Remembering Hazel

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Hazel Jean Campbell TOMLINSON Obituary
HAZEL JEAN CAMPBELL TOMLINSON May 4, 1925 – November 21, 2018 Of Toronto, Ontario and Key Biscayne, Florida. Born in Manitoba, her early life was spent in Willowdale where she graduated with a degree in Physical and Health Education from the University of Toronto and later became a member of the President’s Circle. During summer months, she taught archery in Nanaimo, and swimming at Eaton’s Shadow Lake Camp. Elocution lessons were rewarded by a silver cup for public speaking from the Ontario Temperance Federation. She continued studies at Laval University in Quebec, at Middlebury College in Vermont to receive a masters degree, and at the Sorbonne in Paris where she specialized in Seventeenth Century French Literature and History. While head of Modern Languages at the Port Arthur Collegiate, Hazel was awarded a scholarship from the Department of Education in Ontario to continue studies abroad and subsequently accepted a post as Lecturer at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay. As president of L’Alliance Canadienne, she received commendations for efforts to promote better relations between Canadians from Prime Ministers Pearson and Saint Laurent, Premier Lesage of Quebec, Governor General Vanier, French Ambassador Bousquet, the President of France, General de Gaulle, and the Port Arthur Chamber of Commerce. She was deputized by the Mayor of Port Arthur to make a presentation on his behalf to the Mayor of Quebec City. She was decorated by the Government of Canada for petit-point artistry at the Canadian National Exhibition. At the Lakehead, she became charter president of the Alpha Delta Kappa sorority, president of The University Women’s Club, founder and advisor of Le Cercle Français, member of Saint Paul’s United Church, the General and St. Joseph’s Hospital Auxiliaries and was an alumna of Delta Delta Delta fraternity at the University of Toronto. After retiring from Lakehead University, she pursued an interest in writing courses at Oxford University in England which brought success in publication by major magazines throughout North America along with membership in the National League of American Penwomen and in The International Women’s Writers Guild, and an offer to teach writing at Oxford University. Always interested in the elegance of fashion, Hazel was asked to join the runway to model for the latest spring collection in Miami’s Fashion World 2010, calling her ‘Ageless Beauty’ and ‘Timeless Wisdom’. She was married to Colin John Campbell who predeceased her in 1963, and to William Sherwood Tomlinson who predeceased her in 1991. She is survived by her son Dr. Colin Campbell of Toronto and daughter Dr. Lauren Campbell of Maryland, and her brother Leslie Campbell of Peterborough. Friends and relatives will be contacted at a later date regarding a celebration of her life and friendship. While Hazel has always loved pink roses, she has asked that donations and remembrances be directed to Sunnybrook Hospital.

Published in The Globe and Mail from Nov. 23 to Nov. 27, 2018

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