In Memoriam: Morrel Bachynski
On March 21, Concordia lost a longtime friend with the passing of leading researcher and pillar of the scientific community, Morrel Bachynski.
Born in 1930 in Bienfait, Saskatchewan, Bachynski grew up on the farm but heeded the urging of his parents to obtain an education. He earned a bachelor’s degree in engineering physics, graduating first in his class, and a master’s in physics at the University of Saskatchewan before moving to Montreal, to pursue a PhD with the renowned Eaton Electronics Research Laboratory of McGill University.
In 1955, Bachynsky began his career as a researcher with RCA Victor Co. He spent more than 20 years with RCA, where he conducted research and held progressively senior positions, including director of research laboratories and the microwave physics laboratory, and vice-president, research and development (R&D).
When RCA’s R&D arm closed its doors in 1977, Bachynski made the daring decision to strike out on his own and founded MPB Technologies Inc. The company quickly earned an international reputation for excellence in communications, space, fusion technology, electromagnetics, the forest industry, robotics and lasers.
As MPB’s reputation grew, so too did Bachynski’s. In the mid-1990s, he officially became part of the Concordia family when Don Taddeo, then dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science, invited him to become the founding president of the Faculty’s External Advisory Board.
“The Faculty benefited greatly from Morrel’s kindness and expertise during a trying time,” recalls Taddeo. “He was instrumental in the accreditation process as well as in helping to expand Concordia’s innovative co-operative education program to all of the Faculty’s departments.”
Bachynski, who served on the board of directors of several different organizations throughout his career, was presented with honorary doctorates from Concordia, McGill and the University of Waterloo. He also received numerous awards including Québec's highest scientific prizes — the Prix Lionel Boulet, under Les Prix du Québec – les prix scientifiques, the Canada Award for Business Excellence and the Queen's Silver Jubilee Award.
Bachynski passed away peacefully at home with his family at his side at the age of 81. Donations may be made in his memory to the Bachynski Family Foundation (payable to BMO Nesbitt Burns), 1501 McGill College Ave., Suite 3000, Montreal, QC, H3A 3M8, Attn: John Roy, or to the McGill University Health Centre Foundation, 2155 Guy St., Suite 900, Montreal, QC H3H 2R9. The foundation can be reached at 514-931-5656 or 1-877-601-4536, and online.
Concordia recently lost two other members of the community: Father Marc Gervais and Father Stanley P. Drummond.
Related links:
• Gazette obituary
• Honorary Degree Citation — Morrel P. Bachynski
• McGill University Health Centre Foundation
Morrel Bachynski passed away March 21, 2012. He was the founding president of the External Advisory Committee for Concordia’s Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science.