Robert (Bob) G H Lee

A proud alumnus of McGill University, Robert earned his Bachelor of Metallurgical Engineering in 1947 and was later awarded an honorary Doctor of Science in 1998 for his significant contributions to the field of metallurgy. In 2004, Bob was appointed to the Order of Canada and was awarded Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee Medal for contributions to Canada in 2012. The American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, & Petroleum Engineers (AIME) made him an Honorary Member in 2010 for “distinguished service to the steel industry and for his mentoring of young professionals” (I was honored to be one).

Dr Lee devoted his life’s work and entire career to the field of metallurgy while working at Air Liquide Canada (1947 to 1990). From 1980 until retirement, he was the director of research and technology. After retiring, he became an Independent Technical Advisor to the Societe Air Liquide and its subsidiaries working on direct smelting of iron ore and smelting of non-ferrous materials, among many others. Robert also served as special advisor to a hydrogen fuel cell and production company, Hydrogenics Corp.

Bob is credited with more than two dozen ingenious inventions and has been named inventor on more than 200 patents worldwide in the fields of pyrometallurgy, hydrometallurgy, cryobiology, environment, energy, pulp and paper, chemical, food and mosquito abatement and other fields (including alcohol ageing using his porous plug!).

Bob’s metal refining inventions increased production e􀆯iciency worldwide and the development of the GAZAL process was the precursor to ladle metallurgy. His invention of the annular tuyere resulted in the OBM/QBOP steel refining process and the QSL Process for continuous smelting of lead sulphide concentrates (now being commercialized for smelting of copper sulphide concentrates).

Some of Bob’s other awards include the Benjamin F. Fairless Award (AIME/Iron & Steel Society (ISS)), Distinguished Member and Fellow of the I&SS (for his distinguished achievements in gas technology developments for the steel industry including the annular tuyere for steelmaking and the porous plug for ladle metallurgy) and the Tadeusz Sendzimir Memorial Medal (Association of Iron and Steel Engineers (AISE)).

The AIME captured Bob’s Oral Life History which can be viewed at aimehq.org/what-wedo/oral-histories/robert-gh-lee. His Order of Canada citation, bestowed by the Governor General of Canada, can be viewed at www.gg.ca/en/honours/recipients/146-2266.

Robert is survived by his beloved wife of 73 years Maude Toye Lee, children Peter (Sharon), Patricia (Wayne), and Catherine (Richard); grandchildren Janet, Laurie, Chloé, Elizabeth, Vanessa and Matthew and great-grandchildren Kyro and Portia.

Bob also leaves behind many friends, colleagues, admirers and mentorees worldwide. May his gentle soul rest in peace knowing he has such an impact on so many.

Bob helped establish several McGill scholarships. Charitable donations in his memory can be made to ‘McGill University in Memory of Robert Lee’.