With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Douglas French, Professor Emeritus at the University of Waterloo, just one month shy of his 101st birthday. Born 10 September 1923 in East Croydon, Surrey, England, he passed away peacefully, as he wished, in the comfort of family and friends on 7th August 2024 at his home in Ocean Park, Surrey, BC. He is survived by his wife Joy, son Richard, grandchildren Nadine, Tracy and Andrew, and great grandchildren Devon and Jillian.
He was predeceased by his daughter Jill Staranowicz. Friends are welcome to attend a celebration of his life on 27 September, 1pm, at St Mark's Anglican Church in Ocean Park. Doug was a decorated WWII veteran of the RAF, an innovative thinker and professor who pioneered the use of computers in manufacturing, a bit of a mischief-maker, a loving husband, father, and grandfather, a faithful friend, and towards the end, a bad golfer.
He loved a single malt scotch, an earnest debate, and a good laugh. Most of all, he loved his wife, Joy, and their immediate and extended family in Canada, the US, and UK. He was accepted as an RAF aircraft apprentice at just 16 years old.
He excelled in the academic and technical exams, with rapid promotions in repairing instruments such as autopilots and bombsights. He was posted initially to airstrips in Durban and Karachi. By 19, Doug was responsible for RAF instrument maintenance for the whole of SE Asia and led a unit of 100 men.
Notably, he flew on the planes following the repa.