Obituary for Ronald James Walsh
WALSH, Ronald James
Passed away at Balsam Lake June 12th, 2021. Ron is loved and will be missed by his son Sean (Balsam Lake) and daughter Pegeen, son-in-law Gil Hardy and granddaughter Anne (Toronto) and numerous relatives and friends. Ron was born in Toronto September 20, 1928. As a graduate of Queen's University and with a Masters of Psychology from the University of Waterloo, Ron held various positions as a career counsellor at General Electric (Peterborough), the federal employment department (Lindsay), Algonquin College (Ottawa) and helped create the first engineering co-op program at the University of Waterloo. Over many years at the University of Waterloo’s Student Services, Ron left his most enduring influence as a personal and career counselor to countless students. He was admired as a wise, caring and skilled counselling professional by his clients and University staff and faculty. Students, colleagues, family and friends were drawn to his optimistic spirit, compassionate listening and caring. He had a unique way of making those who knew him feel valued and special. He was a great communicator. Ron had a great zest for life, adventure and learning. He was influenced by the humanistic ideas emerging during the ‘60s and ‘70s. He was adventurous in his exploration of then current psychological theories and therapies. He was especially influenced by the writings of Carl Jung and Alexander Lowen. He practiced physical disciplines such as Tai Chi, yoga and modern dance. Ron enjoyed physical activity and loved to share skiing, sailing, and canoeing with his family and friends. Ron loved to travel to various parts of the world with his late wife Joan, especially the year they spent on a job exchange in Australia and in his later years with Sean in Hawaii, Arizona and other places. He and Joan created a welcoming gathering place for family and friends at their homes in Peterborough, Kitchener and Hartscomehome in Elora, as he did with Sean at Balsam Lake.
He lived his unconventional life to the fullest. On his last day, Ron, at the age of 92, enjoyed one final canoe ride on his favourite lake, first discovered as a young camper, and shared memories with Sean of all the people he loved and adventures they had. A celebration of life will be held post-Covid. Remembrances to Oxfam or the charity of one's choice would be appreciated by the family.
Passed away at Balsam Lake June 12th, 2021. Ron is loved and will be missed by his son Sean (Balsam Lake) and daughter Pegeen, son-in-law Gil Hardy and granddaughter Anne (Toronto) and numerous relatives and friends. Ron was born in Toronto September 20, 1928. As a graduate of Queen's University and with a Masters of Psychology from the University of Waterloo, Ron held various positions as a career counsellor at General Electric (Peterborough), the federal employment department (Lindsay), Algonquin College (Ottawa) and helped create the first engineering co-op program at the University of Waterloo. Over many years at the University of Waterloo’s Student Services, Ron left his most enduring influence as a personal and career counselor to countless students. He was admired as a wise, caring and skilled counselling professional by his clients and University staff and faculty. Students, colleagues, family and friends were drawn to his optimistic spirit, compassionate listening and caring. He had a unique way of making those who knew him feel valued and special. He was a great communicator. Ron had a great zest for life, adventure and learning. He was influenced by the humanistic ideas emerging during the ‘60s and ‘70s. He was adventurous in his exploration of then current psychological theories and therapies. He was especially influenced by the writings of Carl Jung and Alexander Lowen. He practiced physical disciplines such as Tai Chi, yoga and modern dance. Ron enjoyed physical activity and loved to share skiing, sailing, and canoeing with his family and friends. Ron loved to travel to various parts of the world with his late wife Joan, especially the year they spent on a job exchange in Australia and in his later years with Sean in Hawaii, Arizona and other places. He and Joan created a welcoming gathering place for family and friends at their homes in Peterborough, Kitchener and Hartscomehome in Elora, as he did with Sean at Balsam Lake.
He lived his unconventional life to the fullest. On his last day, Ron, at the age of 92, enjoyed one final canoe ride on his favourite lake, first discovered as a young camper, and shared memories with Sean of all the people he loved and adventures they had. A celebration of life will be held post-Covid. Remembrances to Oxfam or the charity of one's choice would be appreciated by the family.