Neil Douglas Westcott

WESTCOTT, NEIL

1944 - 2018

It is with great sadness that we announce the sudden but peaceful passing of Neil Westcott on June 16, 2018.   Neil Douglas Westcott was born on September 13, 1944 in Medicine Hat, Alberta.  He was the youngest child of William and Grace Westcott. Neil was predeceased by his wife, Linda only six short months ago.  He is survived by his daughters and their families - Sarah (Martin Leuschen, Thea and Adri); Catharine (Robert Topping, Luke, Noah, and Ella); and Barb (Nicole Mewis, Holden); his brothers Terry (Anne) and Brian (Marietta); his brothers-in-law Jerry (Rosemary) and John (Barb); and nephews, nieces, and cousins.

Neil met Linda Strand when they were students at the University of Alberta, where he graduated with a chemistry degree in 1966.  When Neil could not travel to their 50th class reunion, it was much appreciated when his honours chemistry friends visited Saskatoon in 2016.  Neil and Linda married on August 27, 1966 in Lamont, AB.  They moved to Vancouver where Neil defended his PhD in Chemistry in 1970.  In Vancouver, they enjoyed the company of Neil's father, aunts, and uncles.  Neil and Linda then lived in Cambridge, MA and Cambridge, England while Neil did post-doctoral chemistry work.  Neil worked at Agriculture Canada in Saskatoon from 1973 until his retirement in 2008, earning various awards throughout his career.  He studied grasshopper control, and then medicinal extracts from flaxseed.  He edited a book about flax and was awarded several patents for that work.

Neil was an active volunteer with the United Church of Canada at both the local and Presbytery level as well as serving on the Board of Directors for Sherbrooke Community Centre, and volunteering at Briers and within the local sporting community. He enjoyed recreational curling and organized curling draws for the Monday night faculty league. With a group of treasured friends, he made wine. Neil and Linda loved their travels within Canada and the US, as well as to Russia, Greece, Italy, Scotland, Ireland, and Australia to name a few. He enjoyed photography, both on these trips and chronicling his family. His grandchildren were his greatest accomplishment and he loved his time with them watching their activities, taking them to the park, seeing them on Facetime and getting email updates.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, June 23, 2018 at 1:30pm at McClure United Church (4025 Taylor St. East). The family would like to thank his caregivers of the last six months at Hyde Park View PCH for looking after our Dad. Most gratefully, we thank his faithful friends for their continuous visiting, especially in the last couple of years when having a conversation was difficult at times. Dad cherished those visits and they brightened both his ailing mind and his heart. Dad is free now from his struggles, he is reunited with Mom, and his brilliant mind and sharp wit have returned. In lieu of other tributes, memorial donations may be made to the Salvation Army, 339 Ave C South, Saskatoon Sk. S7M 1N5.