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Geoffrey ADAMS Obituary
19 August 1926 - June 15, 2012
On Friday, June 15th, in his 85th year, after a long struggle with cancer. Geoff was born in Toronto on 19 August, 1926 to Sinclair McClardy Adams and Valerie Dell Waddington. He studied history and modern languages at the University of Toronto when he obtained a B.A. and M.A. before moving to Chicago to complete a Ph.D in history in 1954. Research for the doctorate took Geoff to Paris with which he had already fallen in love after reading Flaubert and Jules Romains. After flirting with the idea of a career in the diplomatic service, Geoff taught history at Waterloo Lutheran College in the 1950s. He joined the cast of several Kitchener-Waterloo Theatre productions, ran as a CCF candidate in the 1959 Ontario provincial election but ended up resigning from the College over its refusal to hire non-Protestants.
For two years, Geoff taught at Elmira College in New York State before returning to Canada in 1962 to teach history at Loyola College (now part of Concordia University) in 1962. He chaired the History Department during a time when it produced three Rhodes Scholars, all of whom he taught. In the summer of 1963, he met his life-partner Jack and persuaded him to come to Montreal. Together, they bought a house in 1964, in Saint-Bruno. Geoff stood as an NDP candidate for Parliament in two federal elections. After his retirement in 1992, Geoff produced three books devoted to the role of the Protestant minority in French political life. Geoff was predeceased by his friend Jack in 2004. He leaves to mourn his nephews Brice and Wilson and their families, his godson Roland, his cousins David, Naomi, John, Maria, Judy and Joyce and their families, his colleagues at Concordia, including members of Scholars' Circle and CUPARUC, the Concordia Retirees' Association and his many friends in Montreal. At Geoff's request, there will be no funeral. Ashes are at : JARDIN URGEL BOURGIE 8145, Chemin Chambly St-Hubert J3V 5K2. A memorial meeting will be held at Loyola in the autumn.
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4 Entries
Stephen Callary
June 21, 2012
We have lost a fine mind and finer human being. My condolences to Geoff's family and friends.
Stephen Callary
Maureen Mckeown
June 20, 2012
Geoff was the ultimate educator for me in my college years at Loyola. A compassionate man, but one who gently urged one on to persevere despite obstacles....a mentor..a caring teacher who went out of his way to help us negotiate the often bewildering maze that was the post secondary school life. I particularly remember his insistence in lending his students books which he thought would be helpful . I will never forget his input in my academic life...especially how to organize my thoughts to formulate a theory and logically follow through...
It influenced my success in completing my art history courses at Concordia ,and beyond in my career as a psychological educator in adolescent treatment centers. One thing stood out above all else...his dedication to diversity . In my days at Loyola,it meant being open to all points of view when explaining historical events....how one would think as a leftist..or a conservative or a fascist etc to really delve into what drove people and movements; later it helped to explain the wondrous diversity of PEOPLE and how their differences added to the richness of MY life and to the richness of society as a whole! Oh my ..I'm tearing up a bit (actually a lot). I reconnected with Geoff in 2004 after also doing the same with my history buddies from that time. SO glad that I had this privilege. He was as caring and as challenging as I remembered him. He was interested in what we had accomplished in the years subsequent to our years as his students.. and he rejoiced in the diversity of our life choices.He was caring in the attention he paid when some of our numbers passed away. A wonderful human being..a powerful positive mentor and teacher and an entertaining raconteur at our annual history brunches!.I will keep him and his family and his partner who passed on earlier,always in my prayers
Robert Wilkins
June 20, 2012
From a former student who greatly admired his "catholic" (i.e. universal) breadth of knowledge, his humour and his great sensitivity to beauty, truth and community.
Robert C. Wilkins
B.A. Loyola College 1968
Photo taken at the Concordia Pensioners Association Christmas lunch - December 2011
Doreen Hutton
June 18, 2012
I met Geoff as a member of CUPARUC Executive. He was handling the Social Events for the Association. I feel honoured to have known him, if only briefly. He was a "true gentleman". Not so many of them around these days! He will be missed.
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