The following notice concerns Dr. Stephen Threlkeld, who died on January 10, 2014. Dr. Threlkeld was a mainstay of the Association in his three terms as President between 1991 and 1995 and a strong supporter afterward.
The text below is adapted from the death notice published in the Hamilton Spectator on January 13, 2014.
Dr. Stephen Francis Hilary Threlkeld died on January 10, 2014. He was born December 27, 1924, the son of novelist Charlotte Mary Matheson and Stanley Threlkeld, and raised in Newquay, Cornwall, U.K. During WWII, he served in the Home Guard and the Royal Air Force.
Photo courtesy of
Jo-Ann Fox-Threlkeld
Photo courtesy of
Jo-Ann Fox-Threlkeld
After the War Stephen worked as a shepherd on Exmoor (in Devon, U.K.) before immigrating to Illinois (U.S.A), where he managed a sheep farm. Later, he attended the University of Alberta, where he obtained his BSc and MSc degrees, and St. Catharine's College at the University of Cambridge (UK), where he obtained his PhD. In 1961 Stephen joined the Department of Biology, McMaster University, as a geneticist, and served 10 years as Department Chair. Throughout much of his time at McMaster, he also ran a working farm, which included sheep and cattle breeding.
Dr. Threlkeld lived a fully engaged life to the end. Never one to complain, throughout his life he adapted his interests when health compromised his abilities. Having grown up by the sea, he remained a lover of water sports and was an avid swimmer, scuba diver, canoeist, wind-surfer, sailor, and kayaker, including being a founding member of The Great Lakes Sea Kayaking Association.
Following his retirement in 1991, he became a published poet, painter, garden steam railroad enthusiast, a hobbyist of remote-controlled model planes, boats and helicopters while continuing his passion for science, philosophy and the arts, among other things! He will be greatly missed by his wife, Jo-Ann, his children, grandchildren and all who knew him. If desired, in lieu of flowers donations to The Stephen F.H. Threlkeld Bursary, McMaster University, or the World Wildlife Fund would be sincerely appreciated by the family.