ROSS W. IRWIN, 1921-2013

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V16 2013 INDEX E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 16, Number 12, March 24, 2013, Article 9

Daniel Gosling forwarded news of the passing of Canadian numismatist Ross W. Irwin. -Editor

Reprinted from The CN Journal Vol. 58 No. 3 (April, 2013); the Official Publication of The Royal Canadian Numismatic Association (www.rcna.ca). Used with permission.

IRWIN, Ross Weston passed away peacefully, in Guelph, on Sunday, March 17, 2013, in his 92nd year. This brief announcement marks the end of his long and passionate association with our hobby; it ends his sharing of knowledge with us and closes a friendship many of us enjoyed. We’re left with the memory of a great contributor to Canadian numismatics. Tributes are arriving as we prepare this Journal issue; all of them with messages similar to this expression from one correspondent:.

“In sadness, I report the passing of member Ross Irwin. He was a character unto himself; one I’ll miss at our monthly Society meetings. Over the years, he wrote a great number of articles. He was long-time editor for the CNRS and a great friend to us who shared his love of numismatics.”

Professor Ross Weston Irwin was born in the Village of Cambray, in 1921. During WW II he served with the Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers in Italy and Northwest Europe. After the War, Ross worked in Peterborough, and in 1947, enrolled at Ontario Agricultural College, Guelph. Following graduation, he joined its faculty. Later Ross became a professor in the School of Engineering, University of Guelph.

Ross had collected before WW II and began again after returning to civilian life. His numismatic interests were chiefly Canadian, but unlimited in that category. He was a well-accomplished journalist and author. He was given the Ontario Numismatic Association Award of Merit in 1986. In 1988 he received the J. Douglas Ferguson Award for service to Canadian Numismatics. For over twenty-five years, he contributed vast numbers of well-researched articles to The CN Journal and other publications, articles on nearly every numismatic subject of interest to Canadian collectors: tokens, coins, medals, paper-money, military badges and medals, and histories of numismatic clubs.

Always an active supporter of our hobby, Ross served in several executive positions. He was Past President of CNRS, former editor of the Transactions of the Canadian Numismatic Research Society, a one-time Deputy Chairman of the J. Douglas Ferguson Foundation, and Chairman of its Publications Committee. He had been editor of the Canadian Military and Insignia Journal; co-authored the book War Medals and Decorations of Canada, and wrote “The Medal Roll of the Red River Campaign of 1870.” The extent of his early contributions to Canadian numismatic education was formally recognized by the Royal Canadian Mint in 1984 with its presentation of their RCM Award.