Search by Name

Add a Memory

Send Flowers

Make a Donation

Share Obituary

About

Princeton University University of Minnesota

JEFF KANTOR Obituary

JEFFREY C. KANTOR Jeffrey Kantor was born on July 10, 1954, and raised in International Falls to Carl and Lorraine Kantor along with his siblings Gerald, Joseph, Natalie (David Frank), and Sarah (Howard Arch). He graduated from the University of Minnesota and received his PhD in Chemical Engineering from Princeton University. Jeff was a lake boy. The natural beauty of the area encouraged his curiosity and instilled a life-long love of learning and discovery. He loved being a professor of Chemical and Bimolecular Engineering at Notre Dame and spent 40+ years there. He could speak in detail on many topics but his true gift was being able to explain concepts clearly so anyone could understand them. His contributions to engineering and higher education were too numerous to mention including being Department Chair of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and VP of Research and Graduate Studies at Notre Dame but his proudest accomplishment was his family. He adored his wife, Diane of 46 years, and sons, Brian and wife, Allison, and granddaughter, Libby, and Alex and his girlfriend Ali. He would laugh along with his large noisy family of siblings, cousins, nieces, and nephews, and was a fantastic Uncle J especially when he was winning Ticket to Ride. His BIL, Howie and him would talk woodshop stuff for hours and he looked forward to spending his summers in the Falls. He loved Notre Dame and Notre Dame sports and would talk to anyone about how hopeful he was that "this" was the year. He was generous with his time and humble. He never said no to a friend, new faculty member, or a student, and yet had time to work on many house or wood projects or to donate his time to study the water levels of the Rainy Lake and Namakan Basin for the Rainy Lake Property Owners Association. His photography was spectacular and used by many including USA Today and the Voyageur Conservancy. Next to his family, photographing Rainy Lake from sunrise to sunset was special to him. Deet was his perfume of choice because he loved sitting by the lake waiting for the perfect shot. He was suddenly taken from us on July 12, 2023, by a heart filled with love but failed him in the end. He will never be forgotten. He loved and was loved. He was a speeding comet of brightness who carried us along in his light. He is preceded in death by his parents and brother, Gerald. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to the Voyageurs Conservancy. Please visit Voyageurs.org/kantor to see some of his photos. Service arrangements are pending.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Rainy Lake Gazette from Jul. 18 to Jul. 21, 2023.

Memories and Condolences
for JEFF KANTOR

25 Entries

Diana

July 13, 2024

Was beautiful to hear the stories of your marriage, Diane. A gift to Jon and I. Thank you. Our hearts are with you. Diana and Jon

Barbara and Mark McHugh

August 12, 2023

Barbara and I were shocked and saddened to learn about Jeff's sudden passing. We have fond memories of our interactions with Jeff (and Diane) from our time at ND in the early 1980s. Professionally Jeff was a superb colleague. I still remember the late Friday afternoon get-togethers in the departmental conference room with Jeff and Neil Ivory discussing our nascent research ideas. Jeff always offered technical input and comradery during those tough Assistant Professor start-up days. When I told my son Tom about Jeff's passing, he too was taken aback as he also remembered Jeff and our early days in South Bend. Tom, 14-ish at the time, reminded me that Jeff gave him his first sci-fi book! Our daughter, Beth, also remembers Jeff and, of course you too Diane! Both of our children reminded me that we used to play board games with you two on our living room floor! I lost direct contact with Jeff when I left ND in 1985, but I typically reconnected with him yearly at AIChE meetings, and just a few months back I had some fun on LinkedIn commenting on his "elder" status at ND. He jokingly replied quickly noting my Emeritus status! In my interactions with him over the years Jeff always had almost an insatiable appetite for technical discussions, but, in addition, he loved to tell me stories about his sons' athletic exploits! He was a very proud father (deservingly so!) He will be missed.

Laurie and Mark Krcmaric

August 1, 2023

My memory of Jeff's smile is crystal clear...he stood on the rainy soccer field, post-defeat, as "Coach" to a team which included his eldest Brian, our eldest son, and several others...a group of 5-6 year olds, who in hindsight were probably more gifted with intellect than athleticism. Defeat! Who cares? We won because we learned, we loved the game and we had fun! The young boys danced and sang as they stomped in the mud, and "Coach" Jeff beamed with joy at their antics. Thinking back on that memory today, I suspect Jeff was also trying to teach the parents an important lesson about life and love...learn all you can, love the ups and downs of life, and enjoy every moment with which you are gifted. My heart aches for you Diane, Brian and Allison and Libby, Alex and Ali, and the rest of Jeff's family. To we mere mortals it seems Jeff was stolen away too soon. No time on earth is long enough to share with those we love or to prepare our hearts for good-bye. But faith teaches us that we were not born for earth, we are meant for a greater good. "Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1) I pray your sorrow will turn to joy as you recall a treasure chest of memories of the multitude of simple, everyday experiences that you shared. "There is nothing that can equal the treasure of so many shared memories..." Antoine de Saint-Exupery
God bless you all as you grieve and grow in love and faith.

