In Loving Memory of

Ronald Cavell

of Edmonton
Nov 25, 2017

It is with sadness that we announce Ron’s death. Ron was predeceased by Patricia, the love of his life for 50+ years. He is survived by his daughter Cathy (Doug) Bailey; son Robb (Deb Sigaty); grandchildren, Cole and Mikaeli Cavell; sisters, Kathleen (Leigh) Skene and Dorothy (Gerry) Sims; brother Edward (Donna Livingstone); numerous relatives and friends.

Born in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, he grew up in Lachine, Quebec and receivied his B.Sc. (Honors Chemistry) from McGill University in 1958. He then crossed the country to take a Ph.D. degree in inorganic chemistry at the University of British Columbia (1961), followed by postdoctoral study at Cambridge University in the United Kingdom, where he was a NATO Postdoctoral Fellow (1961-64). Ron joined the University of Alberta in 1964, and was a professor of chemistry until his retirement in 2004.

In 1985, he began working with synchrotron-generated radiation that allows scientists to see matter at a microscopic level, and became a founding member and president (1999-2006) of the Canadian Institute for Synchrotron Radiation, the organization that developed the Canadian Light Source (CLS) facility at the University of Saskatchewan. As a founding member of the CLS’s board of directors, he helped guide the facility from concept & design through to construction. In recognition of those efforts, he received the Saskatchewan government’s prestigious Saskatchewan Distinguished Service Award in March 2009.

A Memorial Gathering will be held between 3 and 5 p.m. on Sunday, December 3, 2017, at Foster & McGarvey Funeral Home, 10011-114 Street, Edmonton.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the charity of the donor’s choice.