Murray Sinclair (1951-2024)
The Honourable Murray Sinclair — former senator, judge and chair of Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) — passed away on November 4, 2024.
In memoriam
Ethel Côté (1958-2024)
Dedicated entrepreneur and community organizer
Ethel Côté, GrDip 02, whose professional career in the economic, social, cultural and environmental sectors spanned four decades, passed away on October 16, 2024. She was 66.
The founder of MécènESS, a French-language crowdfunding platform, and co-founder of the Social Enterprise Council of Canada, Côté assisted the development of hundreds of social enterprises across a wide range of sectors, and mentored hundreds of social entrepreneurs throughout Canada.
Côté, who graduated from Concordia’s School of Community and Public Affairs, was the recipient of multiple honours, including the Order of Canada; the Order of Ontario; Champion of Women’s Economic Empowerment, UN Women; and Chevalière de la Pléiade, Organisation internationale de la Francophonie.
- Gaston (Beau) Beauregard, L BA 55, February 1, 2025, Saint-Sauveur, Que. He was 90.
- Mark Vineberg, S BComm 55, February 4, 2025, Montreal. He was 90.
- John Barker McBrearty, L BA 57, October 10, 2024. He was 87.
- Charles Baillie, S BA 59, February 17, 2025, Montreal. He was 90.
- Stephen Harper, S BA 60, October 23, 2024, Montreal. He was 86.
- Garry Fitzpatrick, L BSc 61, November 19, 2024. He was 84.
- Errol D. Feldman, S BA 62, October 19, 2024, Hoorn, Netherlands. He was 86.
- Elie Dawang, S BA 63, December 29, 2024. He was 90.
- Richard Gervais, L BA 63, March 10, 2025, Montreal. He was 83.
- Daniel Wainberg, S BA 63, December 7, 2024. He was 89.
- Lionel Lustgarten, S BA 64, October 14, 2024, Red Deer, Alta. He was 93.
- Bernard Young, L BA 65, September 11, 2024. He was 81.
- Morrie M. Cohen, S BA 65, December 2, 2024. He was 88.
- Kevin Conroy, S BComm 65, February 14, 2025, Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Que. He was 82.
Henry Beissel (1929-2025)
Distinguished writer, poet, playwright, translator and editor Henry E. Beissel passed away on January 9, 2025.
Lui Che Woo (1929-2024)
Lui Che Woo, a visionary businessman, philanthropist and advocate for education, passed away on November 7, 2024, at the age of 95.
- John (Jack) Carroll, L BA 67, October 3, 2024, Montreal. He was 79.
- Carl Emond, L BComm 67, February 13, 2025, Vermont. He was 78.
- John Kochanowski, L BSc 67, BA 91, October 7, 2024. He was 78.
- Hildburg Schleiermacher, S BA 67, January 17, 2025, Pointe-Claire, Que. She was 106.
- Judith (Judy) Appleby, S BA 68, January 5, 2025, Montreal. She was 77.
- Jonathan Bradley, S BA 68, S MA 70, October 5, 2024, Montreal. He was 78.
- Timothy O. Clark, S BComm 68, October 23, 2024, Montreal. He was 78.
- Dorothy Cunningham, S BA 68, February 14, 2025, Mississauga, Ont. She was 94.
- Catherine Fichten, S BSc 68, S MA 69, October 31, 2024.
- John Sibales, S BComm 68, December 31, 2024. He was 78.
- Andrea (Tekker) Blanar, S BA 69, November 3, 2024, Hudson, Que. She was 80.
- James A. Evans, S BA 69, December 11, 2024. He was 85.
- Keith Moorse, S BComm 69, December 25, 2024, Burlington, Ont. He was 77.
- Allan Levine, S BComm 70, January 28, 2025, Thornhill, Ont. He was 78.
- Thomas Harold McNeilly, S BSc 70, December 27, 2024, Lethbridge, Alta. He was 82.
- Brian Meeks, S BComm 70, January 15, 2025, Framingham, Mass. He was 79.
- Filippo Navarra, L BSc 70, L BComm 74, March 10, 2025. He was 78.
- Mark Tobenstein, S BComm 70, October 29, 2024, Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Que.
- Maggie Jacobs, S MA 71, MTM 76, November 4, 2024. She was 80.
