Obituary of Jeremy Nichol McNeil

Jeremy Nichol McNeil

CM, FRSC

20 November 1944 - 18 July 2024

Jeremy died as he lived, tenacious and determined to the last - qualities that  served him well as he blazed a trail through life. 

He was born towards the end of WWII in Tonbridge, England, to Jean Evelyn  Elsie (Nichol) and Alastair McMurdo McNeil of St. John’s, Newfoundland.  The family moved back to Newfoundland in 1945, and Jeremy spent a happy  childhood in Corner Brook, before returning to England for his schooling. He  attended Lancing College in West Sussex, where he was known more for his  sporting prowess - representing the school at cricket, swimming and fencing -  than his intelligence.

Jeremy returned to Canada for his further education, graduating with an  Honours degree in Zoology from The University of Western Ontario in 1969  and a PhD in Entomology from North Carolina State University in 1972,  where he won the outstanding graduate award. He accepted a position in the  Biology Department at Université Laval in Quebec City, teaching his courses  in French - completely belying comments by his teachers at Lancing College  who noted at the time that Jeremy’s ability in science did not match his  enthusiasm, and that he had no talent for languages.

In 2004, after 30 years at Laval, Jeremy returned to Western as The Helen Battle Professor of Chemical Ecology, a position he held until his death. In 2014, Jeremy received the Distinguished University Professor Award for his contributions to Western.

He was recognised internationally as an eminent research scientist,  publishing hundreds of papers, holding many positions of distinction and  receiving countless accolades and awards. These include, among many  others, President of the Royal Society of Canada, the Humboldt Research  Fellowship in Germany, and the Order of Canada for his services to  education.

He was a passionate and enthusiastic educator his whole life, an ambassador  equally at ease with everyone from VIPs to children. He received several  national awards for his outreach activities, often saying the publication that he  was most proud of was What is an Insect, a children’s book he co-wrote with  Let’s Talk Science which has been translated into five languages, and is used  as a teaching aid in schools across Canada.

Jeremy was known as The Bug Man and was rarely seen without one of his  trademark insect-related tee shirts - he had over 500 of them which are to be  catalogued and sold to raise money for charity. He was a world traveller, and  amassed an art (and mask) collection from the countries he visited, was a  passionate photographer with a quirky eye, and a fabulous gardener. Many  have benefitted from his generosity, and many more have enjoyed his wry wit,  quick mind and ready humour. He was a great conversationalist and  raconteur, and never lost an opportunity for sharing a bottle or several of  good wine from his cellar. 

Jeremy will be missed dearly by his partner Shelley Yeo, sons Jamie (Hanh)  and Chris (Karly), grandchildren Morgan and Connor, sister Deborah (Mike),  and Shelley’s daughter Rebeca Morrison (Glenn Young) and grandchildren  Ema and Luc. Jeremy’s passing will also be felt by his extended family, and  by countless friends and colleagues from around the globe.

Details for a celebration of Jeremy’s life will be announced at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Let’s Talk Science  www.letstalkscience.ca, St Joseph’s Hospice of London, www.sjhospicelondon.com, or to a charity of your choice.