In memoriam: Bob McQueen

Few members of the UVic community, past or present, could claim the level of dedication to—and impact on—the university as Bob McQueen, who passed away March 18 at the age of 81. McQueen arrived before we were UVic, joining Victoria College as its chief accountant on March 1, 1962, then becoming the newly-minted University of Victoria’s first Bursar in 1963. In the early 1980s, he was appointed UVic’s vice-president of finance and chief financial officer (CFO), where he remained until his retirement at the end of 1992—after over 30 years at UVic’s financial helm.

President Jamie Cassels offered condolences on behalf of the entire university. “All of us are saddened at this loss, but we remain grateful for Bob’s contributions to our university,” Cassels said. “As Chief Financial Officer for 30 years, he guided UVic’s finances as our university grew from a liberal arts college into a research university.  Bob’s leadership was vital to UVic’s success and is remembered with admiration and affection.”

During his time on campus, McQueen was heavily involved in much more than the duties as CFO. In a Ring article written just before his retirement in 1992, he remembered his time as a member of the negotiation teams with two of the CUPE locals since their certifications in the mid-1960s. “I think we’ve tried to conduct negotiations at the university in a different sort of mode than in many other places,” he said. “We’ve tried to avoid the confrontational approach.”

McQueen was also part of negotiations with the Faculty Association and the Professional Staff Association, as well as being involved from the beginning with UVic’s various pension plans which, he felt, were among the best plans at any Canadian university.  As well, McQueen was instrumental in the creation of the Faculty Club (now the University Club) and sat on its board as Treasurer from its opening until his retirement.

McQueen was no stranger to the academic side of campus either, teaching UVic’s Commerce 151 course for 17 years. He understood, firsthand, the pressures facing Canadian post-secondary institutions, both from an administrative perspective and a scholastic one.

The 1992 Ring article notes McQueen’s respect for Howard Petch, the president with whom he worked the longest. That respect was fully reciprocated. “Bob McQueen was one of the most able university senior administrative officers that I had the good luck to work with during 25 years of service at three universities,” Petch said upon hearing of McQueen’s passing. “He had a unique ability to see through the bafflegab to the heart of a problem and to offer a possible solution which made his advice so valuable. UVic is fortunate to have had Bob as one of its guiding figures during its formative years.”

McQueen’s contributions to the university were recognized in 1997 when a lecture theatre in the new Business and Economics building was named for him and his long-time friend and colleague, Trevor Matthews, former VP Administration.  Matthews and McQueen, who met in high school, were known in some quarters on campus as the ‘Bob and Trevor show’ for their close friendship and working relationship, so the co-naming was a fitting tribute. When McQueen was retiring, Matthews had this to say: “Bob has been a pillar of strength in the development of UVic. As an administrator, his contribution is unequalled and will stand the test of time.  And, best of all, he has a great sense of humour, which makes up for his golf.”

Throughout his career and time at UVic, McQueen was known as a quiet, thoughtful person, with a deep commitment to the university’s teaching mission. He was a resourceful and skilled administrator who ensured that UVic avoided the financial crises that plagued many other campuses through the years.

A celebration of Bob McQueen’s life will take place at 2:00 p.m. on April 30, 2016, at the Cadboro Bay United Church, 2625 Arbutus Road.  All are welcome.