- Bernard King, S BComm 71, October 14, 2024. He was 89.
- Jean Kessous, S MTM 72, December 13, 2024, Montreal.
- Sheldon Roth, S BComm 72, December 22, 2024.
- Audrey Stacey, L BA 74, December 23, 2024, North Vancouver, B.C. She was 78.
- Jeannette (Brooker) van Boxel, BFA 75, Cert 86, March 2, 2025, Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Que. She was 87.
Sami Antoun pictured during a Concordia geology field school trip to the eastern townships, Quebec, in 1979. | Photo by Leo Piedimonte, BA 80
Sami Antoun (1957-2024)
World-travelling geologist
Sami Antoun, BSc 81, passed away on June 7, 2024. He was 66.
Born in Alexandria, Egypt, Antoun moved with his family to Canada at age 10, after spending two years in Dublin, Ireland. They eventually settled in Montreal, where he attended Rosemont High School before enrolling at Sir George Williams University, one of Concordia’s founding institutions.
Antoun earned a Bachelor of Science in geology, laying the foundation for a career that took him across North and South America for his fieldwork. He later returned to Canada to work on an oil rig off the coast of Newfoundland, before heading west to Calgary.
Antoun is survived by his sisters, Myriam and Lesley, as well as his nieces and nephews.
- Arnold Gluz, BComm 75, January 6, 2025, Montreal.
- Nancy Hovey, BA 75, BA 83, December 17, 2024. She was 94.
- André Pagotto, BComm 77, January 19, 2025, Montreal. He was 71.
- Elaine Whitton, GrDip 77, February 28, 2025, Ottawa. She was 95.
- Harold Blond, Cert 78, MA 85, January 14, 2025. He was 79.
- Rhoda (Cooperman) Hoffman, BA 78, January 27, 2025. She was 87.
- Margaret Kamester, GrDip 78, GrCert 86, March 3, 2025, Kitchener, Ont. She was 95.
- Gisele Pharand-Reboux, BComm 78, September 27, 2024, Montreal. She was 92.
- John M. Sinclair, GrDip 78, December 18, 2024, Saanich, B.C. He was 71.
- Rhona (Morgan) Browne, BA 79, November 28, 2024, Mississauga Ont. She was 95.
- Joseph V. Santilli, BEng 79, November 20, 2024, Montreal. He was 70.
- Dorothy Kon, BFA 80, December 18, 2024. She was 88.
- Dominique Lemieux, BFA 81, November 27, 2024, Sherbrooke, Que. She was 67.
- Helen (Paul) Knight, BA 81, February 5, 2025. She was 102.
- Wendy Deacur, BA 82, December 18, 2024. She was 67.
- Claudette (Beaudin) Pedicelli, BA 82, December 6, 2024, Montreal. She was 87.
- Elizabeth (Seale) Shotton, BA 83, October 26, 2024, Montreal. She was 102.
- Antoinette (Sydorchuk) Stechysin, BA 85, October 27, 2024. She was 81.
- Helene (Simsovicova) Rosenbloom, BA 86, December 18, 2024. She was 96.
- Dario Velicogna, BSc 86, December 26, 2024. He was 61.
- Marc Lalonde, MA 88, PhD 95, January 1, 2025. He was 63.
Hubert Clement (1922-2025)
Lifelong learner and devoted teacher
Hubert Clement, BComm 58, former train porter and mathematics teacher, passed away on January 23, 2025. He was 103.
Born in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, Clement had parents who emphasized the importance of education from a young age. He and his younger brother Errol were encouraged to pursue their studies. As a Black man in the 1950s, Clement had limited job opportunities. To help pay for his post-secondary education, he worked as a train porter for the Canadian National Railway.
He and Errol enrolled at Sir George Williams University and graduated with Bachelor of Commerce degrees in 1958. Clement later completed his MBA at McGill University and proudly became a Canadian citizen. He dedicated his career to education, joining the Montreal Catholic School Board, where he met his future wife, Euphrasie Le Sann. The two dedicated their lives to teaching the next generation.
Clement is remembered as a devoted father and grandfather who prioritized his family, faith and the pursuit of justice. He leaves behind his three children, grandchildren and younger brother Errol.