Reginald K. Groome O.C. 1928 - 1999
Laurie Zack
1928 - 1999
MONTRÉAL / September 21, 1999 ‹ Concordia University has lost a strong
leader and a dear friend with the sudden passing of Reginald K. Groome
last evening.
A member of the University¹s Board of Governors since 1980, he was elected
Chairman of the Board on 30 September 1992 and served in that capacity
until his untimely death. Never wavering in his commitment to maintaining
the highest standards of honesty and integrity in his professional life,
his community work and his personal life, Reginald K. Groome led the
University through difficult moments and into a new era of unity and
growth.
Under Mr. Groome¹s leadership, a renewed commitment to civility, mutual
respect and scholarship was reinforced at Concordia and the institution
flourished under his guidance. He helped institute greater accountability,
invigorated academic planning and a new code of ethics for faculty, staff
and students. He led the effort to establish a more open procedure for
selecting senior administrators and was a staunch defender of the academic
mission and accessibility that is the legacy of Concordia¹s founding
institutions.
A native Montrealer, Mr. Groome was a member of the Hilton organization
from 1957 until 1990, when he took early retirement as Chairman and
President of Hilton Canada Inc. and Vice-President, Development, for North
America, of Hilton International Co., New York. In 1980, Governor-General
Edward Schreyer appointed him an Officer of the Order of Canada. At the
time of his passing, Mr. Groome was Chairman of the Board of Advisors of
Groome Capital.com Inc., a Director of Voyageur Insurance Company and
several other companies.
Mr. Groome was also active in many areas of community service. A lifelong
supporter of the scouting movement, he was Past President, former Honorary
President and Honorary Vice-President of the Boy Scouts of Canada. He was
invested with the Silver Acorn and Silver Wolf, two Boy Scout decorations,
by Governors-General Georges P. Vanier and Jules Léger, in 1964 and 1978
respectively, and was awarded scouting¹s highest award, the Bronze Wolf,
by King Gustaf XVI in Stockholm in 1996.
Mr. Groome was also a radio personality, whose broadcasting career began
in 1946, spanning 51 years with CJAD and CFCF. To generations of young
Montreal listeners, he will always be "Uncle Reg."
Mr. Groome is survived by his wife of 46 years, Christina (Walker), and
his three sons, Reginald A., Roderick and Richard, and six grandchildren.
Services will be held on Friday, September 24th at 11:00 a.m.
at St. George¹s Church
1101 Stanley Street
(corner Stanley and de la Gauchetiere W.)
--
(Mr.) Laurie Zack
Director, Public Relations,Concordia University
Montreal,Quebec,Canada
Tel: (514) 848-4889
Fax: (514) 848-2814
e-mail: lau...@alcor.concordia.ca
PR Web: pr.concordia.ca