Obituary Overview
Craigmyle Riddell
Craigmyle Riddell was born on October 19, 1933, in Banchory, Scotland and passed away peacefully at St. Paul’s Hospital, in Saskatoon, on November 18, 2018.
Craig grew up in Scotland where he attended St. Andrew’s University and completed a B.Sc. in 1954. He immigrated to Canada and in 1959 married Patricia Parker, whom he met while they worked in the oil industry. He later completed a D.V.M. with honors at the Ontario Veterinary College in 1964. Craig and Pat welcomed their first daughter, Morag, in 1966, while Craig pursued his Master’s Degree at the University of Connecticut. They moved to Saskatoon in 1969, where Cara, their second daughter, was born. Craig continued his education and received his Ph.D. in Veterinary Pathology at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in 1976.
During his 30 year tenure at the University of Saskatchewan he taught veterinary and agriculture students, researched poultry metabolic diseases, and did diagnostic and extension work for the poultry industry. Craig followed his passion for travel and spent four sabbaticals working in foreign countries. Throughout his career, he received many awards and accolades. He was the first Canadian president of the American Association of Avian Pathologists from 1985-86. He authored a handbook on Avian Histopathology, published over 80 papers in world-recognized journals, and presented at numerous conferences around the world.
After his retirement, he served consecutive terms as a Councillor for the Municipality of Corman Park. Craig had a love of the outdoors and many family vacations involved canoeing, hiking, skiing, and camping. He hiked the Continental Divide, from Banff to Jasper, in six stages, and over the course of four trips walked the length of the British Isles. Craig loved working with animals and birds. One of his many hobbies was training border collies to work with sheep.
Craig was an awesome dad who had a great sense of humor whether coaching his girls at soccer, teaching them to ski, assisting with the horses at Pony Club, attending recitals, or playing loud bagpipe music while cooking Christmas dinners. Craig had very high standards and suggested his daughters become a doctor and a lawyer so he could ‘feel good for nothing and be good for nothing’ in his old age. However, Morag and Cara chose their own paths and he was very proud of them.
Craig will be greatly missed by his wife of 59 years, Pat Riddell, his daughters, Morag Riddell and Cara Dawson, his son-in-law, Chris Dawson, his grandson, Keiran Dawson, his sister, Margaret Valle, his nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Grateful thanks to Dr. Basi and the staff of St. Paul’s Hospital, 6th Floor Medicine. As per Craig’s request there will be no service.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Craigmyle Riddell 2018..
Death notice for the town of: Saskatchewanatoon, Province: Saskatchewan