for good discussion, over roast beef, with music and a wee dram of scotch.

Never a dull moment followed Gordon who leaves a gaping hole in the lives of his wife Sylvia; children Douglas, Darroch, Lachlan and Janet; son-in-law Richard and daughter-in-law Nina, and grandchildren Aria, Lucius, Ava and Julian, along with many nieces and nephews.

A concurrent memorial service for Gordon will be held May 20 at Kerrisdale Presbyterian Church Vancouver, BC, at 11:00 am PST with a simulcast at McKillop United Church in Lethbridge, AB, at 12:00 noon CMT.

In lieu of flowers, if you are so moved, please donate to a social justice cause focusing on human rights and equality for all persons under the sun.