Ryerson Alumni - Winter 2018 - 47

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Jim Packham
Professor Emeritus,
Department of Politics and
Public Administration

Wings farm team and the
Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
before attending Ryerson,
where he was captain of the
Rams hockey team in 1954-55.
After graduation, he worked
as an electrical engineer in
the mining industry and then
at the GM Tech Centre in
Michigan. Rusty's research
resulted in 22 patents for
General Motors, including a
patent for a pressure sensor
that to this day is a part of

The Ryerson hockey team in
1955 with Rusty McIvor in his
captain's sweater (back row,
fourth player from left).

The VanVlacks
plan to change
lives through
education

most automobile engine
control systems.
Alexandra Oliver
Image Arts '05

Alexandra died May 22
at age 33. She pursued a
master of art and philosophy
at the University of Essex
followed by a PhD in art
history at the University of
Pittsburgh. She remained in
Pittsburgh after her studies,
promoting local art.

Jim died July 3. He joined
Ryerson as a lecturer in 1968
after 20 years of engineering
and managerial experience
in the electrical equipment
industry, becoming chair of the
Electrical Department in 1970.
In 1973, he began a seven-year
appointment as vice-president,
academic. He was instrumental
in creating a centralized
model of continuing education
delivery that has been used
by the Division of Continuing
Education - now The G.
Raymond Chang School of
Continuing Education - ever
since. He also had a major
role in the launch of the
Advanced Certificate in Public
Administration in 1981 and
the BA program in Public
Administration in 1983,
the first stand-alone parttime degree at Ryerson. Jim
retired in 1990 and in 1992
was designated a Ryerson
Fellow.- Christine Julien-Sullivan,
Journalism '97

Richard VanVlack and Cheryl King-VanVlack are
leaving a legacy through a planned gift.
Richard's work took him to incredible places, from
the deep mines of Labrador to high wire acts in Las
Vegas. He credited the Chang School for a rewarding
career in Occupational Health and Safety.
"It was Richard's hope and mine that our gift will
help others live the life they want, like he did,"
says Cheryl about her late husband. To make that
possible, they decided to bequeath part of their
estate to Ryerson University.
You can leave a planned gift too. Contact us to find
out how.
Mira Claxton
416-979-5000, ext. 3793 I mira.claxton@ryerson.ca
ryerson.ca/plannedgiving

http://www.ryerson.ca/alumni/classnotes http://www.ryerson.ca/plannedgiving

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