January 16, 1933 – July 21, 2023

Jock passed, peacefully and with family at his side, on Friday, July 21, 2023.

He leaves his wife Sharon Hick and their children John (Penny) and Mark (Brianne), his children Katherine, Joseph (Cindy), Peter (Stephanie) and Willem (Darlena), and his much-loved grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and friends. Jock and Sharon moved to Port Perry after his retirement as Curator Emeritus of Botany at the Royal Ontario Museum and Professor Emeritus of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Toronto. He specialized in the study of lake-bottom fossil pollen grains and what they can tell us about the environment of the Great Lakes Region hundreds and even thousands of years ago.

His botanic enthusiasm carried over in the name of his dearly loved cottage of Dunpollen in Codrington, Ontario, where he grew an extensive vegetable garden and, over the many years, ‘repaired his repairs’.

A lifelong learner, Jock was curious about all manner of things – experimenting with everything from new computers to new gadgets to new crops.

Over these past several months, Jock has had many wonderful caregivers. The family extends its heartfelt gratitude to the staff of Lakeridge Health Port Perry Hospital, West Shore Village Retirement Home, and Oak Ridges Hospice.

Jock’s family will hold a private reflection to remember his adventure- filled and productive life at Pine Grove Cemetery in Port Perry on July 31.