Hugh Phd

October 24, 1930 – Bishop Auckland, England

July 22, 2014 – Ottawa

It is with profound sadness that the family of Hugh Dibbs announces his passing. Hugh was the beloved husband of the late Ruth Dibbs (nee Nicholson) and cherished father of Susan (Ken), Ian and Janet (Michael), and grandchildren: Lauren, Rachel, Connor, Nicholas, Fiona, Gillian and Stephen. His close friends and family, especially Catherine, Mary Anna, Bonnie, Denyse and Dawn, will miss him dearly.

Hugh was born in Bishop Auckland, England from humble coal mining roots. He earned a PhD in chemistry from the University of London, where he met his future wife Ruth, a Canadian graduate student. They were married in England and once he completed a post-doctoral fellowship in Oxford, Hugh and Ruth emigrated to Canada with their infant daughter Susan. He spent the rest of his working career with the federal government in Ottawa, with Atomic Energy of Canada, the Mines Branch and later with the newly formed Environment Department. Developing science-based air pollution standards were one of his many accomplishments.

Hugh was an avid reader and life-long learner. He always followed English football. He and Ruth travelled extensively, enjoying 52 trans-Atlantic flights, many European river cruises and relaxing on sunny islands. A memorial will be held at the Westboro Chapel of Tubman Funeral Homes, 403 Richmond Rd Ottawa, on Saturday August 2 at 1:00PM. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate that donations be made to the Alzheimer Society of Canada or the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada.