Dr. Peter Edward PITSILADIS PhD

PITSILADIS, Dr. Peter Edward, PhD

(Panaghiotis Edwardos Pitsiladis)

August 16, 1933 – September 7, 2015

It is with broken hearts that we announce that Peter passed away peacefully with his beloved daughters by his side at the West Island Palliative Care Centre in Pointe Claire, Quebec. Peter was an incredible human being with many accomplishments throughout his life. But above all else, he was a dedicated, loyal, kind, and loving father, who went above and beyond the call of duty. He deeply cherished his relationships with both family and friends.
Born in Montreal, Peter grew up in the multicultural district of Rosemount. He found his true calling as an academic and university professor after working briefly for Pratt and Whitney and Molson Canada. An exceptional scholar, he completed his Bachelor of Commerce at Sir George Williams College (now Concordia University), his MBA at the University of Western Ontario, and his PhD in Business Administration at the University of Washington. He made many professional contributions throughout his 32-year career as a researcher and professor in the Faculty of Commerce at Concordia University (the current John Molson School of Business). These included serving as the Director of the MBA Program, Associate Dean of the Faculty of Commerce, and teaching at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. He delighted in making a positive impact on his students, and helped to launch many successful careers. During this time, outside of the university, he also worked as a consultant for numerous businesses and organizations, including the Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism for the Government of Canada. He also proudly served as a Commissioner of the Lakeshore School Board (now the Lester B. Pearson School Board) for many years.
His fervent passion for life and learning didn't stop at the classroom door. Ever the Renaissance Man, his time outside of work was spent pursuing his many interests. He was an avid world traveller with a passion for all types of music, theatre, film, museums, history, and science. He loved reading, eating out, sailing, and wine-making. A proud Greek Canadian, he was politically active for most of his life and keenly followed the news and current affairs. Even after his retirement in 1997, he continued to enrich his mind by taking a variety of university courses. He continued giving back to the community by becoming a Big Brothers volunteer for many years.
Peter will be greatly missed for his outstanding sense of humour and wit, his warmth, compassion, and generosity, his fierce intellect and conversational skills, and his willingness to lend a helping hand in any situation. His joie de vivre and "Zorba the Greek" zest for life was infectious. He was deeply loved and will never be forgotten.
Predeceased by his sister Irene, his brother Vannie, his beloved nephew Michael, and his parents Costas and Ethel, he leaves to mourn his adoring daughters Marina and Andrea (Rodger), his nephew Tony (Betty), his great-niece Stephanie (Anthony), great- nephew Andrew (Victoria), cousins in Australia and Greece, and his many friends. He will also be deeply missed by his feline and canine animal family members. Visitation on Monday, September 14, 2015 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Mount Royal Funeral Complex, 1297 Chemin de la Forêt, Outremont. The funeral service will take place at the same location on Tuesday, September 15 at 4:00 p.m., followed by a reception. In lieu of flowers, an "In Memoriam" donation to the Nature Conservancy Canada in his name would be greatly appreciated at http://www.natureconservancy.ca/en/what-you-can-do/donate/