It is with a very heavy heart that the Carleton community acknowledges the loss of Professor Emeritus David C. Coll, who passed away on September 6, 2018.
Dr. Coll’s contributions to the Faculty of Engineering and Design, his leadership of the Department of Systems and Computer Engineering and his contributions to the development and advancement of communications engineering, in particular, are immeasurable.
His daughter, Barbara, who is an alumnae of the Faculty, has kindly shared the following message with us:
“It is with great sadness that I let you know of the passing of my father Dr. David Coll last week in Ottawa peacefully in his sleep at the age of 85. Dad loved Carleton, teaching, and Ottawa but mostly he loved his students.”
Dr. Coll’s obituary follows:
Dr. David C. Coll, Professor Emeritus, Systems and Computer Engineering, Carleton University, Ottawa, died September 6, 2018 peacefully in his sleep at the age of 85. Dave was born June 17, 1933 in Montreal to Clarence Coll and Lillian (Jones) Coll. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Margaret Jean (Duhan) Coll; and his children Barbie and husband John; Eric and husband Eric; and daughter Nancy Catherine; and his four grandchildren James, Liliane, Margot and Adrien.
Dr. Coll graduated from McGill University with Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Engineering Physics, studied Information Theory at MIT, and was awarded the first Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Carleton University.
Dr. Coll will be remembered by thousands of Carleton Engineering students, whom he taught during his 40 years at Carleton, for his renowned skills as a teacher and for his sense of humour. He was a pioneer in researching what we know today as video conferencing and distance learning over the Internet, and was instrumental in starting the Communications Engineering program at Carleton where he served as Chair of the Systems and Computer Engineering Department from 1975-78 and 1988-89.
Among the many awards and recognitions for his contribution to Engineering and society, he was most proud of being named a Life Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE). Dave will also be remembered by many on Black Donald Lake where he built his beloved cottage and spent most summers on Coll Island.
A memorial service will be held at Kelly’s Funeral Home at 2313 Carling Avenue on September 29, 2018. Friends are invited to visit at 1:00 pm, with a chapel service to follow at 2:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the David. C. Coll Scholarship in Computer Systems Engineering online at futurefunder.ca.
