Joseph Christian de Pencier

JOSEPH CHRISTIAN de PENCIER Joseph Christian de Pencier died on August 31, 2023, from complications of a stroke. Born on May 5, 1955, in Toronto. Predeceased by his adored wife, Veronica Nunn de Pencier; and proud father of daughter, North; and son, Dumaresq (Hayley). Son of the late John and Marni de Pencier; and older brother of Jan (Geoffrey Seaborn), Adam (Jane La Mantia) and Michèle (Michael Eastmure). Brother-in-law of Mark Nunn (Lois Lorimer) and Robin Nunn (Catherine Burwell); nephew of Michael and Honor de Pencier. Joseph will also be missed by his de Pencier, Lithgow and Rodgers cousins, as well as his nieces and nephews. Joseph was a decorated scholar - and leader - graduating as School Captain from University of Toronto Schools (UTS), and undergraduate from Yale, where he specialized in medieval history. Joseph then studied law and environmental studies, graduating with an LLB from Osgoode Hall, and Master of Environmental Studies at York, respectively. Joseph began his legal career at Goodman's LLP, where he came to the attention of the legendary Eddie Goodman; he would later lead Mr. Goodman and others on a canoe trip down the famed Nahanni River in NWT. Joseph spent several happy and fruitful years at the firm before moving to Ottawa to begin the service part of his career, beginning as Counsel, and working his way to Senior Counsel in the Department of Justice. It was here that he and Veronica welcomed North and Dumaresq into the world. Their eclectic house on Queen Elizabeth Drive was full of curious nooks and crannies, befitting their architect mother and polymath father. The de P backyard was a treasure trove of trees, forts, and other great places to explore. Joseph and his family also spent many happy years at their cottage on Lac à l'Anguille, Quebec. Such places reflected Joseph's imagination, cultivated from his earliest days as a lover of books: J.R.R. Tolkien (with whom he corresponded), Dickens' David Copperfield, and Churchill's The Second World War, are some of the works that fired his mental and emotional life. He was also a fine guitar player, and along with Veronica loved the arts. Playfulness went to the core of Joseph (he laced up speed skates to get back and forth to Parliament Hill). He was an accomplished athlete, particularly outdoor sports, although he did play water polo at university. This zest for action was unabated to the end of his life. Joseph will be remembered as an outstanding camp counsellor, first at Hurontario and then at Wanapitei, where he was admired by campers and respected by colleagues. He canoed many of Canada's great lakes and rivers in the Yukon, NWT, British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec. He was recognized nationally for his virtuosity in a canoe. It was always like Joseph to do something unexpected and unusual, and so he did when he entered the world of high-performance sport and the vexing issue of blood doping. He became General Counsel and Director of Anti-Doping at the Canadian Centre for Ethics and Sport. This post was proceeded by a move to Bonn and an appointment as the founding CEO at the Institute of National Anti-Doping Organizations. This work took Joseph all over the world. He made new friendships everywhere he went, adding to his repertoire of good eating and drinking of every local cuisine. Joseph leaves this life far too soon, but on his own terms, with so many friends and admirers. He will be missed. Friends are invited to join the family to honour Joseph's life on Sunday, October 15, 2023, from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. at The Badminton and Racquet Club, 25 St. Clair Avenue W., Toronto. Friends who would like to make a gift in Joseph's memory are invited to do so at Taylor Statten Camping Bursary Fund, which enables young people to attend summer camps, including Hurontario and Wanapitei.