In Memoriam | NEXUS Magazine | Alumni | Faculty of Law | UNB

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Faculty of Law

In memoriam

1929 – 2023

Joe graduated from the University of Ottawa. Upon completion of his BA, he returned to New Brunswick to study law at UNB in Saint John. There, he met the love of his life, Helen, with whom he would spend the next 65 years. Joe practiced law in Sarnia, Ontario, as well as Grand Falls and Edmundston, NB, until he was appointed a New Brunswick provincial judge in 1965 at the age of 36.

Joe held this position until 1976, when he was appointed Ombudsman for the Province of New Brunswick. He would hold this position until his retirement in 1993, becoming the province’s longest-serving Ombudsman. Joe received an honorary Doctor of Laws from St. Thomas University in 1991 and was a past president of the NB Provincial Court Judges Association and the Canadian Association of Provincial Court Judges.


1933 – 2023

Murray, or Murph to his friends, followed his father’s footsteps into the profession of law. He received his secondary education at the University of Ottawa High School and went on to the University of New Brunswick, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in 1956 and a Bachelor of Civil Law in 1958. He and Joan were married in 1958, settling in Fredericton and over the next six years, they grew their family, welcoming five children.

Murray enjoyed an accomplished and distinguished career. He practiced law in various firms, including establishing a practice with his father in 1968. He served as Registrar of the Supreme Court of New Brunswick from 1978 until 1983 and Registrar of the Courts of Appeal and King’s Bench from 1983 until 1987. In 1987, he was appointed Judge of the Provincial Court of New Brunswick.

His appointment to the Bench led Murph and Joan to relocate to Rothesay, and later Quispamsis. Murray was appointed King’s Counsel in 1973, and in 2002, he was awarded the Queen Elizabeth’s Golden Jubilee Medal in recognition of his public service and contributions to his community.


1944 – 2023

Paul will be sadly missed by his loving wife, Jeannine; his children: Marie-Josée Auffrey (Lou Giannone) of Toronto, and Jean-François Auffrey (Natacha Ouellette) of Bouctouche; his grandchildren: Philipe, Zachary, Charlotte, and Antony; his brother-in-law, Marcel Richard; two sisters-in-law: Annette Auffrey, and Rose-Marie LeBlanc; as well as several nieces and nephews.

Paul practiced law for several years, was a member of the Knights of Columbus and had a great passion for genealogy.


1938 – 2023

Bill was a proud graduate of Rothesay Collegiate school, where he made many lifelong friends. He and his loving wife Patricia (Curry) celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in April 2022. For the first 25 years of their marriage, they resided and raised their family in Fredericton, NB, where he practiced law after graduating from the University of New Brunswick Faculty of Law.

Their desire to be closer to family brought them back to his hometown of Bedford in 1987. His sense of community landed him on the Board of the Metropolitan Authority, which at the time oversaw both municipal transit and waste resources. He later became the Chairman where he served until the amalgamation of HRM.


1946 – 2023

Bill was a lawyer for his career, and in retirement was able to spend time with his family that he loved dearly...Bill was loved by so many and played such an important role in the lives of those he touched.

While his girls were in school, he took in several of his daughters' friends and treated them as his own. A man who would take the shirt off his back for anyone who needed, forsaking his own needs for the love of others. He will be deeply missed by all who were fortunate enough to have called him a friend.


1938 – 2023

Paul was president of the University of New Brunswick’s graduating class of 1961. With his degree in Civil Engineering, he worked for several years in the pulp and paper industry in Kapuskasing, ON; Rexdale, ON; Neenah, Wisconsin; and Saint John, NB. He was admitted to the Law Society in 1971 after he obtained a LL.B. from the University of New Brunswick the same year.

He worked for several decades as a lawyer in the New Brunswick Department of Justice and in private practice in the areas of labour arbitration, construction, and civil litigation law. Paul served in the Algonquin Regiment in Ontario, in the 1st Royal New Brunswick Regiment, and on the 1st Royal New Brunswick Regiment Advisory Board. He retired with the rank of Major.


1945 – 2023

A member of the Ontario and New Brunswick bars, George was a renowned lawyer in the province of New Brunswick, practicing labour law for more than 50 years and earning his Kings Counsel (K.C.).

A proud graduate of both the History programme (B.A.) and Law School (L.L.B) at the University of New Brunswick (UNB). George maintained an academic interest in both history and French language, completing courses during his years in Fredericton.


1947 – 2023

Dwight attended UNBSJ (BA’71) and UNB (LLB’73). After his graduation in 1973, he was admitted to the Law Society of New Brunswick, and he returned to Saint John, where he continued to practice law for 50 years and raise his family. Dwight’s love of the outdoors led to many adventures fishing and sailing on the waterways of New Brunswick. He enjoyed many summers camping with his family at Kouchibouguac, passing on his love of the outdoors to all his children.

His love of the water led him to become a lifetime member of the Renforth Boat Club. Dwight was also committed to giving back to the city he called home and was a long-serving chair of the Saint John Parking Commission and an active member of the Saint John Y Service Club for over four decades. He volunteered with the Alzheimer Society of Saint John sharing his knowledge of estate planning and elder law. In his later years, Dwight was a strong advocate for disability awareness and accessible spaces.


1943 – 2023

Pierre was an avid athlete, from jogging to completing marathons, skiing—especially with his boys. He was a dreamer and had many passions, sailing being at the top of the list. He also liked cars, politics and was an avid reader. He was interested in all world events and kept up to date. His devotion to his community was well known and consumed many hours of volunteer work.

He occupied leadership roles as President of his student counsel, President of the Caisse Populaire Ste-Famille, the development of Trails New Brunswick, the building of the Bathurst Marina, of which he was the first commodore, Port of Belledune, President of the NB Law Foundation. Pierre was a fierce defender of the linguistic rights of the Acadians. He chose to defend his clients in French in front of unilingual English Judges; those choices required courage 30 years ago, but he was perseverant in everything he undertook.


