It is with great sadness that the family of Dr. J. Rennie Whitehead announces his passing after a brief illness, on Monday, March 12, 2012, at the age of 94 years.
Rennie will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 67 years, Nesta and his son Michael, daughter-in-law Maureen, his grandchildren Tim, Natalie, Andrew, Katherine and Suzanne, plus his great-granddaughter Roxy. A Celebration of Rennie’s life will be held graveside at Capilano View Cemetery, Vancouver, at a future date.
A Cambridge PhD in Physics, Rennie was a key leader of the WWII team of ‘Boffins’ that developed IFF Radar critical to the British war effort and victory in the battle of Britain.
His career spanned periods as a McGill Physics Professor, Director of Research at RCA Victor Canada (and the design and construction of the ISIS satellites), Special Science Advisor to the Pearson and Trudeau governments, and an International Science Advisor.
He was also an original member of the Club of Rome. Founder of the Canadian Association for the Club of Rome, fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, member of IIASA and the Nato Science committee. He would be honoured if you chose to support solar, nuclear and hydrogen energy initiatives.