OBITUARIES — Lawrie Reinertson

Lawrie Reinertson, president and chief executive officer of Rio Algom, has died of a heart attack. He was 51.

Mr. Reinertson’s mining career began in 1965 when he joined Noranda as a prospector. Several years later, however, he left the company to concentrate on his studies, and received his diploma of mining technology from the British Columbia Institute of Technology in 1970.

Upon returning to Noranda, he served as the Vancouver-based project manager before becoming the district geologist in Kamloops, B.C. In 1978, he was appointed managing director of Noranda Ireland. He was transferred, in 1980, to Geneva, Switzerland, where he assumed the position of exploration and business development for Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

In 1982, Mr. Reinertson became Noranda’s exploration manager, based in Timmins, Ont. He returned to Vancouver the following year to serve as vice-president of U.S. exploration.

In 1987, he joined Placer Dome as senior vice-president of exploration. In 1990, he was transferred to Sydney, Australia, where he served as managing director of Placer Pacific.

In April 1996, he was appointed president and chief executive officer, as well as to the board of directors.

He is survived by his wife Sally, and children Laura and Jacob.