DIONNE, DR. LEO ARTHUR - Dr. Leo Dionne passed away at the Dr. Everett Chalmers Hospital in Fredericton on Thursday, September 2nd, 2004 after a long illness. Born in Edmundston, N. B. in 1918, Dr. Dionne was the eldest son of the late Earl and Julia (Ouellette) Dionne of Arthurette, N.B. His wife, Margaret (Peg Lynam) Dionne predeceased him in 1978. Dr. Dionne is survived by three children: Wendy Dionne, Cynthia Dionne (Greg Belding) and Robert Dionne (Karen Kelly - Dionne) and two grandchildren, Ashley and Patrick Belding, all of Fredericton. He also leaves four sisters and five brothers: Emily Johnson of Presque Isle, Theresa Labreche of Saskatoon, Rita Hayward and Betty Ann McMackin (John), both of Fredericton, Lewis Dionne (Betty) and Alec Dionne (Marie) all of Arthurette, William Dionne (Barbara) of Ottawa, Dr. Robert Dionne (Jackie) of Rothesay, and Ronald Dionne ( Sheila) of Burlington, Ontario. Dr. Dionne was a well known scientist. After graduation from the University of New Brunswick, he did post graduate work at the University of Wisconsin and later, as a Beaverbrook Scholar, his doctoral studies in cytogenetics at the University of Birmingham, England. Prior to doing his graduate studies he worked for a number of years at the Agricultural Research Station in Fredericton where he was involved in potato breeding and research. He was a professor in the Department of Biology at the University of New Brunswick for almost 20 years prior to retirement in 1984. Dr. Dionne was a founding member of the Nature Trust, and of the Fredericton Unitarian Fellowship and served as president on at least three different occasions. Because of his convictions, he undertook the necessary theological studies and became an ordained Unitarian Minister. Dr. Dionne was very active in a number of areas in the wider community: the Home and School Association; the Capital Y's Men and the Y itself where he served a term as president; the Ethics Committee of the Dr. Chalmers Hospital; and the Laubach Literary Association. In his retirement, he became an instructor at the Kingsclear Reformatory where he pioneered in teaching illiterate dyslectic adults to read. He also devoted an enormous amount of time to breeding hardy roses. Especially important to Leo during his last illness was the joy in living that he shared with his special young friends: Hayward Russell Parker, Randy Geneau and Len Legere. There will be no visitation by request. Following cremation, a memorial gathering will take place at River Valley Funeral Services, 50 Avonlea Court, Fredericton, NB. (455-4267) on Tuesday, September 7th, 2004 beginning at 6:00 PM. www.rivervalleyfuneral.ca