RANDOLPH (BUD) FAIRLEY

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RANDOLPH (BUD) FAIRLEY Randolph (Bud) Fairley died peacefully at Victoria General Hospital in Winnipeg on May 30, 2014. He was predeceased by his wife Anne Fairley (Rockwell), and grandson Ross Moroz. Bud is survived by his son Stephen Fairley (Sharon Cairns) of Calgary, Alberta, his son Bryant Fairley of Victoria, British Columbia, his stepdaughter Kathi Moroz (Nick) of Spruce Grove, Alberta; his granddaughters Katy Fairley and Elle Fairley of Victoria, British Columbia and Misha Nelson (Caleb) of Edmonton, Alberta. Bud was born in Campbellton, New Brunswick in 1922. He had an interesting and challenging childhood through the Great Depression which nonetheless left him with many happy memories he wrote about and published in "Anecdotal Memoirs" (ISBN 0-9782437-0-6). He won a Governor General's Medal and a scholarship in high school which enabled him to study and earn a Bachelor of Engineering degree from the University of New Brunswick. This was followed by a Masters of Engineering from McGill University. From 1944 Bud was an engineer for the CBC in increasingly senior capacities during the exciting and demanding years of building broadcast and colour television. He retired in 1979 as Regional Engineer for the Prairie Provinces based at CBC Winnipeg. In retirement, Bud was an avid astronomer and computer programmer. At the urging of Dr. Richard Bochonko of the Astronomy and Physics Department at the University of Manitoba, who became a close friend, he developed software to analyze and map digital pictures of the stars. At Bud's request no service will be held. He had wonderful celebrations on his 90th birthday milestone with family and friends Richard and his wife Helen in Victoria, and with friends and neighbours in Winnipeg. Bud's wish was that these celebrations would have been the punctuation mark on a long life that set a new Fairley family male record by 12 years. He was always a bit irate thereafter that nature and the law in Canada at this time were not more respectful of his wishes. Our family wishes to thank the staff of 4 North at the Victoria General Hospital and Dr. Lowden for the wonderful care and respect they gave Bud in his last months. In lieu of flowers, those interested may donate to the Salvation Army to help the homeless, an organization which Bud supported for this purpose throughout his life, including urging donations in lieu of personal gifts from family at Christmas.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jun 07, 2014