ERIC DUNCAN MACPHERSON

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ERIC DUNCAN MACPHERSON With great sadness and loss we announce the passing of Dr. Eric Duncan MacPherson, on November 13, 2009 in Winnipeg, MB. Eric was born on April 8, 1931 and spent his first six years on the homestead farm near Hawkeye, SK with his mother Anna (nee Ohrn) and father Duncan. In 1937 they sold the farm and moved to Vancouver, BC. After receiving degrees in Nuclear Physics, Mathematics, and Education at the University of British Columbia, he went on to become a teacher, Department Head, and Vice Principal in the West Vancouver School Division. In 1960 he accepted a joint appointment between the Faculty of Education and Department of Mathematics at U.B.C. where he completed his Masters of Education in Educational Psychology. In 1966 he completed his Ph.D. at Washington State University in Mathematics Education, Mathematics, and Higher Education. After becoming a full professor in the Faculty of Education, in 1971 he was appointed to Associate Dean of the Faculty. During this time he produced an award winning Science Series for the CBC and was awarded the Wilderness Award' for the Best Public Affairs Television Broadcast in Canada. He co-authored several textbook series, which became some of the best selling mathematics textbooks in Canada. During the 1970s and 1980s he was one of the leading mathematics educators and keynote speakers in North America, which included the honour of authoring a chapter of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Yearbook. From 1974 to 1983 he was the Dean of The Faculty of Education at the University of Manitoba, after which he taught and lectured as a Full Professor, was awarded Dean Emeritus in 1993 and Senior Scholar in 1995. He continued teaching until days before his passing. He impacted mathematics education and influenced thousands of former students, many of whom name him as a mentor. Eric was a devoted family man and spent as much time as possible together with family and friends at the cottage in Lake of the Woods. He was very proud of the cottage that he and his sons built from the ground up, and spent many an afternoon debating what the next project should be. Eric had broad interests and was never afraid to jump into a new activity including cards, golfing, rock hounding, astronomy, competitive chess, coaching his sons teams, and many more. Eric loved his many years of playing bridge with his close friends Tony, Ralph, Bill, Gerald, Jerry, Dick, Elaine, Ian, and Ivy. Eric is survived by his wife Fern (nee Bolger); son James (Susan), their daughters Megan, Jennifer, Lauren; son Glen, his daughters Scarlett, Desiree; son Bruce (Cindy) their sons Kyle, Liam, and predeceased by his granddaughter Mariah. A Celebration of Life and Reception will be held at the Faculty of Education Room 200, University of Manitoba (signs will be posted) on Saturday, December 5 beginning at 4:00 p.m. All are welcome to join the family in remembering and celebrating the life of this husband, father, grandfather, teacher and friend. It is Eric's wish that you not mourn, he asks that you spend time with someone special, and take them for a drink.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Nov 21, 2009