Archibald, Thomas “Ross”, Ph.D., FCPA, FCA
June 5th, 2021
Peacefully at Highview Residences on Saturday, June 5, 2021, shortly after his 86th birthday. Son of the late Jessie and Tom Archibald. Beloved husband of Yvonne “Vonnie” (née Mortimer). Much loved father of Nicole Archibald (John Straatman) and Jenny Archibald (Jeff Hayward). Caring grandfather of Scott, Brynne, Evan, and Claire.
Ross was born in Toronto and attended elementary school and the John L. Forster Secondary School, in Windsor. He was a first generation Canadian and fiercely proud of his Scottish heritage, hailing from the Clan McPherson. He obtained his BA (Honours) in Business Administration at the University of Western Ontario. There, he played football for the Western Colts, and also took up wrestling, subsequently winning the Canadian Intercollegiate Wrestling Championship in 1957. He later coached the wrestling team.
Ross studied for his CA (Chartered Accountant’s designation) while working at Clarkson Gordon (now Ernst & Young). With a view to teaching, his next move was to The University of Chicago, where he obtained his MBA and Ph.D. in Accounting. He also met Vonnie there at a party for the Commonwealth students. Patriotic as he was, he returned to Canada to teach at the Western Business School (now Ivey Business School), where he remained for 33 years, retiring as a Professor Emeritus.
Ross loved teaching. He was tough but empathetic and caring and made accounting fun. He would give his students a treat during exams (Crispy Crunch bars, invented by his Uncle Harold), and established a tradition of handing out Laura Secord candy canes to staff each Christmas. Many years ago, he established a scholarship fund for students in financial need in the name of his parents: the Jessie & Tom Archibald Scholarship Fund. Throughout his career at Ivey, Ross organised homecoming reunions for his class every 5 years and attended reunions each year without fail. He was also an ardent Mustangs football fan, holding season tickets throughout his career and retirement. He received the Ivey Alumni Faculty Service Award in 2018.
Ross made an unforgettable contribution to the accounting profession. Early in his career, he served on the board of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants (CICA). He was also awarded the Fellowship distinction, FCA, now FCPA, as a result. He was the founding president of the Western Ontario Chartered Accountants Association and helped to develop the Southwestern Ontario chapter of Financial Executives International Canada (FEI). His research and publications on pension costs and liabilities served as the basis for the section on pensions in the CICA Handbook. He was presented with the Al Rosen Award in 2001 for his outstanding contribution to accounting education in Canada. In 2012, he received the Frank S. Capon Distinguished Service Award from FEI. Fittingly, Ross also served on the Western University Pension Board where his final contribution was to help select Sun Life to handle pensions at Western.
The family would like to thank the staff at Highview Residences for their thoughtfulness and compassion in caring for Ross.
Cremation has taken place. Private interment at Woodland Cemetery. A Celebration of Life will be held on the afternoon of Saturday, October 30, 2021, at Sunningdale Golf & Country Club, in London. Those wishing to make a donation in memory of Ross are asked to consider the Jessie & Tom Archibald Scholarship Fund at the Ivey School of Business. Donations may be made online using the link below or by contacting Justin Pilon, Associate Director of Development at Ivey: 905-621-2001 or jpilon@ivey.ca.
Charitable donations may be made to:
Ivey School of Business – Jessie & Tom Archibald Scholarship Fund
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Ivey School of Business – Jessie & Tom Archibald Scholarship Fund
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Archibald Thomas “Ross PhD FCPA FCA June 5th 2021..
Death notice for the town of: London, Province: Ontario