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John Knight Obituary
John was a Professor of Electrical Engineering at Carleton University since 1967 and remained there until well after retirement. Thousands of engineering students will remember him fondly as an inspiring and entertaining lecturer who was always willing to help.
A memorial celebrating John's life will be held Dec. 30 at 2:00 p.m. at Riverside United Church (3191 Riverside Dr, Ottawa). In lieu of flowers, donations to Stride Wheelchairs Plus or the charity of your choice.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
40 Entries
Tun Yang
February 11, 2024
With great sadness; but rest assured that a part of him lives on in countless students over the years... whom have gone on to make use the knowledge he imparted to us.... with which we understand the fundamentals of digital electronics and boolean algebra... with whcih we make a living from, and with which we shall impart onto the next generation - if not about digital electronics, about the capacity to learn and learn for life.
Niranjan Sathiyavanthan
September 16, 2020
My deepest condolences to the family. He was a great professor and thought his class with passion. He made me very much interested in his class and help me to be more engaging.
Niranjan Sathiyavathan
Farivar G
November 6, 2014
Such a gentleman. One of the best professors. May he rest in peace.
Bob Lantos
June 25, 2014
I only found out now about John's passing. We had been classmates at Queen's and he'd been a friend for a long time. My deepest sympathy to his family.
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Robin Collins
May 23, 2014
Professor Knight was instrumental in mentoring his students in support of the technology competition we developed at the landmine ban coalition (Mines Action Canada) in the period shortly after the signing of the Ottawa Treaty. A team of John's students won the inaugural competition (~1998 I think) with their solar battery project. His enthusiasm and encouragement were very much appreciated by students as our organization. It was during that period that Prof. Knight had his unfortunate accident, but it didn't seen to slow him down. He spoke at the award ceremony for his students about the irony of his own recent disability and their contributing to a competition focussed in aid of prevention of landmines victims, and in helping those affected by antipersonnel mines. He didn't seem to miss a beat. He will be missed.
January 25, 2014
He was a great educator and mentor.
Ehsan Ghias Begloo
January 20, 2014
I worked with John twice. He had a passion for teaching and working with students. Retirement had no meaning for him and he kept himself busy with what he loved until very recently. He will be greatly missed.
Isabella Darin-Zanco
January 6, 2014
I heard about John's passing,at the RASC meeting,on Friday o3 January. He will be sadly missed.
He was a frequent visitor, there and well liked.
My deepest condolences and warm wishes go out to John's family,
In this time of rememberence. Blessings to all of you.
I Darin-Zanco
Brian Laughton
January 6, 2014
My deepest condolences to the family on the passing of a great colleague, if I can consider myself of his ilk. John was a great source of joy whenever he came to visit me to chat about students in his classes. He was both demanding of and an inspiration to his students; the sections he instructed always were in high demand. A great loss to the profession and the Faculty.
Kristin Cooper Holtz
January 6, 2014
Prof. Knight emanated kindness and joy. Each time we met in the halls at Carleton, he brought a gentle smile which I carried away with me. He will be greatly missed.
Ata Khan
January 6, 2014
"John was a very kind person and an excellent professor. He was always helping students in many ways. He will be missed"
Anne van der Greft
January 6, 2014
I got to know John Knight as an employee at Carleton. He was kindness and warmth personified. He was approachable, always had the time to talk and made you feel uplifted. He will be missed.
Askar Rizvi
January 3, 2014
My deepest condolences to Prof. Knight's family. He was one of the best professors I had in university, he made the class really fun and was always happy and cheerful. RIP Professor Knight, it was a privilege to be a student of yours.
Robert Maddock
January 3, 2014
My deepest condolences to Prof. Knight's family and friends. He was a great teacher and mentor, and was an inspiration to me.
January 3, 2014
To Norma, Allan, Doug and Scott
We knew John as a friend as well as a Carleton U. professor. He was always positive, even when faced with great challenges. I remember when he was in hospital after his fall from the barn roof. He had only just regained his ability to speak, and he was so voluble the nurses suggested he should take a rest! He was a hard man to keep down. Now he is at rest, and you, his loved ones, have your memories to comfort you. Sincere condolences. Margaret and Miles Copeland
John Chinneck
January 1, 2014
Very sorry to hear that John has passed on. He was a terrific colleague, always a joy to be around. Insightful, thoughtful, and helpful whether you were a professor or a student. He is greatly missed.
