Obituary of William (Bill) George LAIDLAW

March 13, 1936 - Wingham, Ontario
March 2, 2020 – Calgary, Alberta

No longer will we be able to say to Bill (William George Laidlaw) - “Wake! For the Sun who scatter’d into flight the Stars before him from the Field of Night..” (Omar Khayyam, The Ruba’iyat).

Bill passed away on Monday, March 2, 2020 at the Foothills Hospital in Calgary, Alberta, 11 days shy of his 84 birthday. 

Bill was born in Wingham, ON to Robert Eric Laidlaw and Annie Clarke Chamney in 1936. He graduated in 1955 from Wingham High School and went on to earn a Bachelor in Science from the University of Western Ontario in 1959. A Master in Science followed in 1961 from California Institute of Technology and a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Alberta, in 1963. His Post-doctoral work was done at the Mathematical Institute of Oxford, England. Bill worked thirty-two years at the University of Calgary as a Theoretical Chemist before retiring to become a Senior Research Associate at the National Tropical Botanical Garden on Kauai from 1998 to 2018. Bill always enjoyed a good laugh shared with students, colleagues and friends; as well as hiking, gardening, canoeing and cycling. Friends of long standing enjoyed his company at pot luck suppers, shared trips and in volunteer efforts. His work did not go unnoticed as he received awards for teaching and education in science, and numerous chemistry honours. He was a charter member of the Chinook Trail Association and volunteered with Inn from the Cold, the Science Network and the Airdrie Food Bank. On Kaua’i he was recognized by the County of Kaua’i, the State of Hawai’i and the United States Congress as a distinguished volunteer for the Kaua’i Retired Senior Volunteer Program for over fifteen years.

Bill is survived by his wife Lucia, sons, David (Mary) Keoki and Michael Kamakana; three granddaughters he loved, Leilani, Maile and Mahina; and sister Alice Munro. He is predeceased by his parents and younger sister Sheila (Joe).
    
A Celebration of Bill’s Life will be held at McINNIS & HOLLOWAY (Chapel of the Bells, 2720 Centre Street North, Calgary, AB), on Sunday, March 8, 2020 at 2:00 p.m.  Reception to follow in the Hospitality Centre at the Funeral Home. If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Alberta Wilderness Association, 455 – 12th Street N.W., Calgary, AB T2N 1Y9 Telephone: (403) 283-2025. www.albertawilderness.ca.   Condolences, memories and photos may be shared and viewed on Bill’s obituary at www.McInnisandHolloway.com.

In living memory of Bill Laidlaw, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES. Bill would be so pleased to have a living memorial in a place he enjoyed hiking.