## Breadcrumb 1. [Home](/index%2Ephp/) 2. [News and Stories](/index%2Ephp/news) 3. [OCAD U mourns passing of Ronald McCurdy](/index%2Ephp/markdownify/node/2920) December 12, 2024 # OCAD U mourns passing of Ronald McCurdy ![McCurdy](/sites/default/files/styles/1_5_1_large/public/2024-12/McCurdy-Obit.jpg.webp?itok=_zPlevh2) rgb(255,255,255) The OCAD University community is deeply saddened by the passing of Ronald (Ron) Harold McCurdy on Dec. 9, 2024, at the age of 94. The artist and designer taught experimental plastics at the Ontario College of Art (before it became OCAD U) for over 25 years. **Remembering Ron McCurdy** McCurdy’s students remember him as a kind, generous and patient teacher who opened their eyes to the creative potential of plastics. “He was a terrific teacher, an incredibly skilled designer and fabricator/machinist,” says Associate Professor Emerit Dick Rampen. “He was also a wonderful and caring person.” Outside of his teaching career, McCurdy was a designer known for creating iconic product packaging for well-known brands. He also enjoyed working on classic cars and boats when was wasn’t painting beautiful landscapes. OCAD U extends its condolences to his family, friends, former colleagues and loved ones. A visitation is being held on Thursday, Dec. 19, from 1 to 4 p.m., at Allison Funeral Home in Port Hope. No formal funeral service is being held. **Source:** [The Toronto Star](https://obituaries.thestar.com/obituary/ronald-mccurdy-1092428577) ***Image courtesy of The Toronto Star*** ## Other Recent News [### 2026-27 Call for Funding Proposals for Student Groups that Support Creative Entrepreneurship on Campus The RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers (CEAD) invites OCAD University student groups with a mandate to support entrepreneurship on campus to apply for funding for student-led initiatives that strengthen and expand the creative entrepreneurship ecosystem at OCAD U. This funding is intended to help student groups create opportunities for entrepreneurship skills development, community building, and revenue-generating activities for students and recent alumni, while reducing barriers to participation for equity-seeking individuals. November 6, 2026 ](/news/2026-27-call-funding-proposals-student-groups-support-creative-entrepreneurship-campus) [### 2027 Critical Distance Centre for Curators Projections Program Call for Artists OCAD University’s RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers (CEAD) and Critical Distance Centre for Curators (CDCC) have partnered to co-create CDCC Projections Program Career Launcher. Four (4) to five (5) selected emerging artists will receive $690 to exhibit work in a single channel, projection-based screening program that will be displayed at the CDCC in March 2027. October 30, 2026 ](/news/2027-critical-distance-centre-curators-projections-program-call-artists) [### Call for Vendors: BAM! Holiday Art Market 2026 OCAD University's RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers (CEAD) is excited to partner again with Wychwood Barns to offer a curated group of OCAD U students and recent alumni the opportunity to share a vendor table at the BAM! Holiday Art Market. October 26, 2026 ](/news/call-vendors-bam-holiday-art-market-2026) Related Stories ## Related Stories [### Alum Spotlight: Mary Ratcliffe (BDes ’11) – What happens after the big idea? For OCAD U alum Mary Ratcliffe (BDes, Environmental Design, ’11), bringing an idea to life is only the beginning. The Toronto furniture designer shares what it takes to turn creativity into a lasting practice. September 15, 2026 ](/news/alum-spotlight-mary-ratcliffe-bdes-11-what-happens-after-big-idea) [### Alum Spotlight: Matthew Thomas (MDes ’20) – Expanding Access to Nature Through Design Matthew Thomas (MDes ’20) is reshaping how people experience the outdoors through design, expanding access to nature and strengthening tourism systems. May 6, 2026 ](/news/alum-spotlight-matthew-thomas-mdes-20-expanding-access-nature-through-design) [### Open call for emerging youth artists, aged 18 to 29 DXC and OCAD University, in partnership with the EU Delegation to Canada, invite emerging youth artists, aged 18 to 29, from Canada and EU to participate in the DemocracyXChange 2026. January 6, 2026 ](/news/open-call-emerging-youth-artists-aged-18-29)