Fawcett, J. Jeffrey (Jeff)

J. JEFFREY (Jeff) FAWCETT, Ph.D. (July 6, 1936 – March 12, 2021). Professor Emeritus at U of T. He served as Chair of Geology and also had many other administrative appointments at the U of T. For several years he served as Treasurer and then President of the Faculty Club. He received an Arbor Award in recognition of his outstanding service to the University in 2011.

Obituaries: 1) FAWCETT, J. JEFFREY July 6, 1936 – March 12, 2021 In deep sorrow we announce the death of Jeff, Emeritus McRae-Quantec Professor of GeoSciences, University of Toronto, on Friday, March 12, 2021, at the age of 84. He died at home, in the presence of his family, after a courageous six-month battle with cancer. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Sylvia, his daughters Karen Elizabeth Fawcett McEwan and Margaret Ann Fawcett, and his granddaughter Ashley Ann McEwan who all loved him deeply. He will be fondly remembered by his cousins, nephews, extended family and his many friends and former colleagues around the world. He was born in Blyth, Northumberland, England, attended Blyth Grammar school, became Head Boy and developed a passion for cricket. He received his BSc (Geology) at the University of Manchester in 1957 and soon afterwards crossed the Atlantic (by ocean liner in those days!) to the USA and a year of study at Penn State University. He received his PHD (Petrology) at the University of Manchester in 1961. He always looked forward to his trips to collect basalts for his thesis work on the Isle of Mull, Scotland, where some locals spoke only Gaelic and enjoyed lively games of soccer with the visiting students. He returned to the USA in '61 to attend the Carnegie Institution's Geophysical Laboratory in Washington, D.C., for three memorable years. In 1964, he was appointed to the Geology Faculty at U of T. His early years there were spent teaching, doing research and setting up the High Pressure Laboratory which simulated the temperature and pressure conditions in the earth's crust. In 1965, Jeff and colleagues made the first of several notable trips to East Greenland where the samples of tertiary lava that he collected became the basis of later research. For several years he served as Treasurer and then President of the Faculty Club. He held several administrative appointments at U of T including Associate Dean (Physical Sciences and Engineering) at the school of Graduate Studies 1977-1980, Associate Dean (Sciences) at Erindale College 1980-1986, Vice Principal (Academic) Erindale College 1985-1986, Associate Chair and Co-Ordinator of Undergraduate Studies in the Department of Geology 1992-1995 and Chair of the Department of Geology from 1995 until 2001. He was an exceptional leader. As Chair, he broadened the academic range of the department and established a strong alumni network. In 1998, he organized the 150th Celebration to honour 150 years of the teaching of Geology at U of T. As a result of his leadership, four major endowed faculty chairs and a number of Explorers Fund graduate and undergraduate scholarships were established. He played an active role on advancement committees responsible for fund raising and valued and maintained connections with the mining and business communities. He particularly appreciated the special bond he had with the late Bob McRae. His support, leadership and fundraising continued well after his retirement in 2002, including ten years as editor of the Alumni News. His teaching abilities were recognized by grateful former students who established the Jeff Fawcett and John Gittins Graduate Explorers Fund Scholarship in 2007. In 2011, he received an Arbor Award in recognition of his outstanding service to the University. In his leisure time, Jeff delighted in relaxing at his pre-federation cottage near Warkworth where, using traditional log cabin techniques, he built himself a workshop/garage. He also had a passion for collecting maps and antique clocks. He enjoyed taking apart the intricate workings of the clocks, which he meticulously cleaned, repaired and put back, making sure they kept accurate time to the second. He reveled in the camaraderie of close friends and neighbours and in particular valued the bonds formed five decades ago during the years we lived in Agincourt. In recent years he enjoyed regular family trips to Stratford while staying at a farm near St. Marys - he always liked animals (except squirrels!). Jeff will be remembered as a true gentleman, scholar and leader: a scientist with exceptional intellect, wisdom and integrity. He was also a family man who was kind, patient, a dedicated husband and a wonderful father. He had a keen sense of humour and was always ready with a good story, told with a twinkle in his eye. He will be greatly missed. We would like to thank the staff of the Temmy Latner Centre for Palliative Care and the staff of St. Elizabeth Health for the outstanding care they provided during Jeff's illness. If desired, donations may be made in his memory to the Brain Cancer Research Fund at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre (https://thepmcf.ca/donate/) or The Explorers Fund (Graduate) of the Earth Sciences Department, University of Toronto (https://www.es.utoronto.ca). Due to pandemic restrictions, a memorial service celebrating Jeff's life will be held later in the year, once it is safe to do so.

