JOSEPH STEPHEN SORICH

It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of Mr. Joseph Stephen Sorich. Joe, a beloved son, brother, uncle, great-uncle and cherished friend, passed away on November 24, 2025, at the age of 87, after a brief illness. Joe will be mourned by his loving sister, Wilma Swayze; and deeply missed by her sons/Joe's nephews, James, Richard and Paul, as well as their wives, Petra, Ariadne and Genevieve; and Joe's grandnephews/grandnieces, Spencer, Olivia, Erika, Amelie, Anwyn and Aura. Joe will also be mourned by his second cousin, Maryanne and husband, Jimmy; as well as his other extended family, and his close friends and colleagues, including many from his years in the Canadian University community. Born on April 19,1938, in Port Colborne, Ontario, to beloved Croatian immigrant parents, the late Steve and Mary Sorich, Joe lived a life defined by his intelligence, generosity, kindness, humour, dedication, loyalty, respect, and intellectual pursuits. After graduating high school in Port Colborne, he attended and graduated with a BSc (1960) and MSc (1963) in Mathematics from McMaster University in Hamilton, ON. Choosing to devote his career to teaching Math, his favourite subject, he first taught at Mount Allison University in Sackville, NB. He then accepted a position in 1964 to teach math at Loyola College in Montreal, which would go on to merge in 1974 with Sir George Williams University, to become Concordia University. For 35 years at Concordia, Joe was a beloved Associate Math Professor and later Math Department Chair, often recognized by faculty and students alike for his teaching excellence. After retiring in 1999, and a few years spent living in Toronto, he moved back to his family home in Port Colborne where he lovingly helped his mother continue to live independently for years until she passed at the age of 99. And that was Joe… devoted to family and to his friends whom he treated like family, always friendly, kind, generous and loyal. His wit was legendary, and he loved to tell (often corny) jokes. Not a frequent traveller to exotic locales or an outdoorsman, he loved big cities like Montréal and Toronto for much of his life, enjoying their energy, culture and restaurants. But he was just as comfortable back in his hometown; his smalltown roots were strong. Aside from occasional trips, especially to Florida, Joe would spend time appreciating a good book or a lively debate about history or politics, he enjoyed watching soap operas, he was a great cook, and he had a lifelong passion for opera music, attending many performances over the years. Having no kids of his own, Joe developed close and loving relationships with all his nephews, grandnephews/grandnieces and their families, special bonds that they will never forget. A celebration of life for Joe will be held at Morley Bedford Funeral Home, in Toronto, on Saturday, December 20th, from 3 to 6 p.m. In lieu of flowers, any donations made in memory of Joseph Sorich to Concordia University's Mathematics Department would be greatly appreciated (engage.concordia.ca/donate). Donations in his memory would also be welcomed to the Canadian Opera Company (www.coc.ca/support/make-a-donation).