James (Euan) Lambert
December 25, 1932 – November 15, 2020
Peacefully, at Ancaster Care Home in Crieff, Scotland on November 15, 2020. Adored husband of Deanne Donaldson as well as the late Brigid Beg (1941-1970) and the late Ishbel Margaret (1931-1994). Euan will be greatly missed by his children, step children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, spread across Canada and Scotland.
Private cremation and family gathering.
Donations can be made to Alzheimer Scotland or the Alzheimer Society of Canada.
It’s not easy to sum up the life of James Euan Lambert and the person he was, so I’ll try to describe it with a brief history. His 87+ years were lived with personal challenge and triumph, never anyone to be soured by setbacks, always one to appreciate outcomes.
Euan was born on Christmas Day, 1932 in London to Allan Lambert and Marjorie (nee. McQueen), two people of great honor and integrity. Along with his older brother Colin (now deceased), and sister Lesley, the family would eventually move to Dollar in Scotland partly to provide a better education for the children. We’ve all heard the struggles of living through the days of the Great Depression. Being born into it, perhaps, engrained into Euan his notorious thrift-fullness or frugality. I’ll never forget the story about the jar of marmalade he and each of his siblings would receive monthly as a way of rationing. Colin would have his finished in the first four days. Lesley would mark lines, one for each day, on the outside of her jar. Meanwhile Euan would consume the smallest possible amount each day so on the last day of the month he could gobble up the rest in front of his older brother and sister. Given his age I’m sure his intent was to gloat, but I think Euan just had it in him to be creative in order to reap the bigger reward at the end of the road, and he never failed to appreciate it. Growing up in his beloved hometown of Dollar and attending Dollar Academy was a source of great pride and often a topic of conversation in our household. The stories, the friends, the girlfriends, and the occasional bully, many of whom Euan kept up with to his last days. They were a large part of who he became but just as importantly, he was equally as much an influence on whom they became. At a Dollar Academy FP (former pupils) reunion decades later sitting in a pub with a number of old school friends, it was as if they never left.
Euan left Dollar to study mechanical and mining engineering at the University of Glasgow and earn a BSc in each. I never really knew exactly what sparked his interest in science and mechanics but saw the intensely creative side to Euan, mechanically, artistically and economically. The fountain in our back yard was a classic example. Using an old dishwasher pump and decorative rocks from a friend’s farm, about the only things that had to be put out for were concrete for the basin and the tubing to bury underground. But there was the more tranquil side of his creativity, namely his scenic watercolor paintings.
While in Glasgow, Euan met Brigid whom he would marry in 1961 and have the 1st of their children, Kirsty, in 1962. His career would turn him towards nuclear engineering, a challenge given its relative infancy at the time and one Euan would flourish in throughout his entire career over the next 30 years. After 5 years with the UK Atomic Energy Authority, and following the birth of his 2nd child, me, in Thurso, what then came was perhaps the greatest challenge of Euan’s life — moving himself and his family to another country overseas. On the encouragement of his boss at the time and lifelong friend, Joe Howieson, Euan had signed on to work for Westinghouse Canada’s nuclear division in Port Hope, then responsible for developing and manufacturing the fuel systems for a new initiative of nuclear power plant designed in the province of Ontario — the CANDU Reactor. Working up to Quality Assurance Manager for Westinghouse Canada’s nuclear division, then Vice President of Quality & Strategic Services for Zircatech Precision Industries, Euan will be known by colleagues as strategic in the development of the Z299 series of quality program standards which were later integrated into the ISO 9000 international quality standards. These standards are still used today in the over 30 CANDU reactors around the world, providing power to countries across the globe. Euan was very modest about his accomplishments professionally despite his significant contributions to the nuclear industry.
Euan was always a Scotsman at heart, but he would embrace North American culture with great enthusiasm. For me and my sister it made for a wonderful childhood. In 1968 the last of this his three children with Brigid would be born, Fiona, and the year after the family would move to Burlington, Ontario upon Euan’s relocation to Westinghouse’s head office. But just a year later in 1970, Euan faced tragedy when Brigid succumbed rapidly to pancreatic cancer. He was forced to make some very difficult decisions but determined to keep the family together. While back in Scotland following Brigid’s death, he met up with a Dollar Academy friend in Ishbel, upon the suggestion of his sister, Lesley. Ishbel had lost her husband 2 years prior while living in Jamaica with their 4 children. It wasn’t long before they made the decision to marry and Euan brought Ishbel with her children — Islay, Mandy, Mary & David – to begin a new life in Canada.
Both Euan and Ishbel knew this was a risky transition for everyone involved, but nonetheless had the love and confidence to make things work. What resulted in the end was a family as close-knit as if it had been one to begin with, and remains exactly that way to this day. Within a year, the whole family, 9 in total now, would be moving back to Port Hope when Euan was relocated once more. It was at 54 Elgin Street South where we all called home until, one-by-one, each kid left the nest. Euan & Ishbel too, 22 years later, shortly into their retirement. Many a story can be told during those years growing up in the Elgin St. house. The endless conversations and games around the dining room table, which resides in my house today. The numerous extended family and friend gatherings at Christmas, Thanksgiving and summer weekends. Oh, and the parties – great ones thrown by Euan & Ishbel with many attempts by the kids themselves to rival their success! Times were not always easy but Euan, along with Ishbel, always found a way to see through the rough patches where the children were concerned whether there were conflicts with each other, among ourselves, or others outside.
