Turgay Ogut

Turgay Ogut, 80, peacefully passed away on December 19, 2023, at his house in Edgemont.

Turgay Ogut was born on April 23, 1943, and graduated from the University of Istanbul with a B.Sc. in Geophysics and M.Sc. in Geophysical Engineering. 

Turgay was a Professional Geophysicist with over 50 years of experience in the international and domestic Oil and Gas industry. He started his career as geophysicist in Calgary at Century Geophysical followed by a return to Turkey in 1970 to work at Turkish Petroleum Corporation. Turgay came back to Calgary in 1980 and joined BP Canada (predecessor of Talisman) as Senior Geophysicist, gradually becoming an Exploration Manager. He left BP Canada in 1991 to work for two years at Zuetina Oil (former Occidental) in Libya as Chief Geophysicist. Returning to Calgary, Turgay joined Saskoil in 1993, moving in succession through a series of mergers and acquisitions with Wascana, CanOxy and finally Nexen. He was a Geophysical Advisor in International Business Development at Nexen before his retirement in 2012. Turgay was a founding member of a recent Oil & Gas start-up, "Anatolia Energy." 

Turgay is survived by Nazan, his spouse for fifty-two years, two sons Ozgur and Cenk, both graduates of the University of Calgary, two daughters-in-law Basak (Ozgur) and Michelle (Cenk), and granddaughter Alev. He is also survived by one brother (Mustak), but was preceded by a sister (Enise) and a brother (Mesut).

Turgay was a believer in volunteering and had been an active member of various community organizations. He served in the Turkish Canadian Cultural Association in many capacities including President, and the Chair organizing fundraising Casino Days. Following the devastating 1999 Turkish Earthquake he co-chaired a committee that raised over $130,000 in conjunction with the Red Cross. 

Turgay truly believed education was the best investment for the future; hence he was instrumental in:

- establishing the "Ataturk Peace Bursary' presented to five Grade 12 students every year since 2003.

- starting the first "Turkish History Courses" which are a joint project by the University of Calgary and the Turkish Canadian Cultural Association in 2004.

- establishing the current Agreement of Student and Faculty Staff Exchange between the University of Calgary and the Middle East Technical University in Ankara, Turkey.

In addition to these educational efforts Turgay served as a member of the University of Calgary Senate.

Turgay was an active member of the Calgary North Rotary Club for many years. In 2001, his Rotary Club raised $225,000 towards the purchase of instruments to a new hospital built in the earthquake stricken area of Turkey. Turgay was also involved in another Rotary project to purchase a $75,000 medical instrument to aid in transplant matching for the "Hospital for Children with Leukemia" in Ankara, Turkey.

Turgay received a Recognition Award for Outstanding Service by the Turkish Canadian Cultural Association in 2007, the first such award in the Association's 31 year history.

Turgay Ogut was appointed Honorary Consul General of the Republic of Turkey in 2002 and reinstated in 2012. He proudly and rightfully continued his Honorary work until becoming emeritus in 2016. He was an active member of the Calgary Consular Corps and served as Treasurer for two years. Turgay served in the Committee organizing Annual Corps Dinners to raise funds for the Corps' Bursary for students of International Studies at the University of Calgary.