Dr. Colin Cecil Archibald - 57, Ocoee, Florida, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family on December 27, 2017. Born November 16, 1960, at home, in Brookfield, Nova Scotia, Canada. A son of the late Stuart Graham Archibald and Gwendolyn Joyce (Dartt) Archibald.
Survived by husband Gary Henderson, Ocoee, Fl.; mother Gwendolyn Archibald, Brookfield, N.S.; siblings Gail (Ron) McLellan, Bathurst, N.B.; Margie (Sid) Johnson, Brookfield, N.S.; Alex Archibald, Shortts Lake, N.S.; Stuart Archibald, Terrace, B.C.; Karen (Harris) White, Ottawa, Ont.; aunts Thelma Currie, Dartmouth, N.S.; Elva Jeffers, Kingston, Ont.; as well as many nieces, nephews on both sides, cousins and their families; brother-in-law, Terry (Wendy) Henderson as well as their family.
"This wonderful human being brought so much love to so many. He was a teacher to all of us, in every sense of the word. He will be so deeply and sorely missed by all who had the pleasure and honor to know him."1
Colin graduated Acadia University, B.Sc. Computer Sciences, 1982; University of British Columbia M.Sc. Computer Sciences, 1984; University of Ottawa, Ph.D. Electrical Engineering, 1995.
For 10 years he was a Research Officer for the National Research Council of Canada. His work there included a project with Spar Aerospace for NASA developing software for the Canadarm.
Colin published two scientific books and more than 30 papers in the areas of artificial intelligence, robotics, and computational vision. He travelled early in his career to present them at conferences around the world.
Colin moved to the USA in 1995, worked in IT in Boston.
In 1998, Colin and Gary moved to Orlando Florida and Colin served as a faculty member at Valencia College for 20 years and an adjunct professor at University of Central Florida since 2011 . He consulted with The National Science Foundation in Washington. Since 2005 he has served as the statewide discipline coordinator in Computer Science for Florida's Statewide Course Numbering System (SCNS), and consulted in this area at colleges in other states.
In 2000-2003 he was the Principal Investigator for an NSF ATE grant (National Science Foundation - Advanced Technology Education) "Partnerships to Enhance Student Success in IT."
A number of his computer programming hands-on lectures are available online and reviewed by students all over the world. He had a passion for teaching, getting to know his students and mentoring them.
He was awarded the NISOD award for teaching excellence in 2003, and 2011; the Collegis/Sungard Endowed Chair for Teaching in Computer Science for five years: 2007-2011.
Colin and Gary were legally married March 26, 2005 in Halifax, N.S.
During the summers, Colin enjoyed connecting with family and friends in Nova Scotia. Some of his other interests included trivia, pickle ball, tennis, bowling, getting together with friends and family. Colin loved animals; he and Gary fostered greyhounds and held volunteer positions in the Greyhound Pets of America, Greater Orlando Chapter, for 6 years in the early 2000’s. Their dog family has included: Gator, Gayla, Doc, Dutchess, Rusty, and Peewee. They were currently raising Peanut, the rescue dog and Peeper the duck.
He was proud of becoming a US citizen in 2016.
Many thanks to the caring nurses and doctors at Cornerstone Hospice in Orlando. And grateful thanks to Colin's thoughtful friends and family who pitched in without being asked for keeping him company, driving, preparing food, etc.
There will be a spring internment Brookfield Westside Cemetery, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Arrangements entrusted to Winter Oak, Funeral Home and Cremations. winteroakfuneralhome.com
A Memorial service was held in Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada on Jan 14th.
Valencia will host a celebration of life for Colin on Friday, January 26, 2018, on West Campus from 1 – 3 p.m. in Building 3, Room 111. Refreshments will be served.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Valencia Foundation;
West Campus Pooky’s Pantry (Building 3, Room 147) or Greyhound Pets of America, Greater Orlando
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