Dr. Ross Leonard JUDD (’54) passed away August 28^th, 2025 in his 89^th year. Survived by his beloved wife Joyce (Swerdfeger), daughter Mary Ellen, four grandchildren and his sister Carol Hosking (’57). Predeceased by his son David.

Ross was awarded the Gold Medal when he graduated from Western’s first Engineering class in 1958. He went on earn his Masters in Mechanical Engineering at McMaster in 1963, followed by his Ph.D. (U of Michigan). He was a professor in McMaster’s Mechanical Engineering for over 50 years, praised by both his students and fellow faculty members: “Dr. Judd was an icon, an incredible teacher and a mentor.” 

In 2002, Ross was inducted into the Order of Honour of the Professional Engineers of Ontario (PEO) for his long outstanding service. In 2014 he was made an Officer of the Order of Honour. In 2023, a sugar maple tree was planted on the McMaster campus to commemorate his 55 years of service.  When asked to say a few words, Dr. Judd shared this: “If you do what you love, you ‘ll never have to work a day in your life.”

Apart from his celebrated life as a teacher, Ross was a dedicated family man, known for his love of dogs and holiday traditions like the Christmas jigsaw puzzle. He also enjoyed bridge, wood working, attending plays and watching CFL football. His involvements with the United Church of Canada were also very important to him.

Dorothy Agnes (Cole) Woolley (‘55) passed away peacefully on Oct. 28, 2025, after a short illness, in her 88th year. Predeceased by her husband Victor Woolley (’57) (d. 2023) and brothers Harold (’57) (d. 2007) and Gerald Cole (’65) (d. 2017). Loving mother of three (David, Valerie and John), cherished grandmother of eight and proud great-grandmother of one. Dorothy “lived her life with warmth, grace, and a deep faith that guided her in all she did”.

She enjoyed spending time with family and friends, teaching, playing bridge, and practicing yoga. Dorothy loved to travel and treasured many winters spent on Jekyll Island and in Florida. An active spirit, she enjoyed tennis and pickleball. Dorothy was also a proud and engaged alumna of South Collegiate Institute and a member of Elmwood Presbyterian Church.

Barry Allan Wells (aka Butch McLarty) (’72) passed away at University Hospital Nov. 4, 2025, age 71. He is survived by his brother Darrell (’71) (Claire) of Victoria, BC, and son Adam Lauder of Waterloo.
His passing was recognized in a Free Press article on Nov. 12^th.  “Barry Wells did many things in his eclectic life in London: Journalist, historian, cab driver, city hall critic. But one role likely stands out above all others – he was among the most passionate boosters of the city’s historic Labatt Park.” (Ryan Goodison, LFP, Nov. 12/’25)

Barry was an avid London Majors baseball fan, and researched Senior Intercounty Baseball history for the London Majors Alumni Association. As the founder of “Friends of Labatt Park”, he was successful in having the park declared a Provincial Heritage Site, and officially recognized in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s oldest continuously used baseball grounds. In 2006, he was recognized for his heritage efforts, when he was named to the mayor’s honour list. Barry also wrote for Scene magazine under the pseudonym of “Butch McLarty”, and was both a friend and a thorn in the side of some municipal politicians in his critiques of City Hall. He was at the forefront in his advocacy of pushing for open, transparent local government.

STAFF OBITUARY:

Judith (“Judy”) Ann (Quick) Lloyd (staff, early 60’s) passed away on Oct. 29, 2025 in her 88^th year. Judy was a dedicated math teacher at South in the early 60’s. She saw math as an “art, unlike most people, and her patience was beyond comparison”. She was predeceased by her husband, Barry Lloyd, who taught French at South for several years before retiring in the late 1970’s. She is survived by son, Dr. John Lloyd, daughter Carolyn and grandson, Nicholas Lloyd.

While raising her children, she worked as a bookkeeper in a medical office, but as her children got older, she returned to her passion, teaching mathematics at Wheable Adult, Alternative and Continuing Education School. She supported her students, helping them overcome any previous fear of math. Many of them went on to pursue new careers and endeavours that they had never previously imagined.

Described as a “dedicated friend, and an endlessly good listener”, she was “always there for the people she loved”.  A lifelong learner and educator, she “faced adversity in her life with bravery, persistence and perseverance, and demonstrated that important lesson to all who knew her”.