1939 – 2023

Don was born in Moncton and graduated from St. FX University in 1960. He worked in Ottawa for the Department Bureau of Statistics as a statistician. He went on to attend law school at the University of New Brunswick and became a dedicated arbitrator and vice-chairman of the Public Service Labour Board in Fredericton.

In addition to his work in the legal profession, he owned and operated R. D. MacLean & Co. Ltd. in Moncton for 20 years, was a lawyer for 50 years, and was an active member of the Knights of Columbus. He also served as a town councillor in Shediac.


1952 – 2023

A devout family man, proud grandfather, and friend, Allison (Al) built a law practice over 47 years on Fredericton's Northside - Whitehead Miles and Allen...Through the years, good times and mischief followed Al through grade school, hockey, baseball, fishing, and hunting, STU & UNB Law School, Liberal conventions, and his camp in Juniper.

He was a man of few hobbies; work, the Yankees, work, 45's, work, and red wine, yet each vice brought him joy, close friendships, and family. Anyone who knew him, knew he played hard and worked harder. A lover of life, family-first, and a fighter, he will remain with us forever through our memories and everlasting life lessons.


1951 – 2023

John, a remarkable individual known for his intelligence, kindness, and thoughtfulness, leaves a legacy of compassion and dedication. He cherished his 40-plus years as a lawyer, finding great fulfillment in his profession and making a lasting impact on the lives of his clients. John's departure has left a void in the legal community and the hearts of those who had the privilege of knowing him.

John's commitment to his work was unparalleled. Through his extensive knowledge and exceptional communication skills, he established genuine connections with those he represented, many of whom became close friends. John's ability to provide reassurance and address concerns with the utmost care and professionalism exemplified his character and dedication.


1943 – 2023

Howard was raised in Lowe Farm, Manitoba, and he met his wife and biggest supporter, Donna, while working in Toronto. In 1969, they began to grow their family. They had a son and then adopted six more children over the years. Together, Howard and Donna returned to school as mature students and attended the University of New Brunswick.

Howard, upon graduating from UNB Law, began practicing law in Saint John, New Brunswick. He was a special friend to his clients and was often paid with gifts such as baked goods, livestock, bird houses or paintings, likely to the bewilderment of his law partners.


1952 – 2023

Greg was a proud retired partner of the law firm Stewart McKelvey, practicing litigation. He graduated from the UNB Faculty of Law in 1979 and was admitted to the Bar of New Brunswick that same year. He was recruited by McKelvey Macaulay Machum and practiced there as an associate and partner for his entire career.

He developed an expertise in workers' compensation law and became an acknowledged expert in that field. He was frequently called upon as an instructor for the New Brunswick Bar admission course and was often invited to speak at continuing legal education courses for lawyers over the years. The door to his office was always open and young lawyers could always count on him for advice and help.

Also, an excellent athlete, Greg was the driving force behind the firm's various sporting events - especially firm golf tournaments. Greg was a good friend to everyone in the firm; especially loved by members of the staff who valued his candour, kindness, consideration, and sense of humour.


1946 – 2023

Although her educational ambitions were delayed due to illness in her youth, Mary Frances went back to school as an adult with small children, first obtaining her B.A. from what is now Cape Breton University, and then earning a law degree from the University of New Brunswick.

After completing her education, she returned home to Cape Breton to practice law. Aside from her years at law school, Mary Frances was a lifelong resident of Glace Bay. She enjoyed talking about her children, preparing nice meals, entertaining friends, and hunting for a good bargain. She was also a long-time member of the Catholic Women’s League (CWL).


1941 – 2023

Myrna continued her role as a trail blazer and role model when she fulfilled a lifelong dream and attended University of New Brunswick Law School. Admittedly, one of the older students, she nonetheless made friends and admirers of her fellow students and professors alike. She loved everything about the law and excelled in her practice, articling with Stewart McKelvey, working with David Lutz, and finally opening her own practice.

She was a fierce advocate for her clients and a kind advisor for all those who sought her counsel. She was equally respected during her time as Vice-Chairperson of the New Brunswick Labour and Employment Board and as a representative on the Premier’s Council on Health.


1966 – 2023

In addition to the above alumni, the Faculty of Law also lost a talented and dedicated instructor, François Michel Beaulieu.

François grew up in Edmundston where he graduated from Polyvalente A.M. Sormany. After completing a Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) from l’Université de Moncton in 1988, he worked for the family business A.A. Beaulieu Limited for six years before returning to Moncton with Manon to complete a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) at l’Université de Moncton in 1997.

François was called to the NB Bar in June of 1998, and started his law practice at the firm of Clark Drummie. During his time at Clark Drummie, François completed a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Alternative Dispute Resolution at Osgoode Hall Law School in 2006. Through this Master’s Degree, François discovered a new purpose, a deeply rooted passion and a different outlook on the practice of law, which he set out to share with others.

Drawing from that passion and his innate comprehensive professional skills, François developed a negotiation course in both official languages which quickly became part of the LL.B. offering at the UNB and Université de Moncton Law Schools. He then spent 18 years (until his passing) teaching the art of negotiation and sharing his passion for conflict resolution with NB law students.



Obituary excerpts shared from McAdam’s Funeral Home, Kennebecasis Community Funeral Home, Telegraph-Journal, Donald K. Walker Funeral Directors, Humphreys’ Funeral Home, Brenan’s Funeral Home, Elhatton Funeral Home LTD., Frenette Funeral Home, York Funeral Home, Arbor Memorial, Globe and Mail, V.J. McGillivray Funeral Homes, Reid’s Funeral Home.