In memoriam of Jean Hodgins, wife of engineering founder

Jean Hodgins, wife of McMaster's first dean of engineering, John Willard (Jack) Hodgins, has passed away peacefully in Port Perry on July 2, 2006, in her 93rd year. Jean will be sadly missed by her daughter Susan Moss and her husband Brian of Oshawa and her two loving granddaughters Deborah and Heather Dolson.

The John Hodgins Engineering Building is named in honour of Jean Hodgins' husband, the first dean of Engineering at McMaster. Jack Hodgins (1917-1983) was born in Thorold, Ontario, and worked for the Defence Research Chemical Laboratories in Ottawa during WWII, serving as a captain. He came to McMaster in 1955 where he was professor of chemical engineering. Hodgins became director of engineering studies at McMaster, and was the founding dean of engineering. He helped design the engineering building that would later bear his name.

Hodgins left McMaster in 1975 and, at the time of the naming ceremony in 1978, was vice-president of Research and Environmental Technology at Domtar. Hodgins was awarded an honorary degree from McMaster in 1978 and was a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and the Chemical Institute of Canada. He served as a member of the Board of Governors of Mohawk College form 1967 to 1974. The building was officially named in May 1978 at the spring convocation, which also marked the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Faculty of Engineering.

In 1985 after her husband's death, Jean Hodgins established the John Hodgins Memorial Scholarship in recognition of her husband's extraordinary contributions in founding the Faculty of Engineering.

“Jean was so gracious and welcoming to the entire faculty, and especially supportive of her husband Jack,” says Don Woods, a McMaster professor (emeritus) and a long time colleague and friend.
Woods joined McMaster's Department of Chemical Engineering in 1963, as one of Hodgins' worthy recruits to the Faculty. “The faculty would always seen Jean and Jack at departmental functions. They were both so active in Faculty activities – often hosting events at their own home in Ancaster,” says Woods.

Jean was also known to be an active member of the University Women's Club from the days of it's inception as the “McMaster Wives” group which eventually grew to include the ever growing female faculty presence on campus.

Professor (emeritus) Cam Crowe was one of the first few Faculty members hired by Hodgins to help set up the Faculty of Engineering at McMaster. He remembers the couple fondly. “They were wonderfully welcoming to all new Faculty members; a real pleasure to know. Jean was a lovely woman.”

Friends are welcome to call at the Marlatt Funeral Home, 195 King Street West, Dundas tonight (Tuesday, July 4) from 7 to 9 p.m. The funeral service will take place in the Marlatt Dundas Chapel tomorrow (July 5) at 11 a.m. with interment to follow at St. John's Anglican Church Cemetery in Ancaster.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to the John Hodgins Scholarship Fund at McMaster University. Letters of condolence may be sent to marlattfhdundas@alderwoods.com.