Henry Ramsay Miller Murray, P.Eng., FCSSE, FEIC

Husband. Father. Grandfather. Engineer. Bridge-builder. Mentor. Rotarian. Sailor. Storyteller.  These words are all true of Ramsay, yet none of them seem adequate to capture the impact he left on the world and the lives he touched. Ramsay is survived by his wife Hazel, three children Sheila Ruffell (Greg), David (Heather), and Thomas (Nikkii Kahl), and five grandchildren (Jennifer, Andrew, Kate, Stewart, and Ben) and sister Betty Moss.

He was born on the Isle of Man on April 19, 1926 to Sara Millicent Murray and Col. Thomas Murray, OBE, a Civil Engineer and military veteran.  Ramsay was raised in Newton Stewart and Stranraer in the west of Scotland, and cherished his Scottish roots and heritage throughout his life. During summers on the family farm in nearby Cumberland he learned to fix anything that needed it with a bit of spare wire and whatever odd mix of screws happened to be at hand.  He earned a degree in Civil Engineering at the University of Glasgow then joined the Royal Air Force in their Airfield Construction Service during the second World War.  He worked across Europe building airfields in support of the Berlin Airlift, and later demilitarizing the airfields used by the German Luftwaffe.

In 1950, Ramsay was recruited by the Manitoba Highways Department as a bridge engineer and emigrated to Canada, then advanced to the BC Government’s Bridge Department and then with the firm AB Sanderson in Victoria.  In 1958, he served on the Royal Commission Enquiry into the collapse of the Second Narrows Bridge in Vancouver.  It was in Victoria that he met his wife, Hazel Gardner, and they were married in 1953, a marriage that would thrive for 68 years.

Ramsay was one of an elite group of engineering pioneers in the 1950’s and 1960’s, designing and constructing a myriad of infrastructure projects which helped to open up Canada for development by expanding transportation routes, particularly in the west.  He constructed many bridges and, with the help of Hazel, four children: Marian (Deceased) born in Victoria, the Nelson Bridge across the Kootenay River – Sheila born in Nelson; the Alexandra Bridge near Yale across the Fraser River – David born in Hope; and the Macdonald-Cartier Bridge across the Ottawa River – Thomas born in Ottawa.

In 1969, Ramsay co-founded the engineering firm Graeme and Murray Consultants with John Graeme, which flourished over the next 40 years growing to over 50 employees, and responsible for many significant projects across BC, including highways (Coquihalla and Island Highway), bridges, and many other developments.  He also oversaw numerous projects locally in Victoria, including the Juan de Fuca, Crystal, and Gordon Head pools.  He is regarded by his peers as an engineering icon in Canada well known for strong business ethics and technical abilities, and he kindly mentored many young engineers over his long and storied professional career.  He was active in the Engineering Institute of Canada, the Association of Professional Engineers of BC, and served as President of the Consulting Engineers of BC as well as the Capital City Executives Association. He was involved in starting the Camosun College Civil Engineering Program, the Civil Engineering Faculty at the University of Victoria, and establishing an Engineering Institute Scholarship with the Victoria Foundation.

Living the Rotary motto of “Service above Self”, Ramsay was active as a volunteer and community leader in Victoria, serving as President of the Saanich Rotary Club then member for decades. He was Chairman of the Board of Goodwill in Victoria, working to raise funds and provide employment for the disadvantaged and impoverished.  He was a longstanding member of the Union Club of Victoria and served as its President at a pivotal time in their history.  He was a Toastmaster, founding his first club in1954.  He was a lifelong sailor and boater, and a member of the Royal Victoria Yacht club since the 1950’s, designing their breakwater, marine railway and volunteering for many years.

These words do not capture how his larger-than-life stories, his knowledge, wisdom and his distinguished presence will be missed by many.  It has been said that we are only truly gone from this world when the last life we touched is gone, and if that is true, Ramsay will live on in spirit for a very long time indeed.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Victoria Hospice or the Victoria Hospital Foundation.  A celebration of life will be held at Royal Victoria Yacht Club at 2:30 PM on Thursday March 17^th, 2022.

Condolences may be offered to the family below.

McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com