ROBERT CAMERON MCGINNIS

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ROBERT CAMERON MCGINNIS It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of Robert Cameron McGinnis on July 5, 2009. Bob will be sadly missed by his daughters, Kathy (Marcelo) Cano and Shauna McGinnis (Kelly Marques); grandchildren, Alejandra, Patrick and Jessica Cano; brothers, Bud (Gladys) McGinnis, Doug (Alice) McGinnis; brother-in-law Wayne (Marjorie) Wright; sister-in-law Ollie (Don) Terrault and numerous nieces and nephews. Bob was predeceased by his wife of 54 years, Lenore in 2006 and son Kelly in 1999. Bob was born in Edmonton in 1925. He was raised on a farm near Westlock, Alberta. He graduated from Olds College with a Diploma in Agriculture and then won a scholarship to attend the University of Alberta. He received his MSc from the U of A in 1951. While at the U of A he met a nursing student, Lenore Wright, they were married in 1951. They moved to Winnipeg where Bob worked as a cytogeneticist at the Agriculture Canada Research Lab located on the University of Manitoba campus. While at the Government lab he enrolled in a PhD program and graduated in 1954. In 1960 he joined the Plant Science Department at the U of M as an Associate Professor and in 1965 he became the Department Head. Bob was Department Head for ten years. The family moved to Kenya in 1973 where Bob headed up a CIDA project that focused on breeding rust resistant varieties of wheat for Kenyan Highlands. He loved this two year Kenyan experience where he lived with the family on a Research Station 70 km from Nairobi, just south of the equator. One of the objectives of the CIDA project was to train Kenyan scientists to take over the station operation. He was happy to turn over the directorship of this station (after ten years of Canadian involvement) to one of his PhD Kenyan students. He was fortunate to have the opportunity to visit the station several times during the 80's and 90's and was pleased that the program had been sustained. In 1975 Bob, Lenore and Shauna moved to India where he became the Director of International Programs and Training for the International Crops Research Station for the Semi-arid tropics (ICRISAT). He was responsible for technology transfer from headquarters research and for initiating sub research units in strategic countries including Senegal, Mali, Burkino Faso, Niger, Nigeria, Sudan, and Tanzania. Bob and Lenore loved their life in India but when he was invited to return to the University of Manitoba as Dean of Agriculture in 1979 he decided that it was a great challenge and an opportunity to reunite the family. He thoroughly enjoyed working with students and academic colleagues for the next ten years. Bob was a member of many professional organizations and boards throughout his lifetime. After his retirement he took on several consulting assignments on agricultural research and development in a number of developing countries including Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, India and Pakistan. Bob and Lenore were members of the Fort Garry United Church for close to 50 years. Bob was also a very active member of the Fort Garry Rotary Club for nearly 30 years. He was a member of the Probus club of Winnipeg and loved meeting with his Wingar' group every month. Bob and Lenore enjoyed frequent trips to Mexico and they loved entertaining their friends all over the world. Bob was an avid bridge player and loved the daily crossword puzzles. In his last few years after Lenore passed away Bob spent a lot of time with his children and grandchildren and we all had such a great time. We were so fortunate that he was able to visit Buenos Aires, Argentina, with us in March to meet Marcelo's family. That was one of the only countries in the world that he had never visited! Bob had an incredible sense of humour but was also full of common sense. He really lived his life to the fullest! We love you Dad and we are really going to miss you! A memorial service will be held on July 16, 2009, at 10:00 a.m. at the Fort Garry United Church, 800 Point Road, with the Rev. Dr. Gordon Taylor officiating. Reception to follow. If friends so desire, Memorial contributions may be made to the Robert and Lenore McGinnis Meritorious Student Award, University of Manitoba or Dr. R. Kelly McGinnis Scholarship fund, St. John's College. The family can be contacted via Kathy Cano at KCano@pcocanada.com. THOMSON IN THE PARK 925-1120 Send expressions of sympathy to www.mem.com

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jul 11, 2009