In memoriam
The university community sends condolences to the family of community members who have passed away in the last year. Photo by Jake Stendel.
Neil Abbott, a dedicated external lawyer for the university, died at age 56 on September 26, 2021, after a long battle with kidney cancer.
Robert Atkins, professor within The Creative School, passed away on April 10, 2021.
Mahrokh Behruzi, a former staff member, passed away on April 19, 2021.
Annabelle Cameron, former Advancement Services staff member, passed away on April 25, 2021.
George Edward Carter, professor of economics at the university for 35 years, chose medical assistance in dying on October 4, 2021.
Kathy Cleaver passed away on April 24, 2021. She joined the university in 1970 as a professor in the Home Economics Department and moved to the School of Fashion where she was chair of the department from 1990-1995.
Marion Louise Creery, director of Student Services from 1988 until 2008, passed away on February 24, 2021.
Allan Currie, Faculty of Science, died on May 11, 2021. He was 90.
Shirley Edwards, former mailroom staff member, passed away on July 8, 2021.
Gordon Ritchie Emslie, Psychology professor, passed away on August 22, 2021.
Roberts Freimuts, image arts ’75, and formerly of the School of Image Arts, passed away on November 21, 2020, after suffering from Parkinson’s disease for more than 20 years.
Antonio Flores Gallardo, former University Library staff member, passed away on October 23, 2021.
Edith Anne Gear, Arts and Economics professor, passed away on October 15, 2021, at the age of 92.
Peter Gilbert, formerly of the School of Interior Design, passed away after a brief illness on November 9, 2020, at age 84.
Peter Harry, former finance director, passed away on July 21, 2021.
Sandra Kerr passed away on Nov. 6. 2021, from complications related to surgery. Sandra had recently retired after working at Ryerson for over 20 years developing the Seniors Programming and LIFE Institute at The Chang School.
John Kitamura, interior design ’63, and former dean of applied arts, died September 30, 2020. He was among the first Interior Design graduates to be hired to teach full-time at Ryerson after a short career as a practising interior designer.
Chris Lam, Printing Services staff member, passed away on June 4, 2021.
Dorothy (Eden) Mabley passed away on January 26, 2021 at the age of 98. She was a faculty member in the School of Nursing.
Charles J. Mackey, Faculty of Science professor, passed away on March 26, 2021.
Ken MacKeracher passed away October 5. He was a past dean of Continuing Education at Ryerson Polytechnical Institute.
Sam Mikhail, a former professor of Electrical Technology and former director of Ryerson International Development Centre, passed away on December 17, 2020, after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease.
Michael Coogan Miller, who served as chair of Architectural Science between 1991-2001, passed away on October 19, 2021.
John Philip Morgan, History professor, passed away on March 10, 2021.
George Parker, Ted Rogers School of Management faculty member, passed away on November 25, 2021.
Nick Reid, who served as executive director of Ryerson Urban Water, passed away on March 17, 2021.
Donald Chester Shaw, Faculty of Business, died on November 27, 2020, at age 92.
Douglas Smail, a professor of mechanical engineering at Ryerson for almost 40 years, died on December 26, 2020, at age 80.
Tom Sosa passed away on November 1, 2021, at the age of 84. Tom joined the Ryerson faculty in 1964 in the Social Sciences department. In July 1969 he became the associate director of Student Services under David Crombie and director in 1971 until 1977, when he became the acting vice-president, administration. In July of 1978 he was appointed to the role, and was re-appointed in 1984 for another 6-year term.
Howard Steinman, professor at the Ted Rogers School of Management, passed away on July 8, 2021.
Maria Stein, School of Nursing professor, died on September 15, 2021.
Jennifer Teeluck, a Ryerson employee who was honoured with 25 years of service in 2021, passed away January 5, 2021.
Clarence W. Towsley, professor with TRSM’s Business Management program, passed away on July 11, 2021.
John E. Twomey, professor emeritus of the university’s School of Radio and Television Arts, died on January 4, 2021, from Covid-19 related pneumonia.
Anthony (Tony) Wilkinson, died on Jan. 9, 2021, in South Delta, B.C. Specializing in urban geography, he quickly rose from lecturer to department chairman, then dean of community services, vice-president, academic affairs, and acting president.
Sharon Wilson, School of Nursing professor, passed away on March 8, 2021.
Students
As a community, we grieve and honour together the lives of students who have died. The following students passed away over the last year and their families gave permission to include their names in this memorial list:
Alexandra Amaro, a fourth-year journalism student, passed away December 2, 2020.
Aaron Biren, a first-year student in English, passed away January 31, 2021.
Abdulrahman Patel, a second-year student in computer science, passed away February 6, 2021.
Francis (Frankie) Commisso, a second-year student in performance, passed away June 12, 2021.
Stavros Lefas, a fourth-year student in information technology management, passed away April 29, 2021.
Noureldin Abdel Kerim, a fourth-year student in computer science, passed away July 21, 2021.
Phuch Thinh Huynh, a second-year student in computer science, passed away October 31, 2021.
Ewan Mitsuru Cassidy, a third-year student in environment and urban sustainability, passed away November 10, 2021.
Alan McCormack, a first-year student in the data analytics, big data, and predictive analytics certificate program in The Chang School, passed away November 28, 2021.
Ruqayya Usman, a first-year student in the MBA program, passed away December 9, 2021.
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