Pre-obit?

Jock Talk

 Hello Jock,

I hope this finds you well.

I was writing a note of condolence to Chris McCutcheon, and got to thinking; why do we write these notes that summarize the influences people had on you, when it is too late for them to know?

I have had the fortune to travel quite extensively after retirement, much of it on cruise ships, and inevitably the dinner table talk turns to: What did you do during your career?

Thanks largely to one Jock McKay, I am fortunate to have had a wonderful career, and much to talk about, probably to the boredom of my table mates (and friends etc).

I realize now, after years of reflection and many, many discussions with people I meet, just how fortunate I was (and am), in both my working career and home life. I can say I had a a career I loved in a department that enabled you to make a difference and developed technologically.

You were (are?) the consummate enabler, which I think may be even more important than Director.  Thanks to you and many others, I can look back at a very satisfying career, and more importantly, I can see how your years of leadership shaped a department and many people, myself included.

The Stelco Research and Development Department was a wonderful place to work; many was the time that on my way home I thought - 'I had a great day today, I learned so much, accomplished so much, and I cannot believe they paid me to do it!'  How can you top that!  I see you as having enabled the development of many highly qualified and motivated people.

One of the things I remember most was the 'Jock Talks', when we found out so much more about how the company was doing and where it was going, than most other employees ever knew.

Many functions of R&D became ingrained in me.  At one point I chaired Current Awareness, and I now harbour an inexhaustible appetite for technology of many sorts.  I spend a portion of each day reviewing electronics, physics, medicine, automobile and a wide range of other technologies, in an effort to keep somewhat up-to-date.  This, using the internet, science newsletters and my engineering children as my modern day 'Current Awareness'.

I have thoroughly enjoyed your web site on the history of R&D and your remembrances, and want to thank you very much for the role you played shaping a great department and its people.

Yours truly,

John Olmsted