Dave Younger

August 1, 2023

I, too, am very sad to hear of Jeff's passing. Jeff was true gem of a man and I will always remember with fondness his consistent willingness to interview students for the Oxford study abroad program at ND with me. His insights were keen, his wit smart, his passion deep, and his patience expansive. He was disarming to nervous students and his excitement matched the students with high energy. I will miss seeing his kind face and warm smile around campus. Be assured of my prayers for Jeff and those that survive him.

Maria Hernandez

July 27, 2023

I am so sorry to hear about Professor Kantor's passing. His controls class was the first true engineering class I took at Notre Dame, and I really struggled. He made time to meet with me every Tuesday and Thursday morning to ensure that I understood the material. Without his help and support, I am not sure I would have stuck with engineering. I actually took a position as a process controls engineer (I think a big part of that is because of Professor Kantor) right out of college.

After I graduated, I would stop by and say "hi" when I was on campus and was always impressed by the photos he showed me and the stories he had to share.

He was a wonderful teacher, and I am blessed to have learned from him.

Maria Hernandez (Lang)
University of Notre Dame CBE Class of 2012

Sara & Dale Kennedy

July 27, 2023

Sarah and Howie, we are so saddened to hear of the loss of your brother. What a special man with such talent. Thinking of you during this difficult time.
Sara & Dale Kennedy

Mary Kate (née O'Leary) and James Venzor

July 26, 2023

We´re so sorry to hear about the passing of Professor Kantor. We had him for Intro to Chemical Engineering and Controls. He was such a passionate instructor and it was clear that he really loved his work. He was a legend at Notre Dame, from his iconic red sweater to his perfect attendance at ND basketball games (it didn´t matter which game it was, you could always count on seeing Professor Kantor in the crowd!). His photography was stunning, and we loved when it would make its way into a classroom presentation as a cover photo.

Such an interesting and good man, we will miss seeing him around campus.

Mary Kate (née O'Leary) and James Venzor
ND Chemical Engineering `19

Fanghui

July 26, 2023

This is such a sudden news to me... so sorry and sad to hear that. Jeff was my PhD supervisor. He is very supportive to the students. He is also a very smart and nice guy. He is passionate with research. He loves his MN holiday cabin, even invited his students there (sad I haven´t got a chance to go) I still remember the cookies he brought which Diane cooked to our weekly meetings. He reached out to me last year for an undergrad, trying to help him get an internship. Sorry to lose u, Jeff. RIP.

Maren Stevens (Schulte)

July 25, 2023

I was saddened to learn of Professor Kantor's sudden passing. His process control class was a memorable part of my 1994 ND Chemical Engineering experience, and I am disappointed my son (ND Cheg 2026) missed interacting with Professor Kantor. My condolences to his family and friends.

Ann S. Hatfield, MD

July 25, 2023

I was so sad to hear about the passing of Dr. Kantor. He was an amazing mentor to me at Notre Dame, and I would not have achieved my postgraduate success without him. He was always so supportive of women in engineering and the sciences, and was a great role model. I will be forever grateful. My thoughts are with his family during this difficult time.

Marjorie Ochsner

July 25, 2023

My deepest sympathy to the Dr. Kantor's family and friends. He was a wonderful professor and will be greatly missed. Peace and Blessings, Marjorie Ochsner

Mia Eppler Coath

July 25, 2023

Thank you Professor Kantor for teaching me process operations in fall 2014. I remember the time you spent helping me understand the class; you created a fun and safe space to learn. Sending prayers to the family.

Matt DeWolfe

July 25, 2023

I had the pleasure of working with Jeff through the IJC work on Rainy Lake since the flood in 2014. His keenness to study and understand the hydrology and hydraulics of the watershed was matched by his passion for helping others learn from his work. He asked tough questions, but was always courteous in doing so. He did his own work to verify the answers. Because he was so trusted, his findings were key to helping others in the community trust the science. What success there has been in helping the public understand water management for Rainy Lake would not have been possible without his efforts.

