William ‘Bill’ Reimer
(1944 – 2024)
William Reimer, esteemed professor emeritus of sociology and anthropology, passed away on July 15 in Vancouver.
In memoriam
Jacklin ‘Jackie’ Webb (1942 – 2024)
Educator and performing-arts luminary
Jacklin ‘Jackie’ Webb, BA 71, who passed away on January 10, 2024, in Montreal, was a beloved figure in both education and the performing arts.
Born in 1942 in Trinidad and Tobago, Webb earned degrees from Concordia and McGill University. Her career in education began at Roslyn Elementary. She later became a principal at several Montreal schools and was honoured with the Distinguished Service Award from the Association of Administrators of English Schools of Quebec.
Webb was also passionate about the performing arts. After moving to Montreal in 1963, she joined the Black Theatre Workshop (BTW), where she performed in numerous productions, including A Raisin in the Sun (1979) and Here Comes the Groom (1989), for which she won Best Actress at the Quebec Drama Festival. Webb additionally served as board president of the BTW for 27 years.
Her career also included film roles in Time at the Top (1999) and The Trotsky (2009). Webb’s impact on those around her was profound and lasting. She will be deeply missed by a large circle of family, friends, colleagues and castmates.
- Jean P. Beauregard, L BSc 48, April 19, 2024, Ottawa. He was 95.
- Carmen Moore, S BA 51, June 12, 2024, Vancouver Island, B.C. She was 98.
- Gildo Renzi, L BA 52, July 1, 2024, St-Lambert, Que. He was 93.
- François (Frank) Clément, L BA 53, September 8, 2024, Beaconsfield, Que. He was 93.
- Malcolm Spicer, L BA 53, March 5, 2024, Montreal. He was 92.
- Solomon Bierbrier, S BA 54, April 11, 2024. He was 95.
- Demetrius (Jimmy) Manolakos, S BA 56, September 25, 2024, Montreal. He was 89.
- Aaron Spector, S BSc 56, June 9, 2024, Montreal. He was 90.
- Hartland McKeown, S BComm 57, March 28, 2024, Cowansville, Que. He was 89.
- Donald Thomas Whelan, L BSc 57, May 1, 2024, Ancaster, Ont. He was 87.
- Dieter (Bill) Meznel, S BComm 58, July 29, 2024, Toronto, Ont. He was 95.
- Theodore Wyglinski, L BSc 58, March 19, 2024. He was 87.
- Coleman J. Newman, S BA 59, August 3, 2024, Montreal. He was 89.
- Serge Jacques, S BComm 61, May 16, 2024.
- Freda G. Rashkovan, S BA 61, S MA 74, May 1, 2024, Montreal.
- Walter Piech, S BSc 62, August 11, 2024, Guelph, Ont. He was 87.
- Marion Mawhinney, S BA 64, July 11, 2024, Bridgewater, N.S. She was 83.
- Vernon E. Eccles, S BA 65, August 29, 2024. He was 87.
- Michael Lichacz, L BA 65, BA 79, June 23, 2024. He was 79.
- Frederick Tiplady, S BA 65, MA 92, June 1, 2024, Montreal. He was 86.
- Joyce Barakett, S BA 66, May 14, 2024, Westmount, Que. She was 83.
- Roberta (Frizzell) McAlpine, S BA 66, June 22, 2024, Scarborough, Ont. She was 94.
- Katharina Maria (Kasriel) Czerny, L BA 67, June 23, 2024, Ottawa, Ont. She was 79.
- John Michael Little, L BSc 67, March 29, 2024, Montreal. He was 78.
- Lawrence McMenamy, L BComm 67, September 6, 2024, Boston, Mass.
- Brian Hawker, BA 68, MA 95, April 16, 2024, Guelph, Ont. He was 79.
- Alexander Liros, S BA 68, March 7, 2024, Toronto, Ont. He was 80.
- Robert Depaola, S BA 69, March 21, 2024, Montreal. He was 87.
Clarence Bayne (1932 – 2024)
Clarence Bayne, a leader who fought for equality for Montreal’s Black community, passed away on September 1. He was 91.
