TMU remembers faculty, staff, students and alumni lost this year
Toronto Metropolitan University is honouring the faculty, staff, students and alumni who passed away this year.
Faculty and staff
Patricia Bourque, who worked as a financial advisor, died on Dec. 13, 2024.
Ingrid Bryan, Chair of Economics for three terms, and Dean of Arts from 1987-1992, passed away on April 30, 2025.
James Fredric Cairns, died on May 17, 2025, was head coach of the men’s hockey team.
Gine Chin, a retired storekeeper with Food Services, passed away on November 30, 2024.
Marlene Cinits, marketing coordinator in the Dean’s Office, passed away on May 11, 2025.
Peter Kersteman Duck, professor of fashion in The Creative School, died on May 17, 2025.
E. Anne Ellison, a retired professor from the School of Early Childhood Studies in the Faculty of Community Services, died on December 19, 2024.
Anthony Fredericks, worked for Computing and Communications Services, passed away on November 11, 2025.
Vivian Gibson, a staff member at TMU, died on June 24, 2025.
David Harvey, professor, department chair in the School of Information Technology Management, died on September 4, 2025.
Stanley Hulbert, a retired TRSM professor, who taught at the university from 1966-1996, passed away.
Gerda Kaegi, a retired professor from the department of Politics and Public Administration, died on June 5, 2025.
Alfred McCabe, taught in RTA, died on August 11, 2025.
Wayne McFarlane, who served as an executive in residence at TRSM for 15 years after retiring from PwC, passed away on January 31, 2025.
Sharon McLeod, lecturer at TMU's School of Social Work, community advocate and addiction therapist, died on March 19, 2025.
Jack Miller, a retired professor from the Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science, passed away on February 7, 2025.
Giovanni Palmisano, who worked in maintenance and operations with Facilities Management and Development, died on December 5, 2024.
Jose Pereira, who worked with Facilities Management and Development, died on Jan. 7, 2025.
Eva Samery, passed away on November 4, 2025, was an urban studies professor.
Carole Scrase, worked in the Registrar’s Office, passed away on July 11, 2025.
Juliana Sherbot, a retired professor from the nursing program in the Faculty of Community Services, passed away on February 9, 2025.
Leonard Paul Short, mechanical engineering professor, passed away on June 26, 2025.
George Slavinski, a retired professor who taught in the Ted Rogers School of Hospitality and Tourism from 1971 until 2004, passed away on April 19, 2025.
Jonas Spence-Sales, a retired professor from the Architectural Science program, died on April 17, 2025.
Paul Stott, a computer science instructor at TMU, passed away on February 6, 2025.
Seema Tejani, research ethics administrator for the Office of the Vice President, Research and Innovation, died on August 16, 2025.
Rudi Tomic, died on June 24, 2025, worked for University Business Services.
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 and loved ones gave permission to include their names in this memorial list:
Mariam Al-Shamaa, a student in the Electrical Engineering program, died Oct. 12, 2025.
Kourtney Khan, a student in the Urban Planning program, died Nov. 1, 2025.
Suzanne Elizabeth Muir Root, alum, died on June 27, 2025.
Hiran Nadarajah, a student in the Business Management program, died Oct. 1, 2025.
Thomas Nedanis, a student in the Sport Media program, died Nov. 10, 2024.
Shozab Rizvi, a student in the Science (Biology) program, died April 27, 2025.
Jeevanjot Sandhu, a student in the Business Technology Management program, passed away Aug. 8, 2025.
Jonathan Solitei, a student in the Entrepreneurship program, died Aug. 8, 2025.
Chelsee Jennings Wong, a student in the Politics and Governance program, died Nov. 12, 2025.
Alumni and friends
Philip Herbert Allen, alum, passed away on September 19, 2025.
Brendan Bartlett, computer science alum, died on January 7, 2025.
John Caicco, electrical engineering alum, died on September 1, 2025.
James Michael Colin Claxton, architecture alum, passed away on October 2, 2025.
Ross Raymond Cotton, alum, passed away on September 4, 2025.
Vera Yvonne Ellis, home economics alum, died on May 16, 2025.
Al Flood, a Canadian business leader and member of TMU’s board of governors, passed away on September 2, 2025.
Sung Sook Haslett (nee. Chun), alum, died on March 24, 2025.
Peter J. Laughton, alum and Civil Engineering Advisory Committee member within the Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science, died in March 2025.
Lynne Lawson, home economics alum, died on June 26, 2025.
Joe Lewis, RTA alum who created two annual bursaries for RTA students, died on May 31, 2024.
Ted Mattutat, civil engineering alum, died on August 29, 2025.
Nadir Mohamed, a prominent business leader, philanthropist and honorary board member, passed away on Sept. 18, 2025.
Beth Pett, journalism alum, passed away on April 22, 2025.
Herschel Segal, founder of DavidsTea and Le Château, who received an honorary doctorate from TMU, died on May 6, 2025.
Shalini Singh, who graduated with a Bachelor of Social Work (with distinction), died Dec. 4, 2024.
Mikaila Straatsma, who graduated with a Bachelor of Arts, Psychology Major, Philosophy Minor, Politics Minor, died June 17, 2025.
Yette Vandendam, RTA alum, died on February 25, 2025
Karen Young, social work alum, passed away on March 13, 2025.
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We have made every effort to ensure this memorial list is as complete and accurate as possible. If a community member has been inadvertently omitted, please contact us at today@torontomu.ca, and we will ensure their name is included in future updates.