Professor Emeritus, University of New Brunswick
It is with sadness that the family of Arnold Lloyd McAllister (Arnie) BSc, MSc, PhD, FRSC announces his death in Fredericton on November 16, 2010. Arnie was born in Petitcodiac, New Brunswick in 1921 to James Ervine and Bessie Louise (Steeves) McAllister. He is survived by his wife Norma May, daughter of James William and Beulah (Totten) Duncan of Saint John; his four children, Nancy-Lynne Baird, Elizabeth (Frank Koller), Kristie (Jack Knox) and Andrew and Sandra McAllister.. He is survived by six grandchildren, Sean and Kent Baird, Alexander and Dylan Knox, Samuel and Chloe McAllister; one great-grand child, Molly Baird; by his brother, Gordon and his sister, Jean Jewett. In 1943, Arnie, a Beaverbrook Scholar graduated from UNB (BSc Geology) as Valedictorian and the Gold Medalist for athletic achievement varsity sports. He was the Captain of the Red Devils hockey team from 1939 until 1943. That year, he married Norma and continued his military career with the reserves (8th Princess Louise Hussars in high school and ROTC in college) as a Lieutenant in the Royal Canadian Artillery (Canadian Pacific Brigade). When the war ended, Arnie studied at McGill University as a Sir James Dunn Scholar graduating with his PhD (Geology) in 1950. After two years working as a research scientist for International Nickel in Sudbury, Arnie and his growing family returned to UNB. From the moment he started at UNB and extending well beyond his formal retirement in 1984, Arnie was deeply involved in the life of the university he so loved. From 1962 to 1971, he led the Department of Geology through a time of rapid expansion in both facilities and faculty. He served terms on both the Board of Governors and the University Senate and was active in professional and learned societies. Arnie remained an unshakable, enthusiastic supporter of the Red Devils hockey team. Beyond UNB, Arnie quickly earned the respect of his peers throughout the international mining industry. He has been recognized for his leadership in the development of the volcanic massive sulfide deposit model that represented a world wide revolution in base metal exploration in the 1960‘s. In New Brunswick, he was a major contributor to UNB’s exploration program that lead to Brunswick Mining and Smelting’s lead-zinc ore body - a twenty five billion dollar enterprise for the province employing tens of thousands of New Brunswickers over the years. {With his students, they have been responsible for many such discoveries throughout the world.} During a distinguished career, he was honored as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, the Geological Association of Canada and the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum. He served two terms as Chairman of the Geology Division of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallury and Petroleum and two terms on the National Committee of Research in the Geological Sciences. As an economic geologist he also served in a consulting capacity to many Canadian mining companies and visited mines around the world. He also maintained a thirty year relationship with the Irving group of companies in which he found “a great deal of pleasure as well as a valuable experience.” Above all Arnie enjoyed teaching and was particularly proud of the leadership and accomplishments of his former students. As a father, he was loved by his children for teaching, by example, the value of steadfast commitment, truth and integrity. He showed his children the importance of pursuing excellence whether it was in the science or sports arena and that age was no excuse to stop learning and growing. Forever humble. Quietly thoughtful. Supportive. His children and grandchildren will miss him dearly.
Visitation will be held at McAdam’s Funeral home, Friday, November 19th, 2010 from 4 to 6 pm. A service will be held at St. Paul’s United Church, Fredericton, at 1 pm on Saturday, November 20th, 2010 with reception following the service. The Rev. Murray McFarlane will be officiating. A private interment will take place in Forest Hill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers our family asks that you consider a contribution to the A.L. McAllister Scholarship, c/o Development & Donor Relations, UNB, P.O. Box 4400, Fredericton, NB E3B 5A3. www.mcadamsfh.com 458-9170