Doug Inglis and Jenny Gusse Memorial Fund

 

Dr. Douglas Inglis and Jenny Gusse died tragically in Banff National Park while on a backcountry hiking trip along with their beloved dog, Tris, on September 29, 2023.  
 
Family and friends are fundraising to create an endowment to honour Doug and Jenny and their tremendous impact on the scientific community. The goal of this fundraising campaign is $250,000, and the intention is to create an endowment to support student awards. Your contribution in memory of Doug and Jenny will be matched 1:1 after the endowment reaches $25,000.  

DOUG AND JENNY'S STORY  

Jenny and Doug loved the environment, enjoying their daily afternoon walks with Tris, week-long backcountry treks, paddling Canada's rivers or gardening.  
 
G. Douglas was born in Westlock, Alberta, and attended elementary, junior high and high school in Edmonton, Alberta. Doug excelled at many sports, including ice hockey, baseball, track and field, and basketball, but was an all-star football running back. Doug graduated from the University of Alberta with a Bachelor of Science degree (Applied Microbiology) in 1985, followed by a Master of Science degree (Microbiology) from the University of Guelph (1989) and a Doctoral degree (Microbiology) from Simon Fraser University (1996). Doug moved to Lethbridge to complete a postdoctoral fellowship at the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (1996-1998). In 1998, Doug left Canada for a position as an Assistant Professor in Microbiology Agriculture at Mississippi State University (1998-2000). In 2001, Doug returned to Lethbridge to work at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada as a Research Scientist, developing a research program that studied the interactions between bacteria, their hosts, and the environment in efforts to improve animal health, food safety, and agricultural sustainability. 
  
Doug held positions as Adjunct Professor in the Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science at the University of Alberta, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Calgary, and Departments of Neuroscience and Biological Sciences at the University of Lethbridge. Doug was a generous mentor, educator, advocate, and productive scientist, as his research spanned many disciplines, including entomology, bacteriology, mycology, animal stress, and glycobiology. Doug was always striving to be his best; he was an adventurer, a fantastic storyteller, and found humour in daily life. 
 
Jenny Gusse was born in 1961 in Wetaskiwin, Alberta. She grew up on a farm and went to Clear Vista School and Wetaskiwin High School, graduating in 1979. She graduated in 1985 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture. Jenny spent some time in New Zealand working on a kiwi farm and also lived in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, gaining more experience as a research technician. Jenny moved to Mississippi to work alongside Doug in the late 1990s, and they returned to work together at the Lethbridge Research Station for Agriculture Canada, where Jenny was a research technician. 

Jenny, described by one former student as the best molecular biologist they had ever encountered, was a caring, patient and skilled teacher who provided valuable hands-on training in all aspects of lab technique and equipment operation to many students in various stages of their careers. She had a resourceful, self-reliant and adventurous spirit, which enabled her to teach herself many new skills. Jenny became a tough and resilient outdoors woman yet lived with such friendly and gentle kindness. Together with Doug, they lived an ecologically responsible life aligned with their values of protecting and cherishing nature.  

Colleagues at the University of Lethbridge remember Doug and Jenny being consummate professionals, people who loved their work and who you could always count on to get the job done and done well. They were a formidable scientific team that left a lasting legacy, not only in research but also in the training of new scientists; many of those students now occupy various positions in industry, academia and government; therefore, their contribution to society significantly continues to impact Canadians.  
 
Thank you for taking the time to reflect on this incredible chance to honour Doug and Jenny and create a lasting impact. Your generosity is a testament to the love and respect we all hold for them, and we are deeply grateful for your consideration.    
 

All donations are greatly appreciated.  
 
Donations by cheque can be sent to:    
 
University of Lethbridge    
Office of External Relations - Philanthropy Department    
4401 University Drive   
Lethbridge, Alberta T1K 3M4   
Canada  
 
Please ensure your cheque is made out to the University of Lethbridge and reference the Doug Inglis and Jenny Gusse Memorial Fund on your cheque or within your correspondence.   
 
Please click on the DONATE button to access the online donation page.