Obituary of Grace Logan

To view the livestream, please click HERE

Violet Grace Ruth Logan (nee Bonnert) died November 26, 2024 in hospice after a reemergence of duodenal cancer that had been in remission for 4 years. Born in Scranton, Pennsylvania on March 10, 1934 Grace was the only child of Jacob and Mary Bonnert, residents of Pittston Avenue in South Scranton. Her uncle, Herman Bonnert, also from South Scranton, was a magician and is recognized as the inventor of balloon animals. In 1952, she graduated Central High School Scranton and briefly attended Syracuse University to pursue a degree in Chemistry before moving to University Park where she graduated Summa cum Lauda from Penn State in 1956 earning a BA in English. Grace pursued her interest in the arts at University of Pennsylvania where she graduated in 1960 with her Masters in English specializing in Folklore.

During these studies she met and married Harry Logan on June 19, 1958 who remained her life-long best friend and treasured love. While there, Grace helped Harry with his dissertation work using the Univac I, the first computer ever built, occupying an entire floor of the Moore School of Electrical Engineering. This was one of the first uses of a computer to analyze texts for grammatical syntax and her lifelong interest in merging computing with the arts began.

In 1958, Grace moved with Harry to Meadville Pennsylvania, where they began a small family while Grace taught courses in English Literature at Allegany College. In July 1966, the family moved again this time to Kitchener, Ontario which then became their permanent home. Grace pioneered the integration of computing with academic research in the Arts and Humanities Department at the University of Waterloo and in 1976, helped found the Arts Computing Office. Grace highly valued education and throughout her life she was regarded as a dedicated, enthusiastic and well-loved teacher both at Allegany College and at Waterloo where she taught courses in Computing in the Arts and Introductory English Literature.

She loved cooking, travelling, music and learning and was renowned for her amazing parties (Croquet, Valentine’s and the best birthday parties ever), hosting dinners (Medieval Feasts) and lovely picnics. Grace and Harry spent many sabbaticals in England where she fell in love with the beauty of the UK, its people, its rich history and all things Oxford. Grace travelled widely and made friends near and far all of whom will be sorry for her absence.

Grace is survived by Harry Logan, her husband of 66 years, her daughter Cathy Logan Dickie and her husband Carey Dickie, her son Stephen Logan and his wife Amanda Loos Logan, granddaughters Rachel Dickie, Sarah Dickie, and Sonia Loos Logan, and grandson Chaucer Loos Logan.

Visitation will be held at the Erb & Good Family Funeral Home, 171 King St. S., Waterloo on Friday, December 20th, 2024 from 2-4 and 7-9pm. The funeral service will take place at St. John The Evangelist Anglican Church, 23 Water Street N, Kitchener on Saturday, December 21st, 2024 at 1pm.

A livestream and recording of the service will made available on Grace’s tribute page at www.erbgood.com

As expressions of sympathy, flowers are welcomed. Condolences for the family and donations to Scott Mission, Alzheimer Society, The Food Bank, Salvation Army or Grand River Hospital Foundation may be arranged through the Erb & Good Family Funeral Home, 171 King Street S. Waterloo at www.erbgood.com