John Glenn Adair

John is survived by his wife of 61 years, Carolyn; their children, Leslie (TJ), Colin (Nancy), Heidi (Ross), and Joel (Joelle); their grandchildren, Nicole, Eric, Whitney, Brayden, Jarret, Liam, Lianne, Janelle, Evan; and their great-grandchild Kira.

John was born in San Antonia Texas to (Charles) Glenn and Lucie Adair on December 19, 1933. John is also survived by his big sister Betty Davis and her family. After receiving his master’s degree in psychology from Trinity University, John took his first teaching job at Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, South Dakota.

While teaching in Mitchell, John met his wife, Carolyn. After they married, John and Carolyn moved to Iowa City where he earned his PhD in Social Psychology from the University of Iowa. Recently graduated, John was offered a two-year “term” position at the University of Manitoba (U of M). A young couple with two small children, John and Carolyn set off on what they thought would be a brief adventure in a foreign country. That adventure turned out to be a wonderful life in what became their home. John and Carolyn were both very proud to become Canadian citizens later in life.

John’s sense of adventure led him and Carolyn all over the world, travelling to over 40 countries doing research and presenting at conferences. Some of their favorite destinations included India, Mexico, and London. John’s love of travel and people led him to ask everyone he met where they were from ‘originally’ in an attempt to connect with them through his experiences abroad. All this travel also led him to appreciate the foods of the world and he would jump at any chance to eat at some of his favorite restaurants like Viva or Clay Oven.

John loved teaching and working with students and had many graduate students who remained lifelong friends. John was ecstatic when his daughter Leslie and her 2 daughters pursued their PhD and master’s degrees in psychology respectively.

John retired in 1999 from the U of M as Professor Emeritus of Psychology where he served as head of the department from 1973 to 1978. John was a member of the U of M Board of Governors from 1976 to 1982.

Throughout his career, John served as a fellow and former president of the Canadian Psychological Association, the Social Science Federation of Canada, and the Canadian Association for the Advancement of Science. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council from 1997 to 2002 and served as chair of its Standing Committee on Ethics and Integrity. John also served as the first chair of the Tri-Council Advisory Group for the new Canadian Research Ethics Policy.

He served on the executive committee of the International Union of Psychological Science, the executive committee, and board of directors of the International Association of Applied Psychology. John’s international work included representing the U. S. and Canada as vice-president and executive secretary for of the InterAmerican Society of Psychology. He also represented Canada on the executive body of the International Federation of Social Science Organizations, and Intersciencia, an Association of Scientific Associations in the Americas.

John received numerous awards throughout his career. He was the first recipient of the CPA Gold Medal for Lifetime Contributions to Canadian Psychology (2000), the Inter-American Psychologist Award (2001), the Award for Distinguished Professional Contributions to the International Advancement of Applied Psychology from the International Association of Applied Psychology (2002), the American Psychological Association Division 52's Distinguished International Psychologist Award (2003), the University of Manitoba Faculty of Arts Award in Internationalization (2006), the Creadores de Psicología Social en México from the Asociacíon Mexicana de Psicología Social (2006), and the C. J. Robson Distinguished Psychologist in Manitoba Award (1980).

John served on the editorial board of three journals, authored and edited four books, three special issues of journals, and approximately 100 articles and book chapters. John’s research and writing focused on the science of psychology, with a particular interest in addressing the social nature of human research methodology, the ethics of human research, research dissemination, the process of indigenization, the development of the discipline in developing countries, and the spread of psychology internationally.

Along with his distinguished career, John was an amazing father and grandfather. Nothing made him happier than being with his family. Summer days around the pool and Sunday dinner and games were his favorite and brought every generation of our family together. John’s Pictionary skills were legendary, but not in a good way! We all have warm, wonderful memories of our Grandi!

Baseball was a favorite pastime, and he was a lifelong fan of the St. Louis Cardinals with the Winnipeg Goldeyes a close second. John and Carolyn were huge supporters of the arts scene in Winnipeg and abroad. Annual theatre pilgrimages were made to London for over 30 years, and they were season ticket holders to all Winnipeg theatre groups as well as the opera.

The last few years have been challenging for John as his health declined. In 2018, John and Carolyn left their family home of 50 years and moved into assisted living at Riverwood Square. It was difficult for both of them but they soon discovered a new home filled with wonderful people who became good friends. The Riverwood staff has been amazing every step along the way!

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the John G. Adair International Distinguished Psychologist Lectureship at the U of M. John started this fund later in his career as he always felt we had much to learn from others around the world. Donations to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation — an organization close to John’s heart — are also most welcome.