My condolences to his friends and family.

Katerina Yamalidou

July 25, 2023

It is with great sadness that I learned about the passing of Dr. Kantor, my thesis advisor at the University of Notre Dame. I fondly remember him as a brilliant, enthusiastic, genuinely polite and kind person. He was a visionary, always interested in the new scientific concepts and their applications to chemical engineering. I admired him for approaching research with a learning attitude. I am so very sorry for his untimely loss! I pass my sincere condolences to Diane, his sons and the rest of his family.

David Gottschlich

July 23, 2023

Jeff was a classmate at Princeton University; he was one of the most brilliant people in our class as well as being a genuinely decent person who was fun to be around. Conversing with him after a gap of 30 years was as if it had just been yesterday. He will be missed.
May his memory be a blessing always.

Jeff and Bev Kolstad

July 23, 2023

We are so deeply saddened by the death of our friend Jeff and send our heartfelt condolences to Diane and family. We lived in the same apartment building as Jeff and Diane in graduate school and shared many happy evenings after " driving" the elevator up to their place, enjoying some good food and inexpensive wine. Our conversations ranged over so many topics, but often ended up in those familiar themes that Jeff especially loved to discuss - control theory (!), photography, woodworking, and northern Minnesota. Jeff has left far too soon but has touched so many lives and left so many happy memories. May he Rest in Peace.

Mark Krysiak

July 22, 2023

To Diane and the Kantor family! Our thoughts and prayers for you in this time of grief. Keep your memories frequent and close. Take care of yourselves and know he is close by!

Bill and Patty Jacobson (Trafford)

July 22, 2023

Shocking and terribly sad news. Bill and I are so so sorry to hear of Brad´s sudden passing. Much love to you, Diane, and your entire family.

Alexander Blachly

July 20, 2023

Thirty years ago, when I was a new associate professor at Notre Dame, Jeff took the time to say some kind words about a concert I had just conducted on campus. That gesture started a friendship that soon blossomed into long discussions on music, tuning, instrument construction, and many other topics, not excluding Notre Dame sports, to which we shared a similar devotion. Jeff was always generous with his time and his thoughts. It was a pleasure to sit next to him in the Faculty Board on Athletics meetings, aware of his friendly, knowledgeable presence, and I am shocked and saddened that he is suddenly gone. With sympathy to his family,
Alexander Blachly, Professor, University of Notre Dame

Susan D Blum

July 20, 2023

I am so shocked by the world's loss of this visionary. Every summer I was enchanted by his photographs of Rainy Lake. Jeff was a gift to Notre Dame and the world. Condolences to Diane and the whole family. May his memory be a blessing.

Fr Jim Bracke csc

July 20, 2023

Blessing and prayers as you journey with Jeff in his wonderful
spirit and love.

Sincerely in Notre Dame,

Fr Jim Bracke csc
Notre Dame Staff Chaplain

Davide and Gosia Hill

July 19, 2023

I learned today of Jeff's passing. It was devastating news. Jeff has been a great colleague, an outstanding scholar and beyond all a Superb human being. Our most heartfelt condolences to Diane, Brian and Alex. Godspeed Jeff.

Dennis and Beckie Kantor

July 19, 2023

Although distance precluded us from enjoying Jeff´s company often, happy memories of growing up with Jeff and his siblings help ease the loss of a special member of our family. Our last visit with Jeff took us to Rainy Lake where we enjoyed a lovely fish fry with many cousins and reminiscences of past family gatherings. We will always remember the last boat ride around the lake with "Captain Jeff" at the wheel. We salute him and hope he will be sailing happily with God in His heavenly waters. We send our deepest condolences to those he left here behind and pray God will send His Grace and mercy to aid in your grief.

Dennis and Beckie Kantor

Richard Fezza

July 19, 2023

I'd like to express my most sincere condolences to Diane and family at this sad time. Jeff and I met during our first week in grad school and became friends. We spent the next 4 years eating lunch together and participating in what we called "snappy patter", mostly telling stories about our lives and interests. Being a Brooklyn boy, I especially enjoyed the stories Jeff told about International Falls and the Moose that apparently roamed the streets there. Jeff had a great sense of humor, and was always fun to talk to. I included a photo of Jeff and Diane at Jeff's Final Public Orals, which was the final requirement for his doctorate. He will be greatly missed.

Ron & Lisa Conat

July 19, 2023

We are deeply saddened by Jeff's passing, but we hope you will find comfort in your happy memories in the days to come.

Showing 1 - 25 of 25 results