Obituary of Angus Kerr-Lawson

Angus Kerr-Lawson of Waterloo, Ontario died Monday June 20, 2011. His entire family joined him with love and support in his courageous fight against multiple myeloma - his wife Margaret, daughters Leslie and Kate, sister Jessie, sons-in-law Steven Brooks and Stephen Bate, grandchildren Andrea and Matt Brooks, Jamie and Charlotte Bate, sister-in-law Barbara Hall, husband Ralph, and nephews, Doug and David and niece, Heather. Angus was born in the northern Ontario town of Swastika in 1932, where his parents had moved to establish their geological assaying firm. He left the north to attend University College - University of Toronto (1954), the University of Chicago (1955), and McMaster University (1963). Angus joined the University of Waterloo in 1958. A true scholar and teacher in the Department of Pure Mathematics and the Department of Philosophy, he retired from the university in 1996 and continued research and writing until one month ago. Since 1983, Angus edited "Overheard in Seville", the Bulletin of the Santayana Society. Professor Kerr-Lawson was the recipient of the Distinguished Professor Emeritus Award at the 2011 spring convocation at the University of Waterloo. His great loves were mathematics and philosophy, the writings of George Santayana, the language and literature of France and Japan. A natural athlete, Angus was a daily runner for many years, he played hockey until he was 62, and then his focus was the golf course. Time with his grandchildren was always a source of great joy. We are grateful to family physician Dr. Gino Pannozzo, who cared for Angus for many years and to Oncologist Dr. Janet MacEachern who understood Angus' need to be involved in his treatment decisions. A special thank you to everyone at the Cancer Centre and the 6th Floor Oncology at the Grand River Hospital for their compassionate care and support to our family. Cremation has taken place and his ashes will be placed in the Canadian Shield rocks he loved so much. There will be a gathering of family and friends to celebrate the life of Angus Kerr-Lawson to be held at Conrad Grebel Chapel, Conrad Grebel University College, University of Waterloo, 140 Westmount Rd., N, Waterloo, ON on Saturday, July 23, 2011 from 2-5 PM and to listen to the music of Bach and Mozart. As expressions of sympathy, donations may be made to the Retiree Scholarship, Office of Development, University of Waterloo, The Balsillie Cancer Centre, or 6th Floor Oncology at Grand River Hospital and may be arranged through the Erb & Good Family Funeral Home, 171 King St. S. Waterloo, www.erbgood.com or 519-745-8445. Though wise men at their end know dark is right, Because their words had forked no lightning they Do not go gentle into that good night Dylan Thomas