Former Queen's Business professor passes away

July 22, 2005

Professor Frank Collom, long-time faculty member of Queen’s School of Business, died peacefully on July 17. He had been ill for some time with cancer.

Frank was known and loved by thousands of Queen’s students of the business and industrial relations courses that he taught for more than three decades. An Alumni Award for Excellence in Teaching and two citations in Maclean’s as the most popular Queen’s professor are eloquent testaments to his students’ appreciation of his warmth, dedication, unusual and engaging lecturing style and remarkable sense of humour. Frank also served two terms as Chair of the Commerce Program.

Frank was equally at home in and outside the classroom. In 1993, he was asked by the Mayor of Kingston to take over from the just-resigned Chief Administrative Officer and run the city until a replacement could be found. He did this, with great success, for 18 months, and left the City with the three-volume ‘Collom Report’ that continues to inform municipal decisions to this day.

For the past 22 years, Frank also served as coach, adviser, and consultant to people involved in Ontario’s not-for-profit and quasi-public sectors. His lecture and consulting work took him all over the province, particularly to the north. He accepted no remuneration for himself, and directed any fees to charity.

Frank leaves his wife Pat, son Bill, daughter Sarah, and his grandchildren.

Arrangements are being made to set up a legacy fund to assist Queen’s students pursuing studies or a career related to the not-for-profit sector. For more information on this fund, or to make a donation, please visit the Frank Collom Fund web page, or call Queen’s Office of Advancement at 800-267-7837 or 613.533-2060.