Jane Stephenson
December 31, 2013
My condolances to the family. John Knight was an excellent prof and had the respect of the students. It was wonderful to see him again last spring at the Carleton event "Celebrate 4 extraordinary professors". He was a very inspiring man.
Jane (Greszczuk) Stephenson B.ENG 1991
Wafa Dourou
December 31, 2013
My deepest sympathy to knight's family. I was one of his students and was honored to have him give me my iron ring. He was the sweetest man! He made classes so exciting and was always so enthusiastic about what he taught! He'll always be well remembered. May he rest in peace and may God have mercy on his soul.
Masuma Khan
December 31, 2013
He was an awesome professor that made circuits fun. He was engaging and created a sense of community in large classes where it was easy to get lost in the crowd
Pat Boule
December 30, 2013
John Knight was a great teacher, and answered student questions with grace. He will be missed.
Pat Boule B.Eng 91
Angela Rinaldo
December 30, 2013
I am so very sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with your family.
J So
December 30, 2013
I was a grad student in Carleton and took a class from you back in 1970. The most memorable image I can still vividly remember is your smiling face and infinite ideas to help. You always had time for us for any question.
Your smile and eager to help are always in my heart.
Henry Wong
December 30, 2013
Dear Norma,
Very sorry for your lost. He must had been a great husband, a great friend and a great father. May God comfort you in this difficult time.
Most of us the Carleton grad in San Diego know about the news this morning, sorry for not able to attend his celebration of life in person.
Likely you may not remember me, one of hundreds of grad students supervised by John and visited your home. John came to my dad's funeral that we sung Amazing Grace in Chinese. I was thinking that I get to visit John once more when I am back to Ottawa. I hope will just wait a bit longer to meet him up there.
Prof. Knight help me greatly in my graduate study and set an excellent role model for us the young engineers. I outgrew my iron ring but can never outgrew John enthusiasm about passing on the knowledge to our next generation.
May God's peace be with you and your family.
Yours,
Henry Wong
B.Eng Carleton 2000
M.A.Sc Carleton 2004
December 30, 2013
My deepest sympathy to John's family. I was John's student about 15 years ago. He was the greatest teacher I ever had. I chose my career simply because I liked his class so much. I will truly miss him.
Yi
Jianhong Fang
December 30, 2013
I was in tears to hear of loss of John. I never took his classes, but a few conversations with him made lasting impact on me. Thank you, John!
John Bryant
December 30, 2013
I cannot remember ever seeing John without a smile and the manner in which he gracefully accepted personal misfortune was an inspiration to us all. He will be missed.
Thérèse McCutcheon
December 29, 2013
Dear Norma, Alan, Doug and Scott,
I'm very sorry to hear about your lost. One thing that I remember from John is when, before dinner,on his mother in laws request, he use to recitate the serenity prayer, which is appropriate and comforting in many situations:
God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.
So please accept my condolences,
Thérèse McCutcheon, Fitch Bay, Québec
C. Kaplan
December 29, 2013
Thousands of former students, seemingly
so few signatures... (at this writing)
Let me, my dear colleagues pull in on our collective behalf.
An unspecified other "EE" prof at the institution once asked (rhetorically):
"C'mon people, dont they teach you people anything around here?" I Know
Professor Knight certainly did.
Here go my condolences to those
affected by the loss of this fine
person. I have nothing but good to
say about this man. Knowing him from
his duties the DOE at the institution Most students wish more profs were of his calibre. Highly advanced in his research, yet fun, and
approachable enough to perplexed new aspiring EE types. Perhaps some of his undertakings did not save the world, but He sure made (course life) pleasant without compromise or dumbing down, and never condescending.
if 0X 4368616E67+0+0
AND 0X 466F7274696572
OR 0X 4B61706C616E+0
get this then you can be assured that
Prof. Knight has left his legacy and his good work carry on in perpetuity
Go safely, and have fun, in the lab
and on the farm.
Sigh. I Never got to bank in my "free day
off voucher" and I'm not looking for
grades or jawbs, but .. just our ode to a
inspiring, superb prof
"Don't bother me because you had the
sniffles" John once wrote.
Alright.
Kudos to you, Professor Knight.
Your Legacy stands.
Roseann Runte
December 29, 2013
Please accept my sincere condolences and those of Professor Knight's colleagues and former students. He will be remembered with great respect and admiration at Carleton.
