The estate of Dr. Margot Roach (BSc'55, DSc'81) and the University of New Brunswick are pleased to announce a gift of $2.2 million in support of students in physics and medicine. This generous bequest expands upon Dr. Roach's lifelong legacy of giving to UNB.
The bequest includes support for paid high school internships in UNB's physics department, undergraduate scholarships in physics, and scholarships for students graduating from UNB into Dalhousie Medicine New Brunswick's physician education program.
Margot Roach came to UNB from Moncton in 1951. She graduated in 1955 with a bachelor of science degree with majors in math and physics and went on to complete degrees at McGill University (MD) and the University of Western Ontario (PhD).
As professor of biophysics and medicine at Western, Dr. Roach applied her dual training to study the structure and function of blood vessels. She authored 170 papers and 15 book chapters over the course of her career. Her distinctions included a fellowship in the American Society of Cardiology, the Women of Distinction Award, the Arthur Guyton Medal in Cardiovascular Physiology, and an honorary degree from UNB in 1981. She was named Professor Emeritus in 1998.
"Dr. Margot Roach exemplifies the impact that UNB can have on young scholars," said Dr. Paul J. Mazerolle, UNB's president and vice-chancellor. "After 16 years in higher education, including doctoral degrees at two other universities, UNB remained closest to her heart."
"We are honoured that Margot chose to create new opportunities for students to succeed in the sciences at UNB. These scholarships represent a perpetual legacy that will benefit students and society far into the future," said Dr. Mazerolle.
Dr. Roach created her first named scholarship at UNB in 2005. She continued to create new awards and grow the number and value of her scholarships until her death last August. Her bequest expands upon these past gifts to establish a permanent and perpetual legacy of support for students.
The Dr. Margot R. Roach Summer Student Program will support paid internships for three high school students per year in UNB's physics department. The Dr. Margot R. Roach Scholarship in Physics will support a minimum of four undergraduates per year with individual scholarships valued at $20,000 each. The Dr. Margot R. Roach Scholarship in Medicine will support two $10,000 scholarships per year for students graduating from UNB into Dal Med NB's physician education program.
Dean of science Sanjeev Seahra said "The Dr. Margot R. Roach Scholarships may be the largest awards for undergraduate physics students in Canada. Matched with her support for high school internships and post-graduate studies in medicine, this bequest affirms UNB's place as a destination university in science."
Ann Wildish, a long-term friend, said the bequest was Margot Roach's way of paying forward the support that had been offered to her at UNB.
"The Chestnut scholarship gave Margot freedom from needing to have a part-time job and left her more time to study and participate in university life," Wildish said. "Margot vowed that she would provide funds for scholarships for future undergraduate students at this university someday, and this she has so generously now done."
"When she received her honorary Doctor of Science degree from UNB in 1981, Margot delivered a message that I know she would have given to the students at this university today," Wildish said.
"Margot said, As long as you think learning is fun, and you are willing to look at both sides of the question, and try hard enough to do it, you will never cease learning, and so you too will be truly educated.'"
