(October 10, 1956 - November 21, 2018) - After enduring a long illness, Angela’s death on Wednesday, November 21st in Barrie, ON was still sudden. She was in her 63rd year. Angela was resilient, feisty, independent, decisive, a risk taker, caring, fun loving and loyal. She was also a good mom, sister, friend, work colleague and a survivor, outliving her doctors’ predictions. Left to mourn are her much loved son Michael, her brother Gunther Kuhnt (Joan) of Sarnia, nieces Katherine Pollard (Chris) and Stephanie Kuhnt, and beloved great-nephews Evan and Riley Pollard. She will also be missed by many friends and colleagues, and Shanny, her last cat in a long line of pets.
In 1969 at age 12, Angela emigrated with her family from Germany to Canada. By 1979, she had graduated from the University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Applied Science, later earning her P.Eng. designation. For the next 6 years, she worked as a chemical engineer (Atomic Energy in Port Hawkesbury, NS, and Imperial Oil in Sarnia) before beginning her progressive career in teaching and administration within Ontario’s community college system. This included teaching at Sarnia’s Lambton College and Barrie’s Georgian College; Chair and Dean positions in the School of Engineering Technology at Georgian College; Dean of Engineering Technology at Centennial College; and Director of Business Development for CON*NECT, the provincial college system’s agency which provided access to province-wide training resources for business and industry.
Her political savvy and strategic leadership skills ultimately found their mark at two not-for-profit organizations. For 5 years, Angela was Executive Director for OACETT, the Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists; and then Executive Director for the Ontario Society of Professional Engineers. She wore her iron ring proudly, and it was incredibly sad when her career was cut short by her cancer diagnosis 9 years ago.
The family is thankful to Care Partners, Wee Mop, and Driverseat for their ongoing assistance to Angela which allowed her to continue living independently in her home.
A Celebration of Life will be held at Adams Funeral Home (445 St. Vincent Street, Barrie) on Saturday, December 1st with visitation from 2:00 pm and service at 3:00 pm. Although Angela loved flowers, we know she would appreciate donations to the Princess Margaret Foundation or to your local humane society.