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Western's multi-generation graduates - Bocking family

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With Western connections stretching back 70 years, Bocking family members have been energetic students, faculty, administrators, volunteers and philanthropists at their alma mater.

Douglas Bocking, MD’43, was part of the first Bocking inundation of Western. Twin brother Jack earned a BSc (Botany) in 1942. Sister Margaret studied nursing – (BScN’44). She married Malcolm Edworthy, MD’44. Two of her grandchildren attended – Benjamin Nelson, BSc’98, HBA’03, and David Nelson, BESc’02 (Software Engineering).

Douglas went afield for training and employment, meeting Vivian Dixon, BA’82, in Quebec and marrying. The couple put down roots in London in 1952 and in short order the second Bocking wave at Western began.

Daughter Barbara (BScN’69) married John Thompson (BSc’67-Math). His sisters, Linda Bayliss (nee Thompson) BA’70 & Teaching Diploma 1971 and Donna Napasny (nee Thompson) BA’72 & Teaching Diploma 1974, were also alumnae. Bruce, MD’71, married Carolyn Abercromby, BSc’71 (Pharmacology & Physiology). Carolyn’s sister Susan,BScN’75, married Blaine Cruickshank, MD’76.

Kenneth, MD’75, married Dianne Whitmore, BA’73 (Home Economics-Brescia). Son Steven, BSc’02 (Actuarial Science) graduated, as did Dianne’s sister Lynne, BSc’76 (Physiotherapy) and her husband Robert Geddes, BSc’74 (Geology), MSc’80 (Geology). Dianne’s dad, BA’55 Carmen also graduated.

Alan, MD’75, married Barbara Miller, BSc’76 (Physiotherapy). Barbara’s mother Paula Denney, BSc’48 (Chemistry) married Geoffrey Miller, MD’50.

Donald, BSW’80 (King’s), married Ann Morawetz. Ann’s father Bruno, BA’48 (Philosophy) married Gwen Jones, BA’49. The youngest child, Bob, attended Western for biology then transferred to UBC to focus on marine biology.

Douglas, who remains an active presence on campus, was a faculty member and medicine dean (1965-78). Vivian, BA’82 (Political Science),who died this year, earned a Western degree after the children graduated.

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