December 29, 2013
To Norma, Alan, Douglas,Scott and families, we extend our deepest heartfelt sympathies on John's passing. Although it has only been four years since you and John entered our lives, Norma, the friendship built makes it seem like a lifetime. His humour, laughter, humility, gentleness, warmth, compassion, ingenuity, adaptability, diverse knowledge and generosity are a few of the qualities of his character that readily endeared him to us and welcomed him into the STRIDE family of volunteers. Personally, it is his embracing smile that stands out most each time I think of him.
Your recent life journey has been difficult but as you have done for over 50 years, you walked it together in love and support. May all the precious memories you have made in your lifetime, help to ease the parting and may your faith bring you comfort, strength and peace.
As we grieve with you and your boys, we also feel blessed for the times we shared and the friendship forged.
On behalf of STRIDE,
Mary R. McDowell, President
December 28, 2013
Norma, Allan, Douglas, Scott and families; I was saddened to hear of John's passing. He was a great man. His sense of wonder, enthusiasm, passion and community will not be forgotten. I'll miss discussing rocks and fossils with him at family gatherings!
Steve McRoberts
December 27, 2013
It was great to be a student of John at Carleton, he was engaging, funny and always willing to help. Even his assignments were fun -- wiring up T-Bird Tail-lights or the infamous Tug Of War game. In more recent years, I enjoyed seeing him around my parents' neighbourhood, where he always offered a friendly greeting and a joke or two. Norma and family, our thoughts and prayer are with you.
Steve and Michelle McRoberts
Linda & Rolf Meier
December 27, 2013
Rolf and I are very saddened and we will miss his attendance at the Royal Astronomical Society meetings in Ottawa. Rolf especially liked speaking with John as he was his favorite professor at Carleton. It was obvious the conversations they had were enjoyed by both of them. He was such a kind man who I felt very lucky to meet.
Bob and Marylyn McRoberts
December 27, 2013
We remember John as a very community oriented man, always willing to contribute his considerable engineering skills and knowledge to solving practical problems his neighbours had, whether it be a toaster not working or snowblower acting up. Invariably John's garage was the source of some wire or bolt or tool that could be used to fix things. And we will forever remember, in the latter years of his life, how he creatively dealt with his disability by constructing various mobile devices to keep him on the go. He lived life to the full. We give thanks to God for his commitment to community and neighbourly care.
Lisa Praine
December 27, 2013
Doug & Ruth, My sincerest sympathies in the loss of your dad. I am keeping all of you in my prayers.
Blessings, Lisa Praine
Michael Cullinan
December 27, 2013
Mrs. Knight, Alan, Doug, Scott and families, a few reminiscences... Mr. Knight was quick with a hello, a man who was fun and clearly very bright, yet entirely approachable, down-to-earth and kind. My earliest memories of Mr. Knight was when I used to go over to be humbled in chess at Alan's, and Mr. Knight was always there with questions, engaging the boys in all matters of science, chemistry, botany, etc. I recall a visit at the lake where he pointed out different rock formations and mineral deposits; another outing with the Knights, he was naming tree types of the Carolinian forest at Vincent Massey Park; and once in front of an oscilloscope on the living room floor, he got into spectral kurtosis. I spent a chunk of my childhood at the Knights and remember him fondly. From all of the Cullinans, please accept our deepest sympathies on the loss of a wonderful person.
Janet Evans
December 27, 2013
Aunt Norma, we are so sorry to hear about John.
Our thoughts are with you and the family.
Janet, Steve, and family
December 26, 2013
Norma and family .Our thoughts are with you all during this difficult time.Orlando&Maria Valle
Dave Thomas
December 26, 2013
John was an outstanding professor, and a kind and caring person. He was instrumental in establishing computing as a discipline at Carleton in engineering, shaping campus wide computing and contributed to the establishment of the School of Computer Science. He always had time to help students and colleagues. He made a huge personal difference in my career and that of many others. Everyone in my engineering class remembers " twinkle twinkle little star, power equals I squared R" and his wonderful smile and chuckle. Sympathies to John's wife, Alan and the rest of the family.
Dave, Margaret and family
Cate Evans
December 26, 2013
My memories of Uncle John are from the farm in Georgeville where he entertained everyone with stories around the dinner table. He had a wonderful sense of humour and a great laugh as well as intelligence and understanding of the importance of family. My deepest sympathy to Aunt Norma, Alan, Doug, Scott and family.
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