Walter Joseph Balfour

With great sadness we announce the passing of Walter J. Balfour on December 8th, 2024, in Victoria, B.C., Canada. Walter was born in Hilton of Cadboll, Ross-shire, Scotland on May 1st, 1941, the eldest of four sons of Walter Balfour of Hilton and Margaret Wilma Howland of Scarborough, Ontario.

After early education at Hilton Public School and Tain Royal Academy Walter attended the University of Aberdeen, graduating with B.Sc. first class honours and the gold medal in Chemistry in 1963. There followed Ph.D. studies at McMaster University and post-doctoral research at the National Research Council, Ottawa in the laboratory of future Nobel Laureate Gerhard Herzberg. He then joined the Chemistry Department at the University of Victoria where he taught for 37 years and published 125 papers in academic journals. The University of Aberdeen recognized his contributions to the field of Molecular Spectroscopy with a Doctor of Science degree in 1985. He considered it a special privilege to have been paid for what he loved to do.

Throughout Walter’s career, he was recognized with several awards for his contributions to science and education. The UVic Faculty of Science honoured him with the Award for Teaching Excellence 2000-01. In 2004, Walter received the Youth Science Foundation Canada Distinguished Service Award in recognition of his outstanding volunteer contribution to the National Science Fairs Program. The Chemical Institute of Canada Vancouver Island Section presented him with an award for Outstanding Contributions to Chemistry in 2007.

At UVic Walter met the love of his life, Rosemary (née Picozzi). They were married in 1974 and raised two daughters, Annemarie and Jennifer. Family camping and hiking times in the Rockies held treasured memories. Their lives were enriched both professionally and culturally by wonderful study leave years in Paris, Stockholm, Ottawa, and Oxford where they made many friends.

Retirement in 2006 allowed Walter and Rosemary time to travel widely throughout Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and Central America. He also took up painting in acrylics, and a selection of his works were displayed at the UVic University Club. Walter was proud of his Scottish heritage and was active in Scottish country dancing and the Saltire Society of Victoria. His performances of the “Address to a Haggis” were legendary. He served as President of the Victoria Philatelic Society, as Vice President of the Victoria Genealogical Society, and as Chairman of the local chapter of the Chemical Institute of Canada.

His grandfather was born and raised in the Shetland Islands and Walter particularly enjoyed a visit to the family croft there and meeting extended family members in 2008. His “The Balfours of Houbansetter”, published in 2009, is a 300-page record of his research into family history. In his youth he played soccer, volleyball, and badminton, and latterly enjoyed regular golf at Juan da Fuca. Walter had been raised in a strict Protestant family and while not formally religious he aimed to follow the Presbyterian morals instilled in his youth.

Walter is survived by his beloved wife of 50 years, Rosemary, cherished daughters Annemarie (Darcy) and Jennifer, and family in the UK and Canada. A celebration of life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of your choice.