Obituary of Dr. Christopher John Simpson
Passed away on April 19, 2025, at The Village at University Gates in Waterloo, ON, at the age of 78.
Christopher John Simpson (BA, MA, PhD, FSA) was born to Cissie Olive Tindall and Edward Scott Simpson in Sunderland, England, in December 1946. From a young age he was fascinated by ancient history, taking the bus each week to attend Latin lessons. His formative education at the Venerable Bede Academy segued to a BA and MA in Classics at the University of Nottingham. In 1971 he and bride Ruth Margaret Cheetham emigrated to Canada for Chris to begin a PhD at the University of Alberta in Edmonton. In 1985 he and Ruth divorced, and in 1987 Chris moved to Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario. There he delighted in helping a new generation discover Roman history and archaeology.
Chris had a talent for iconoclasm, never failing to ruffle the feathers of the old guard with new interpretations of epigraphy and finding modern lenses through which to view ancient history. With more than seventy publications to his name, he was respected by his colleagues and admired by his students, some of whom became lifelong friends.
In 1989, a medical emergency resulted in Chris becoming paralyzed on his right side, but it barely slowed him down. He lived independently and courageously, beating cancer and multiple accidents and illnesses. In 2016 he lost his cherished self-reliance and entered long-term care.
Chris inspired a passion for life and learning in all who knew him. A glass of wine could often be found nearby, though rarely untouched long enough to warrant the occasional “piss and vinegar” of his demeanour. He was happiest sitting outside the Pantheon in Rome or even at Beertown in Uptown Waterloo, solving the world’s problems with his friends and family.
He is survived by his daughters, Nicola and Katharine, his grandchildren Angela, Milan and Duncan, and by treasured friends Erika and Bryan. His family would like to thank the staff at University Gates for their care over the years.
No formal visitation or service will be held; celebration of life is for family only. Anyone wishing to pay their respects is welcome to make a donation to the Heart and Stroke Foundation or the Canadian Cancer Society. Condolences for the family and memorial donations can be arranged through the Erb & Good Family Funeral Home, 171 King St. S, Waterloo, 519-745-8445, www.erbgood.com.