Published in Toronto Star on Mar. 20, 2021. https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/thestar/obituary.aspx?pid=198106812 Published in The Globe and Mail from Mar. 20 to Mar. 24, 2021. https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/theglobeandmail/obituary.aspx?pid=198102995

2) In Memoriam: Emeritus Professor J. Jeff Fawcett 1936 – 2021 It is with great sadness we announce that Jeff Fawcett, Emeritus Professor, and former Chair of Geology, passed away on Friday March 12, 2021, after a courageous battle with cancer. Jeff received his PhD (Petrology) at Manchester University. He joined the Department of Geology at University of Toronto in 1964 with research interests in metamorphism and flood basalts. He held several administrative appointments at U of T including Associate Dean (physical sciences and engineering) at the School of Graduate Studies, Associate Dean (sciences) at Erindale College, Vice-Principal (academic) at Erindale College, Associate Chair and Coordinator of Undergraduate Studies in the Department of Geology, and Chair of the Department of Geology from 1995 until 2001. Along with his academic and administrative work, Jeff was a leader in the department’s alumni engagement and advancement efforts taking an active role on committees responsible for fundraising. Among his legacies is his work in establishing the endowed faculty chairs in the department, creation of a number of Explorer’s Fund graduate and undergraduate scholarships, and the grand 150thcelebration he organized in 1998 for alumni and friends of the Department of Geology. In 2011 he was recognized for his efforts with an Arbor Award. Always a kind and gracious person, Jeff will be missed by all who knew him. Due to pandemic restrictions a memorial service celebrating Jeff’s life will be held later in the year, once it is safe to do so. Select this link to read Jeff’s obituary printed in the Globe and Mail If desired, donations in Jeff’s memory can be made to The Graduate Explorers Fund To post a tribute to Jeff please send your message to alumni.newsletter@es.utoronto.ca ________________________________________ It was with great sadness that I heard of the passing of Dr Fawcett. Dr. Fawcett was always a keen supporter of young geoscientists at the Department of Geology and promoted their successes in his roles and Chair and Professor. Jeff encouraged many students to consider a career in research and was one of several professors at U of T that convinced me to enter academia in the geosciences as a career path. After graduation from U of T with my third degree (B.App.Sci 9T9; M.Sc. 0T1; Ph.D. 0T6) Jeff always kept in touch, asking for updates about what we were working on and showcased many of our successes in the Department newsletter. I was glad to have known Jeff and benefited greatly from his mentorship and support. Condolences to Jeff’s family and to the Department. Dr. Jacob Hanley (Professor, Saint Mary’s University, Department of Geology) ________________________________________ I was deeply saddened to hear of the death of Professor Jeff Fawcett. Jeff was Vice Principal at Erindale College when I worked as a PDF in Ian Campbell’s INAA lab between Dec 1982 and July 1984. Ian was on study leave in Canberra at the time and Jeff helped me settle in. We saw each other often at scientific conferences over the years and I will miss his friendly smile and insightful discussions about science and academia. His passing is a loss for all of us, but he left a lasting impact that will never be erased. Please accept my deepest condolences. Prof Michael Lesher, Laurentian University, Sudbury. ________________________________________ I was shocked and saddened to hear of Jeff’s passing. When Janet and I entered the U of T Geology program in 1967 Jeff was part of the establishment, one of the faculty pantheon, and the fact he was less than 10 years out of his PhD and only four years at U of T Geology and was therefore rather new was rather lost on us. His standard answer when students were trying to figure out some problem at field camp was “Well what do you think?” was iconic. No easy ways out provided – we had to think things through in a way that could then be assessed and critiqued. Although neither Janet nor I specialized in Jeff’s field of petrology, his involvement in departmental affairs and alumni events meant we got to know and keep in touch with him long after graduation. Later we found ourselves in the same dog obedience class with him and came to appreciate more of his non-academic side and came to consider him a friend too. And at the 2019 lunch that he organized honouring the return of Udayan Dasgupta for a department visit, I learned of his passion for antique clocks and got several tips from him on resources for some of our household clocks too. It is hard to figure out a world in which so many people who seems to b “fixed stars”, who have always just been there, have moved on and are no longer with us. All we can do is cherish the memories and learnings and shared times and carry on, but he will be missed all the same. Sending all best wishes for strength and the future to all of Jeff’s family. Dennis Waddington, BSc (1970), MSc (1973) https://www.es.utoronto.ca/in-memoriam-professor-j-jeff-fawcett-1936-2021/

Other Records

2011 ARBOR AWARD RECIPIENTS Arbor Award 2011 recipient. Since retiring in 2002, Prof. Emeritus Jeffrey Fawcett has been a leader in the Department of Geology's advancement efforts, taking an active role on committees responsible for fundraising and for connections between the university and the geoscience industry. The committees have raised money to establish student scholarships and help fund field training.

https://alumni.utoronto.ca/events-and-programs/awards/arbor-award/recipients/2011/jeffrey-fawcett