Dental technologist Ron McDonald spent 20 years working for the Faculty of Dentistry. He was the guy who maintained the handpieces, dental chairs, lights, and X-ray machines. He ordered supplies. And as new equipment arrived in the Faculty, he was the guy who made sure it was put in the right place and that all the plumbing and electrical supplies were ready to connect up to it.
When he died of cancer on August 30, 2016, Ron left behind not only his wife Jeanette and other close family members, he also left many colleagues who remember him fondly for his sense of humour, love of sports and fitness, and his ability to fix anything.
Assistant dean of clinics Dr. Blaine Cleghorn says, “What I remember most about Ron was his incredible attention to detail. He was a master at fixing equipment and finding innovative ways to correct problems. He took pride in his work and was a valued member of our team.”
Senior equipment technician David Mercer hired Ron right after he graduated from NSIT as an electronic engineering technologist. Ron was in his early 20s and Mercer remembers him as a good worker, an excellent technician, and someone who wasn’t phased by anything.
“He got along with everyone, and if he had a bad day, he never showed it,” says Mercer. “It was Ron who devised a system to integrate repair forms into the computer records, which he then picked up on his smart phone. He could see from the report what the repair was and know in advance what tools were needed. It saved so much time and it was a system that no other school had at that time.”
When it came time for him to retire in 2005, Mercer had no doubt that he was leaving the Faculty in good hands.
Dental assistant Jennifer Wallace also remembers Ron fondly: “Ron was so helpful to me at work. He knew exactly what to do and did his job with a smile on his face. He had a great sense of humour and an infectious smile.”
Ron’s wife Jeanette says that he “loved working at Dal and took so much pride in his job”. For that, he is remembered and missed.
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