Steven Appelbaum
(1941 – 2024)
Steven Appelbaum, a distinguished professor emeritus at the John Molson School of Business, passed away in Montreal on June 7, 2024.
John Limeburner (1947 – 2024)
John Limeburner, BComm 68, a dedicated Concordia advisor, donor and volunteer, passed away on September 6. He was 77.
- Stanley Edward Bateman, S BComm 70, October 26, 2023, Toronto, Ont. He was 81.
- John Corrigan, L BA 70, June 16, 2024, Montreal. He was 75.
- Elizabeth Jean Johnston, S BA 70, January 25, 2024. She was 92.
- Brian Pollock, S BEng 70, August 31, 2024. He was 77.
- James White, L BA 70, May 16, 2024, Toronto, Ont. He was 75.
- Marian Burke, L BA 71, March 26, 2024, Westmount, Que.
- Igor Kossatkine, S BA 71, June 21, 2024, Ottawa, Ont. He was 89.
- Gerald “Gerry” Nemiroff, S BFA 71, June 6, 2024, Winnipeg, Man. He was 82.
- Dennis Francis Smith, S BA 71, September 18, 2024. He was 74.
- Joe L. Visocchi, L BA 71, March 22, 2024, Laval, Que. He was 73.
- Atanas Katrapani, S BA 72, July 28, 2024, Montreal. He was 80.
- Alan S. Knopp, L BComm 73, August 7, 2024.
- Dora Benedik-Okun, S BA 74, January 27, 2024, Beaconsfield, Que. She was 99.
- Wilfried Jonasch, S BSc 74, July 8, 2024, Kirkland, Que. He was 92.
- Eileen MacDonald, S BA 74, February 25, 2024, Montreal. She was 80.
- Sonia (Weintraub) Oberman, S BA 74, August 18, 2024, Montreal. She was 91.
- John R. Dalrymple, BA 75, June 22, 2024, Saint-Lambert, Que. He was 73.
- Andreas Kragaris, BA 75, May 9, 2024, Montreal. He was 73.
- Albert Sevigny, BA 75, BA 02, September 7, 2024, Montreal. He was 73.
- Judith Toth, BA 75, June 28, 2024, Montreal. She was 72.
- Patricia Cahill, BA 76, March 7, 2024, Los Angeles, Calif. She was 69.
- Alda McCaffrey, BSc 76, May 6, 2024, Vaudreuil, Que. She was 80.
- Debbie Sonberg Ajzenkopf, BA 77, April 20, 2023.
- Earl J. T. King, BComm 77, February 12, 2024, Parksville, B.C. He was 88.
- Andre Lanza, BComm 77, June 19, 2024, Montreal. He was 70.
- Ronald Lepore, BA 77, September 8, 2024, Pointe-Claire, Que. He was 70.
- Fernando D’Arcangelo, BSc 78, May 2024.
- Patricia Mantin Gravel, BA 78, July 10, 2024, Longueuil, Que.
- Brenda (Smith) Javory, BSc 78, May 21, 2024, Westmount, Que. She was 97.
- Daniel Philip, BA 78, April 1, 2024, Montreal. He was 87.
- Rhona (Golfman) Shapiro, BFA 78, MFA 88, May 5, 2024, Montreal.
- Lillian (Bernstein) Shoub, Cert 78, BA 80, July 15, 2024, Montreal. She was 87.
- Louis Ajzenkopf, MBA 79, June 18, 2024.
- Shirley A. Bradley, Cert 79, BA 82, March 9, 2024, Ottawa, Ont. She was 88.
- Christopher Atherley, BFA 80, July 2024, St. Michael, Barbados.
Julie Des Lauriers (1974 – 2024)
Advocate who chronicled her battle with cancer
Julie Des Lauriers, BA 97, passed away on May 28 at the age of 50 after a valiant fight against brain cancer.
Diagnosed in 2014 while a new mother, Des Lauriers faced her illness with remarkable courage and resilience. She was supported throughout by her husband, Tony, and their young son, William.
