Dr. John Michael Dealy

It is with great sadness that I announce the death of my father, Dr. John Michael Dealy on January 15, 2024 at the age of 86 in Westmount, Quebec. I am grateful to have been by his side when he peacefully took his last breath.

John leaves behind his brother David, daughter Pamela (David Rees) and his two cherished grandchildren Emily and John. He is predeceased by his beloved wife of 46 years Jacqueline Déry. He also leaves in mourning a wonderful life partner in the last years of his life, Andrea Deardorff.

In 1964, John came to Montreal to start work at McGill University after receiving his MSE and PhD from the University of Michigan. He was appointed Full Professor a mere nine years later, served as Chair of the Department of Chemical Engineering from 1993 to1994 and served as a popular Dean of Engineering from 1994 until 1999, before becoming Professor Emeritus in 2004. Throughout the years, his research and writing took him on sabbatical to England, The United States, France and Japan.

John was a member of the Canadian Society of Chemical Engineering, the Society of Plastics Engineers and the Canadian Society of Rheology. He served as president of The Society of Rheology from 1987 to 1989, was a fellow of the Polymer Processing Society, and was awarded the 1997 S.G. Mason Award from the Canadian Rheology Group as well as the 1998 Bingham Medal of The Society of Rheology. He was known for teaching rheology in an understandable and logical way, as demonstrated in his many manuscripts and books.

He held several academic awards, including his fellowship of the Royal Society of Canada. He is the author of four books and holds four patents. While an academic to the core he loved a good laugh, once convincing his young grandchildren that he invented Jell-O only to have the formula stolen by a secret agent in a dark alley. They ate it up along with the six layer Jell-O cake he delivered to the house as “proof”.

Music was always playing in our house from one source or another. John played many instruments including double bass, piano, clarinet, guitar, and a harpsichord he built himself and would play the evenings he was not working. Even when he was working, music could be heard coming from beneath his office door.

Although he officially retired in 2004 (or as he would put it, no longer receiving a salary) he continued with his research as a “hobby” and remained an important part of the McGill family as Professor Emeritus representing the McGill retirees on the MAUT Council, quadrupling membership with popular McGill Faculty Club retiree luncheons. John maintained close ties with colleagues and valued graduate students alike all over the world.

He used his newly found time to follow his passion for travel and the arts, attending numerous musical events and the theatre. He also became more involved with the Unitarian Church. John will be remembered as an outstanding teacher and a loving father and grandfather who reminded his grandchildren of how important a hug a day is. Despite his memory failing at a rapid pace and his words few in his final months, his purpose and message remained the same, just months ago he was heard explaining to a visitor that his intent in life was to “take a bunch of people, give them knowledge and send them out into the world to make it a better place”.

I would like to thank my father’s team at Chateau Westmount for their compassion and support in his final days.

A celebration of life for family and friends will be held in the spring of 2024.