Mary Aletha Drummie
1939-2018
Mary Aletha (nee Erck) Drummie, passed away calmly in hospice
in Fredericton, NB at the age of 78, on January
25th, 2018 from complications with
cancer. She was mother of Eric Drummie of Fredericton, NB
and Ann Drummie of Oakland, CA, mother-in-law of Sarah (nee Powney)
Drummie, grandmother of Christopher Drummie, ex-wife of Frederic
Drummie, sister-in-law of Betty Drummie, aunt to Gretchen Drummie and
Blair Drummie, and great friend to many.
She was born in Brooklyn, NY and grew up in Ramsey,
NJ, attending Ramsey High School. She achieved a Bachelor of
Arts from Smith College, Northampton, MA, and went on to complete a
Master of Science (Industrial Psychology) from McGill University,
Montreal, QC. She had met Fred Drummie of Saint John, NB,
when she spent summers in Calais, ME and he was working at the Ganong
Bros. chocolate factory across the border in St. Stephen,
NB. After graduate school, she started married life in
Fredericton, NB teaching at the University of New Brunswick.
She later led a study and published reports on high school drop-outs
for the New Brunswick Department of Youth and Welfare over two
academic years;1962-63 & 1963-64. The statistical approach
helped to identify future students at risk so they could receive
earlier support to stay on track to graduation.
In 1972, the entire family moved to the Ottawa, ON
area. She provided some memorable set designs for the local
figure skating club shows, and hosted many neighborhood
parties. She also mentored the junior golf programs at her
local golf club, which instilled and shared the values of the sport
with many young people, including her two children who have enjoyed
the sport themselves ever since.
Her life-long love of golf started as a junior at
the St. Croix Golf Club in Calais, ME. Through her
relocations she was a member of the Fredericton Golf & Country
Club, Ashburn Golf Club, Kanata Golf Club, Irish Hills Golf Club, and
Canadian Golf Club. Beyond holding her B-flight handicap,
she also served in golf administration progressing opportunities for
women in the sport, playing a positive instrumental role in promoting
growth and development while maintaining the integrity and traditions
of the game. She volunteered frequently as the
Ladies’/Club Captain at each of her various clubs.
At the Ottawa District level, from 1974-1987, she served consistently
in many capacities including Tournament Chair and President. At the
provincial level, from 1988-1991, she served as the Vice President and
then President of the CLGA Quebec Branch. This culminated
with serving at the national level from 1993-1997 as Vice President
and then President of the CLGA. During this time, the
national office relocated from Ottawa to Oakville, ON. With
a large turnover of staff, Mary fulfilled many functions through this
time, and the move was successful including the search for and
training of a new Executive Director. She also worked
tirelessly with lawyers to update the CLGA constitution. Her
due diligence, strong sense of commitment, sincere dedication, and
superior organizational skills along with her efficient pro-active
approach propelled the national governing body to a policy based
board. Further, she implemented the idea of the
“Elite Golf Program” which was the new concept that
the national governing body would be responsible for elite
training. This was followed by the hiring of national
coaches. This concept was later emulated by the
RCGA. At the international level she was honoured to serve
as the non-playing captain of the World Team to the Philippines in
1996, and to serve on the Women’s Committee of the World
Amateur Golf Council in 1996. Attending the International
Golf Administrator’s Meeting in 1997 in Scotland was an
amazing experience, which included an unforgettable round at The Royal
and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews.
Mary also really enjoyed the camaraderie and spirit
of curling. She was committed to helping curlers improve,
most recently at the Richmond Curling Club (Ottawa), and she looked
forward to SLICCS every year.
She started playing bridge in college and achieved
Life Master in 1976. For many more decades she enjoyed
high-level international competition, playing recreationally, and
tutoring. In 2011 she reached Gold, and through 2017 she was
still actively collecting points toward Sapphire Life Master
level.
As a “smart lady” her insatiable
thirst for knowledge led to many world travels and adventures with her
daughter and friends. These included strolling on the Great
Wall, riding a camel at the pyramids of Giza, hiking to the Sun Gate
at Machu Picchu, staring down a Komodo dragon in the Galapagos,
viewing Hawaiian lava from a helicopter, riding a hot air balloon in
the Albuquerque Balloon Festival, floating through the Blue Grotto on
the coast of Capri, cheering at the Vancouver Winter Olympics, and
hearing icebergs fall off glaciers in Iceland.
She was a friend who would offer a lift, organize a
going-away party, pick the ideal paint colour, make everyone feel
welcome, send just the right card, and come up with the one special
detail to pull an event together. She was gracious and
determined, and always on the move. She will be deeply
missed.
Friends and family are invited to gather at the Wu
Conference Center at the University of New Brunswick on Saturday,
February 3rd at 1pm to celebrate her impact on our lives.
Any flower orders for the celebration should be arranged through
Trites Flower Shop (506) 458-1992 or (800) 906-0099. A
second celebration will be planned at a later date for Ottawa,
ON.
Donations to Fredericton Hospice House
(hospicefredericton.ca) would be an appreciated extension of the
family’s gratitude for the organization and the
staff’s care and dedication.
www.mcadamsfh.com
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Mary Aletha Drummie 19392018.source
Death notice for the town of: Fredericton, Province: Nouveau-Brunswick