We are deeply saddened by the passing of Angus McLaren. He died peacefully, after a long struggle with Parkinson's Disease. Professor Emeritus at the University of Victoria, Angus was a renowned historian of sexuality, reproduction, and gender. He was a person of enormous talents. Born in East Vancouver, BC, Angus was the youngest son of Lillian and Thomas McLaren and brother to Lorne and Stanley, all of whom predeceased him. Angus attended Gladstone High School. From there, he completed a BA degree at the University of British Columbia. After graduating in 1965, he married Arlene Tigar, who had attended the same high school and graduated from UBC at the same time. A lifetime partnership of love, travel, career, parenting, and much more was launched. Together, Angus and Arlene moved to Cambridge, Massachusetts, where Angus, thanks to a Woodrow Wilson Fellowship, attended Harvard University. After several years of floundering to determine a research path, he finally hit upon the under-researched but significant subject of birth control. Thus began an illustrious career in the social history of medicine. Generously supported by SSHRC (Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council), Angus was the author of more than a dozen books; some were translated into many languages. As a socio-cultural historian of medicine, he drew upon legal, medical, archival, newspaper, and literary sources over a range of issues including contraception, abortion, impotence, masculinity, and eugenics in Western contexts such as France, UK, and North America. Angus was a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and a University of Victoria Distinguished Professor. He was awarded the prestigious Molson prize -- that recognizes outstanding lifetime achievements to the cultural and intellectual life of Canada. The Jury said: 'Angus McLaren is an imaginative and prolific historian who has increased significantly our understanding of sexuality, gender and reproduction, and other related topics'. Despite his academic accomplishments, Angus was modest and self-deprecating. He enjoyed the simple pleasures of life, such as travelling, socializing with friends, reading literature, watching movies, taking long walks with beloved family dogs, Jet and Frida, and visiting the dog scene at local parks. We will never forget his loving warmth, sparkling wit, spirited curiosity, empathic sensitivity, concern for social justice, phenomenal memory, and analytical mind extraordinaire. Throughout his peripatetic life, Angus had chosen families in Victoria and London (UK). Forever playful, he referred to his 'marriage of inconvenience', as he commuted for over 25 years from Vancouver to Victoria to teach at the University of Victoria. During teaching semesters, Brian and Donna generously shared their home in Victoria. During research trips, he was warmly welcomed by Susannah and Richard to stay in their London home. In Vancouver, he was surrounded by a lovely group of friends and created a loving home, devoting himself to Arlene and their son, Jesse. Angus' passing is greatly mourned by many friends; and by Arlene, Jesse, and daughter-in-law, Laura; as well as nephews, Greg and Jeff. Special thanks to Roger and Minie for their wonderful care at home and to the kind staff at South Granville Park Lodge staff during the last few months of Angus' life. In lieu of flowers, please support a
Charity of Your Choice. A celebration of life will be held on August 25th (email
[email protected] for details around that time).
Published by The Globe and Mail from Jun. 29 to Jul. 3, 2024.
