Ron passed away peacefully with family at his side, in Ottawa following a stroke. He was born in Isabella Manitoba to Janet Ruth Iverach and Ernest Hamilton Bedford. He is survived by his sister Muriel Bedford, of Orillia ON, and pre-deceased by his brother Gerald (Jean Douglas) of Winnipeg MB.
Ron will be forever missed by the love of his life, his wife of 65 years, Trudy (Gertrude Cole); his children Michael (Barbara Hodgson), Dianne (Mike Traub) and Susan (Richard Yearwood); his grandchildren Chris (Linda), Jeff (Amanda), Adam and Alison; and his great grandchildren Kassie, Nathan and Logan.
Ron graduated from the University of Manitoba in 1952 with B.Sc. (Hons.) and from the University of British Columbia in 1955 with a Ph.D. in Physics. He and Trudy married that year in Vancouver, and moved to Ottawa where Ron began a distinguished, and highly rewarding, career, with the National Research Council of Canada. Ron’s 40-year career with NRC involved international collaborative research, and resulted in many lasting friendships. After retiring in 1995, with upwards of 100 published papers and book chapters, Ron retained his association with NRC as a ‘guest worker’ until 2003.
Ron had many interests outside of his work. He was an original member of the City View curling club and curled there for more than 50 years. He was an active member of the Ottawa Field Naturalists’ Club, serving on their Publications Committee for over 30 years. He was a respected birder, active in Ottawa’s birding community, and proud to have contributed to over 50 Christmas bird counts. He enjoyed nature, bridge, summer days at the lake in the Gatineau hills, old movies, poetry and classical music. Most of all he loved his family, and enjoyed any family gathering.
A private family remembrance will be held at Beechwood Cemetery on Monday November 16, 2020.
The family would like to express our heartfelt thanks to everyone who cared for Ron at the Ottawa Civic Hospital, particularly the staff of F7 whose care and compassion for Dad in is last days helped us all. We also thank everyone at Maplewood Retirement Community for their invaluable support of Ron and Trudy through what has been a challenging 2020.
In lieu of flowers, donations are welcomed to The Ottawa Hospital Foundation (in honour of F7) or The Heart and Stroke Foundation.
Digital Guestbook
James Bedford
Hana Traub
an amazing person, so glad to have known him and been part of the family get rogethers
Bertha R Kirby
I enjoyed every minute that I spent with Ron at the lake. So sorry to hear of his passing. My heart goes out to his family.
Zofia Laubitz
My sincere condolences to Trudy and the whole family on the loss of Ron. I will always remember him as part of the cottage community over so many years: his laconic manner and dry wit, his love of nature (especially birds) and, of course, his resonant sneezes! We'll all miss him.
Freda Godby
What an accomplished man. Our heartfelt condolences to all his family.
Michael Kirby
My condolences to all the Bedford family on the recent passing of Ron. I have known Ron, or "Mr. Bedford" as he was known to me, for over 45 years. We shared a property at Kent Lake over this period.
Ron was a gentle man, with a quick wit that you had to be sharp to keep up with. In the attached photo Ron is sitting on the deck of the log cabin he helped build, having a nice glass of wine overlooking the lake and having a laugh with Arnold.
One of the memories that sticks out for me is Ron strolling very slowly on the cottage road watching the bird activity and his afternoon swims with Trudy.
You will be missed Ron. Thanks for your friendship and company over the years. Michael Kirby
Jennifer Kirby
My heartfelt condolences to the family. I have so many wonderful memories of Mr. Bedford. I was lucky to have had grown up at the cottage and this is how I knew Ron.
The pictures I’ve shared are the memories I have.
His beautiful love for Trudy. Ron was always doing projects with my dad and Arnold and of course Happy Hour on the deck of the log cabin and his evening swim.
Eva Laubitz and Arnold Rutherford
We were lucky enough to spend a lot of time with Ron over the years. As a cottage neighbour he was always ready with help and advice. A favourite tradition was the daily happy hour where we would gather to discuss the day’s events (and to have a beverage). With his intelligence and keen wit Ron was an integral part of these gatherings. He was a good friend and he will be missed.
Our condolences to the family.
Daniel Brunton
Ron provided a strong and steady hand not only as a member but as chairman of the Publications Committee of the Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club (OFNC). That included overseeing the production of the Canadian Field-Naturalist journal through a difficult time that literally threatened the existence of this venerable and nationally significant scientific journal. His quiet, calm and persuasive arguments were especially important there but were appreciated in regards to many other OFNC publication issues during his many years of service there. The Club happily acknowledged that by most appropriately making him an lifetime Honorary Member in 2010. The legacy of his efforts will live on for many, many years and we all are much better off for them.
Laurie Cole
Uncle Ron, as I knew him, was a quiet gentle man with a quick wit. We felt very fortunate that he and Aunt Trudy came to the prairies on a regular basis to visit. Over the years John and I as well as the boys visited Ottawa and were always extended much hospitality by them. The last time I visited 2 years ago, U. Ron was still interested in what was happening back here on the prairies as he was asking me several questions and sought clarification about an article he had read in The New Era.
Our thoughts, prayers and much love are with you.
Uncle Ron was responsible for my interest in and pursuit of physics as both part of my education and ultimate career. His work, like so many others in Canada, have lead this country to be a world recognized leader in science, certainly out of proportion to our population size. On a personal level, I mostly recall Uncle Ron's keen wit and love of almost all sports, but especially baseball. Both those were evident the last time we had an opportunity to visit. He will be missed, and our condolences to all who had the opportunity to know him.