Roy died peacefully on June 30, 2004, with family by his side. Predeceased by Marion, his wife of 60 years, he is survived by his three daughters, Ann (Dean), Audrey (Alan), Marcia (Ron); by his son Bruce (Margarita); and by his seven grandchildren.

Born in 1918 in Asquith, Saskatchewan, Roy earned an engineering degree at U Sask in 1940. He worked for a number of years, then returned to UBC for his PhD. In 1960, he joined the physics department, where he spent 23 years in teaching and conducting research in plasma physics, eventually becoming head of the department. He was a passionate advocate of pure science and
research.

Roy was an early advocate of cooperation between the university and the private sector in the practical application of research. In his retirement years, with some of his graduate students, he started two successful high technology companies, TIR Systems and Vortek Industries. As a result, the Science Council of BC awarded him its Gold Medal in 1987, recognizing his unique contribution to technology transfer.

Trek - The Magazine of the University of British Columbia
Author: UBC Alumni Association
Publication: 6251 Cecil Green Park Road, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1
Repository:
Media: Magazine
Page: In Memoriam - Alumni obituaries
Text: p. 52 Winter 2005 edition 

www.alumni.ubc.ca March 5, 2005:
Roy Andrew Nodwell, MASc '54, PhD '56
Roy passed away on June 30, 2004. He was the head of the Physics department from 1977 to 1982. He started out at UBC as a student, earning his Masters and his PhD. He began his career at UBC as an assistant professor in 1960, and was appointed full professor in 1966, before rising to head the department in 1977. In 1984 following his retirement from UBC, he was appointed chairman of the Science Council of BC.