Marie SANDERSON

MARIE SANDERSON Lifelong geographer and much loved mother, grandmother and friend, Marie Sanderson passed away peacefully on July 12, 2010 at the age of 88. Born Marie Lustig on November 16, 1921 in Chesley Ontario, Marie is survived by her three children and their families, Susan and Tom Jolliffe, Hardie and Leslie Sanderson, Jim and Dianne Sanderson; adopted daughters Joan and Jim Pfaff, Sharon and Ross Martin; grandchildren Miles (Sophia) and Emily Jolliffe, Callie and Rachel Sanderson, and Campbell and Robert Sanderson. Also survived by her sisters Gwen Todd and Joan Stanford, and brothers George Lustig and Harry Lustig. A vibrant, beautiful and engaging woman, Marie delighted in the lifelong pursuit of knowledge. She began her academic life at the University of Toronto where she was one of the first graduates in geography in 1944. She went on to earn her Masters degree in geography from the University of Maryland and later her PhD from the University of Michigan. Marie married her childhood sweetheart Robert Sanderson on August 3, 1946 and moved to Windsor, Ontario where their children were born and grew up in Walkerville. Marie began her teaching career at the University of Windsor in 1965 and over the course of her 23 years as a professor of geography there, she also taught for short periods at the University of Hawaii, and in the Nunavut region of Arctic Canada where she organized courses on the Arctic environment. Her special interest in the Great Lakes and their changing levels led to the creation of the Great Lakes Institute, of which she was the founding director. On retirement from the University of Windsor in 1988, Marie formed The Water Network at the University of Waterloo for 10 years, and then returned to Toronto where she remained active in the alumni affairs of the geography department at the University of Toronto. A career as a geographerclimatologist dedicated to teaching and research resulted in many recognitions, including honorary degrees from the universities of Waterloo, Windsor, Lethbridge, Ryerson and Toronto. As a devoted geographer, Marie travelled the world but would always declare Inverhuron, on beautiful Lake Huron as her favourite place in the world. It is the place to which she always returned. Friends may call at the Trull 'North Toronto' Funeral Home & Cremation Centre, 2704 Yonge Street, (5 blocks south of Lawrence Ave.) on Thursday July 15, from 5pm to 8pm. A celebration of Marie's life will be held at Timothy Eaton Memorial Church (230 St. Clair Ave. West, west of Yonge Street) on Friday at 11:00 a.m. At Marie's request a cremation has taken place. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Marie Sanderson Award at the University of Windsor (University Advancement, 401 Sunset Avenue, Windsor, ON N9B 3P4) would be appreciated. Online condolences can be made at www.trullfuneralsyonge.com