After leaving Port Hope for the lakeside condominium in Cobourg a few miles down the road, and only three years after retiring, the unthinkable would happen again. Ishbel would contract cancer and pass within the year, late in 1994. During that time Euan in his determined nature would care for her, nurture her, and spare no expense for her comfort in her last days. Truly a dedication like no other. Her death did not stop Euan from moving forward with his life, something Ishbel insisted he do, making him promise. He kept that promise and met Katherine, by way of a blind date, and had many happy times in her company.
In 2003, on one of his numerous trips to Scotland, he ran into Deanne, a Dollar Academy FP he had gone to school with. Married later that year, Euan once said he felt like a teenager again on his relationship with Deanne — truly a storybook marriage. Euan was also quick to embrace Deanne’s children and grandchildren, and the feeling was mutual. Married just shy of 17 years this December, for many of those kids, Euan was the only grandfather they ever knew.
Euan’s life with Deanne was filled with so much love, adoration and happiness. Their first decade was spent living part of each year in Canada, Scotland and Florida. In Scotland they looked across to a golf course, in Canada they looked over Lake Ontario and in Siesta Key they watched sunsets over the Gulf of Mexico. In 2014 they decided to settle more permanently in Scotland, still making it to Siesta Key a couple more times, along with various trips and cruises. While at home they enjoyed weekly games at the bridge club, walks around Gleneagles, parties and get togethers with Deanne’s family and many games of golf. And of course, they loved to watch their sports in the lovely room off the kitchen, much of the time while holding each other’s hand. Euan was missed terribly by his family in Canada but were always comforted by the fact he was with Deanne – she loved him immensely and he her.
With all the challenges Euan had been faced with throughout his life, the last few years has been a unique one as his memory continued to be taken from him. He was so lucky to have had the love and devotion of Deanne blessed further with the added love and support of Deanne’s family – daughters Fiona, Allison, Jen & Lindy, along with their children and spouses.
In total, Euan leaves behind a legacy to 11 children and stepchildren, 25 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.
Of the many who knew or just met Euan he will be known as one who would treat and speak as if he already knew you. A gentleman and compassionate listener, he always had great interest in what anyone had to say. An avid sportsman from childhood he revelled in golf and tennis throughout his life and would pick up any game with a stranger who shared the same passion. He also loved his games, namely bridge, for which he was known well for competing in, teaching, always having fun at, and still being able to play a mean game despite his deteriorating memory. An appreciator of the outdoors he loved his camping, nature walks and picnics at Cobourg beach as well as other neighboring conservation areas where we grew up. This was also evident in his professional work, when continually voicing his concern about how his industry was affecting the environment, and dedicating part of his job to seek solutions. Many will also remember him affectionately with his unique and humorous eccentricities. The bright red socks, riding around town and to work on a bright yellow moped and crash helmet wearing a suit, showing his pride as a Scot wearing tartan trousers – not a kilt, taking any stage to sing, dance or play the spoons, or just spontaneously introducing himself to anyone who he observed as a friend or acquaintance to any of us, in a casual or light-hearted fashion.
Many people shared kind thoughts upon hearing of Euan’s death. One of them suggested that the world lost three great Scotsmen this month: Euan Lambert, Joe Howieson (his lifelong friend) and Sean Connery. This is without a doubt very true, and upon further inspection, one can point out some interesting comparisons between two of them: Euan and Bond. James Bond.
They both had charming Scottish burrs, were unbeatable at cards and very well dressed. They both charmed the ladies, rode daringly on motorbikes and loved martinis. Lambert was more flexible, however — happy with either shaken or stirred.
Both men darted across the globe, ran on tropical beaches and braved icy cold waters. Lambert had no need for stuntmen though, routinely perfecting the art of tumbling on the beach to ready himself for old age. They both used ingenious gadgets to overcome challenges; Bond would have loved Lambert’s self-driving, tethered lawn mower and his washing machine/grape press.
They both survived getting poisoned. Bond from Le Chiffre and Euan from a self-induced diet of carrot juice. While Bond fought off a tarantula in the tropics, Lambert fought off a mad elephant in Sri Lanka. And both never stopped fighting for the good side, trying to put an end to all general unpleasantness wherever it might have arisen.
There are many other stories but if I were to pick one that could best sum up the character of Euan Lambert it would have to be the ducks on the top floor of his condominium building in Cobourg. Here he found himself with “Violet” the Mallard duck who decided to make her nest in his beautiful rooftop garden. Some might have just left them alone hoping they would disappear, while others forcefully removed. What Euan did was watch them with intense interest and make sure they were comfortable. When it came time for the chicks to follow their mother down to the lake just across the street, he recognized they were unable to do so. He then rigged up a pully and bucket to lower them safely down to street level so they could get on their way. In one act Euan could show his ingenuity to solve a problem, concern for nature, compassion for others and willingness to accommodate in any way.
To me and my siblings though he will be remembered simply as Dad, the man we were all lucky enough to have pass on to us, these same principles and character.
At the end of a good evening, he was very well known to say, “Well, I’m off to my yard.”
Rest in Peace, Dad. We know you are safe and content in your yard.
Your loving son,
Patrick
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Euan Lambert Sunday November 15th 2020..
Death notice for the town of: Port-Hope, Province: Ontario