Obituary of Norman Wilson Tape

With profound sadness we announce the peaceful passing of Norman Tape, surrounded by loved ones, on Monday, November 18, 2024 at the age of 93.  Predeceased by his parents, Robert and Bessie Tape, and his first wife, Beverly.  Survived by his second wife of 35 years, Judith Dinsdale, his daughters Cynthia (Ziyaad) and Sandra (Rocco), grandchildren Alex, Eva (Brendan), Natalya (Tom), Jacob, Lucas (Anastacia), Lawrence, and Rose, great grandchildren Austen and Adele, and Judith’s sons Christopher and Brian and their families.  Also survived by his siblings Margaret, Robert (Helen), and Carolyn (Richard), and many nieces and nephews.

Born in 1931 in Brampton, Ontario, Norman moved with his parents to the Westboro neighborhood of Ottawa in 1936.  That same year, he joined the congregation of Parkdale United Church, where he regularly attended services for the next 87 years.

Norman obtained an undergraduate degree from the Ontario Agricultural College (now Guelph University) in 1955 and earned a Ph.D. from Rutgers University in 1958.  While at Rutgers he met his first wife, Beverly, then a student at Douglass College.  Following their marriage in 1961, Norman and Beverly settled in Englewood, New Jersey and Norman worked for the Thomas J. Lipton Company.  Following a move to Ottawa in 1962, they built a house on Halldon Place that would be Norman’s home and refuge for the next 58 years.

Thirty-three of the “Halldon years” were happily shared with Judith and filled with planting and harvesting home-grown fruits, vegetables, and flowers for Judith’s table, Sunday-night suppers with family, book-club parties, block BBQs with neighbours, piano lessons for the grandchildren, accordion sing-a-longs at Thanksgiving and Christmas, and endless lawnmowing and leaf-raking thanks to the rather sizeable property.

Professionally, Norman enjoyed a long and varied career with Agriculture Canada.  He started as a research officer at the Food Research Institute, later developed a pilot plant and institute to promote Canadian grain and oilseed technology, was appointed departmental secretary to Agriculture Minister Eugene Whelan, and capped his career as Director of the Food Research Institute.  Norman was elected President of the Canadian Institute of Food Science and Technology and received its Institute Award in recognition of his accomplishments.

Norman attended and chaired numerous meetings for United Nations agencies in Rome, Vienna, and other cities, and was active in international development work with the Canadian Hunger Foundation and Canadian International Development Agency.  He had the great privilege of travelling widely and loved to recount memories of the many places he visited.

Locally, Norman contributed countless hours to his community.  He served on the boards of the Civic Hospital and Ottawa Hospital, and volunteered at Grace Manor, the District Regional Health Council, United Way, Compassionate Ottawa, and other organizations.  In 2013, Norman received the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers from Governor General David Johnston.

In later years, Norman enjoyed exercising at the West End “Y” on Lockhart Avenue (the future site of Carlingwood Retirement Community) and subsequently at the JCC, Thursday morning group breakfasts at Chances R, golfing, gardening, and spending time in the warm embrace of family and friends at home and at the cottage on the Big Rideau.

The family would like to thank the 3^rd floor nurses and PSWs at Carlingwood Retirement Community for their kindness and compassion.  They contributed greatly to Norman’s care and quality of life, and helped to make him comfortable when it was needed most.

A memorial reception will be held at Pinecrest Remembrance Services, 2500 Baseline Road, Ottawa, on Tuesday, November 26, 2024 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm.  Words of remembrance will be shared at 6:00 pm.

As expressions of sympathy and in lieu of flowers, donations to the Dementia Society of Ottawa, or a charity of your choice, would be appreciated by the family.