Joseph Morten Tyrrell Ph.D.

Joseph M. Tyrrell NORFOLK - Joseph Morten Tyrrell, Ph.D., 81, passed away Jan. 18, 2009, after a lengthy illness. He was born in Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Canada. Dr. Tyrrell was a graduate of Upper Canada College, University of Toronto with a B.A. and M.A., and earned the Dipome de Langue Francaise de l'Universite de Rennes, France. He received his Ph.D. in history from Emory University in Atlanta. A specialist in medieval French history, he taught at the College of Charleston in Charleston, S.C., and at Old Dominion University in Norfolk. He was the author of two books, "A History of the Estates of Poitou" and "Louis XI." He was a member of the American Historical Society, Medieval Society of America, Society for French Historical Studies, International Commission for the History of Representative and Parliamentary Institutions, American Association of University Professors, Virginia Social Science Association and the Southeastern Medieval Association. Dr. Tyrrell was the grandson of the late Dr. Joseph Burr Tyrrell, a Canadian geologist, explorer and historian, and the son of the late George C. Tyrrell and Dora M. Joslin Tyrrell. He is survived by his wife, Margaret B. Tyrrell; two daughters, Anne K. M. Tyrrell of Norfolk and Diana J.B. Tyrrell Suchla and her husband Thomas and their children, Michael and Madeleine; a son, Joseph D. G. Tyrrell and his wife Diane and their sons, David and Daniel; and a sister, Katherine Tyrrell Stewart and her husband Douglas of Bailieboro, Ontario, and their family. A memorial service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday in the chapel of H.D. Oliver Funeral Apts., Norfolk chapel, by the Rev. Margery Howell. The family will receive friends and family in the chapel one hour prior to the memorial service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to a Parkinson's disease foundation or to a charity of your choice. Online condolences may be offered to the family through www.hdoliver.com.