Des Lauriers’s professional journey, marked by her dedication to community work and social change, was shaped by her degree in women’s studies from Concordia and a master’s degree from Queensland University of Technology. Her career included impactful roles in community organizations in Montreal and Brisbane.
In a heartfelt effort to leave a legacy, Des Lauriers collaborated with friends and filmmakers Karina Mariano, BFA 06, and Alexandra Grimanis, BFA 97, MA 17, to create a documentary capturing her life and messages for William. This project also aimed to support other families navigating similar struggles.
Des Lauriers’s bravery, commitment to social change and the legacy of her film will continue to inspire and provide solace to many.
- Boris Klco, BComm 80, July 27, 2024. He was 81.
- Patricia M. O’Brien, BA 80, February 1, 2024. She was 83.
- Howard Smith, BA 80, July 3, 2024, Montreal. He was 67.
- Krystyna M. Cienska, GrDip 81, March 10, 2024, Montreal. She was 97.
- Monique (Bachand) Rousseau, BA 81, July 25, 2024, Montreal. She was 92.
- Patricia (Martin) Toffi, BA 81, June 2, 2024, Montreal. She was 91.
- Sandra Warren Valdmanis, BA 81, May 10, 2024, Scarborough, Maine. She was 83.
- Hendrika (Klijn) Neuburger, BA 82, MA 93, September 3, 2024, Saint-Hyacinthe, Que. She was 94.
- Louis Weider, BA 82, February 1, 2024, Miami Beach, Fla. He was 63.
- Marilyn Ashby, BA 84, February 22, 2024, Brockville, Ont. She was 79.
- Francine (Zuckerman) Beer, BComm 84, September 24, 2024, Montreal.
- David A. O’Reilly, BA 84, July 29, 2024, Colombia. He was 65.
- Joseph Hymovitch, BA 85, September 11, 2024, Scottsdale, Ariz. He was 64.
- Anita Muzard, MBA 85, November 7, 2023. She was 80.
- Marilyn (Gallagher) Turpin, BA 86, October 2024, Dorval, Que. She was 86.
- Ralph Gordon Pollard, BEng 87, May 24, 2024. He was 64.
- Howard Balter, BSc 89, August 26, 2024, Thornhill, Ont. He was 58.
- John Joseph Mulvaney, BA 89, BEd 92, June 9, 2024, Montreal. He was 73.
- Daphne Zeitz, BA 90, March 30, 2024, Montreal. She was 86.
- Christine (Impellezzeri) Ciampini, BComm 92, July 10, 2024. She was 76.
- Barbara E. Mulligan, BA 93, May 3, 2024. She was 82.
- Lorne Gorber, BA 97, July 2, 2024, Montreal. He was 50.
- Tamara H. Kuzmicki, BA 97, August 17, 2024, Longueuil, Que. She was 97.
- Mark S. Shapiro, BA 98, August 2024, Montreal. He was 49.
- David Gordon Mackay, BA 99, January 27, 2024. He was 54.
- Marsha Akman, BA 05, August 16, 2024, Montreal.
- Dana Landry, MA 09, June 28, 2021, Kenora, Ont. She was 42.
Enrico Rajah (1956 – 2023)
College dean and professor
Enrico ‘Rico’ Rajah, BA 79, passed away on November 11, 2023, at the age of 67.
A distinguished educator, Rajah earned his geography degree at Concordia in just two years, later returning to his native Trinidad to dedicate more than four decades to St. Mary’s College in Port of Spain.
Beginning as a geography teacher and rising to the position of dean, Rajah made a lasting impact on the college and its students. His leadership extended beyond the classroom as he took on the role of buildings manager and grounds manager after his retirement, continuing to support the institution.
Known for his cheerful personality, Rajah was beloved by colleagues and students alike, many of whom remained in contact with him throughout his life. In addition to his academic contributions, Rajah was deeply involved in Trinidad and Tobago’s vibrant Carnival culture, serving as public relations officer for the award-winning Trini Revellers masquerade band for more than 40 years.