Stanley Ronald Hatcher
Husband, father, grandfather, nuclear engineer. Born on Aug. 20, 1932, in Downton, England; died on Nov. 30, 2014, in Terra Cotta, Ont., of cancer, aged 82.
Stan started life as a country boy, growing vegetables and keeping bees and chickens on his family's small farm in southwestern England. He always had a curious mind that sparked his interest in science, and graduated with degrees in chemical engineering from Birmingham University.
In 1954, he immigrated to Canada to do doctoral work at the University of Toronto; the next year, he went back to England to marry Gladys Robinson, whom he brought home to Canada. She was the love his life for more than 60 years, and together they would raise four sons: Adrian, Kevin, Michael and David.
After earning his PhD in chemical engineering from UofT in 1958, Stan joined Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. as a research engineer at the Chalk River Nuclear Laboratories, the start of a 34-year career with the Crown corporation.
In 1963, the family moved to Pinawa, Man., a new town carved out of the Canadian Shield for the AECL researchers and scientists doing ground-breaking research into organic-cooled nuclear reactor design. Pinawa was also an ideal location for young families and Stan's sons flourished in this setting, with camping, canoeing, fishing, hunting and boating becoming a large part of their lives.
In 1977, Stan was appointed general manager of the Pinawa labs, and then vice-president of AECL in 1982, moving to the village of Terra Cotta, Ont. Four years later he became head of AECL research, and then president and chief executive officer of AECL in 1989.
Stan was a great communicator, both in his professional career and in all other aspects of his life. His main interest was in helping people to achieve their goals and he was respected for his humbleness, his warmth, and his ability to make them feel appreciated. He followed the Golden Rule – do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
After retiring from AECL in 1992 he continued his career as a nuclear energy consultant for governments, utilities and companies in Canada, the United States, Europe and Asia. He served as president of the international Pacific Nuclear Council (1994-1996), and then as head of the American Nuclear Society (1997-1998), one of only two non-Americans to hold that position. His leadership in the promotion of nuclear technology was recognized in 2010 with the International Nuclear Societies Council Global Award. "Stan brought soul to science and communicated his passion to the world," one colleague later said. "Things nuclear never had a better champion."
For all his awards and accomplishments, however, Stan's family was the most important part of his life. His favourite times were spent fishing with his sons, swimming in the pool with his grandchildren, and playing with his great-grandchildren. Stan especially loved spending time with his 10 grandchildren, coaching them and helping them grow. Each grandchild had the opportunity in their early teens to go on a trip with Grandad and Nan, anywhere in the world, making memories that will last their lifetime.
Adrian Hatcher is Stanley's son.