We regret to advise of the death of Sergeant Harold Murray Lang (Ret’d) on Wednesday, 22 August 2018 at ninety-six years in Toronto, ON
Murray was born in Hamilton, ON and graduated from McMaster University in 1943 as a biology specialist. He enlisted in the Royal Canadian Engineers during World War II and started his training with them but later transferred to the Canadian Intelligence Corps. He served as an Acting-Sergeant in Europe with No. 17 Field Security Section (Counter-Intelligence) and No. 2 Field Security Reserve Detachment (Counter-Sabotage).*
Murray completed his degree in Honours Science after the war at McMaster and became a Science Specialist teacher - teaching at Lawrence Park Collegiate Institute in Toronto (1947- 956), and at Burnhamthorpe Collegiate Institute in Etobicoke (1956-1960). Murray was promoted to Vice-Principal at Kipling Collegiate Institute when it opened in 1960. Then, when Althouse College of Education opened at the University of Western Ontario in 1965, Murray was appointed Professor of Methods of Teaching Biology. Four years later he became Professor of Science Education at the Faculty of Education, University of Toronto.
Murray retired in 1988 after 41 years of teaching - 18 in secondary schools and 23 in teacher-education. He co-authored 26 textbooks for high school science over thirty years. After he retired, McMaster University chose Murray for the Distinguished Alumni Scholar Award in 1991. He had served as President of the Science Teachers Association of Ontario (1962), and became a Life Member. After retirement he returned to U of T and completed a PhD in Education at the age of 71.
In his retirement, Murray was honoured by Etobicoke as The Citizen of the Year for 1998 for his volunteer work as chair of the Kiwanis Club of Islington "Service to Young Children" committee. He was later the President of the Kiwanis Club of Islington (2009 - 2011). Murray volunteered for 21 years at the Greenholme Community Breakfast Club helping to make and serve breakfasts to children at Greenholme Junior-Middle School. In 1996, he became Treasurer and chief fundraiser for a group of volunteers who maintained the breakfast club.
Family will receive visitors at Turner & Porter Funeral Home, Neweduk Chapel, 1981 Dundas Street W, Mississauga, on 1 September 2018 at 10:00 a.m. A Celebration of Life service will follow at 11:00 a.m., followed by a reception. In lieu of flowers, donations could be to The Daily Bread Food Bank or to The Lang Family Bursary Fund at McMaster University. Online condolences may be made through the Funeral Home.
*See part of his WW II story: https://cmea-agmc.ca/sapper-stories-historica-canada-memory-project-update
