1943-2024
We are saddened to announce the passing of our father, John Michael Fossey, on December 1, 2024.
Connoisseur of classical music, spirits such as arak and scotch, cigars and good cheeses, he enjoyed many of the good things in life.
From the age of seven, he knew he wanted to be an archeologist. Over the next 74 years of studies, which included long careers as a university professor, museum curator, independent consultant and researcher, he was able to fulfill his lifelong passion.
He was fortunate to meet so many people along the way who shared these interests and with whom he could easily and thoughtfully exchange about them, as well as about many other topics and areas.
Like any life, he had his downs to go with the ups. Overall, though, we think Dad enjoyed the ride.
Our father is survived by his children Jean-Paul (Valerie), Myrtis (Elias) and Pauline (Scott), as well as by his eight grandchildren, Alexandre, William, Sébastien, Thomas, Henry, Aléane, Aldric and Althea. We will all miss him, as we know his friends will too.
The funeral will be held on Wednesday, December 11, 2024, at the Christ Church Cathedral located at 635 rue Ste-Catherine, Montreal, Quebec. The family will receive well-wishers as of 10 am with funeral services beginning at 11 am. Burial will follow at 1 pm at Rideau Memorial Gardens, 4239 Boulevard Des Sources, Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Quebec.
In lieu of flowers, we encourage donations to the Maison St-Raphaël palliative care home or to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada.
The funeral service will be live streamed online at the following address:
https://youtube.com/@christchurchcathedralmontr8122?si=F1a8Y40Oo67zrHwY
RÉSIDENCE FUNÉRAIRE J.J. CARDINAL FUNERAL HOME
560, Chemin Bord-du-Lac, Dorval (Québec) H9S 2B3
Tél. : 514-631-1511 | Téléc. : 514-631-1516 | Courriel : service@jccardinal.ca
12 Comments
My deepest sympathies to you, Myrtis, and your family. Wishing you peace and comfort during this painful period in all your lives.
Deepest sympathies to your whole family from me and mine. Love to you all
I’m so sorry for your loss. May his memory brings you comfort and joy.
Our most heartfelt condolences Myrtis, to you and your family. We are keeping you in our thoughts and may you find strength in the memories you have with your father.
Wishing you peace and healing,
Melissa & Nancy
My deepest sympathies, Myrtis, to you and your family over your tremendous loss. I’m keeping you all in my thoughts at this extremely difficult time.
All my condolences, Myrtis, to you and your family. May God gives you strength and courage during this difficult time.
Please accept deepest sympathies on behalf of the Department of Art History and Communication Studies at McGill University, where Professor Fossey is fondly remembered as an outstanding scholar and amiable colleague. He will be missed.
Dear Pavlina, dear Fossey family, please receive our condolences on behalf of the publishing house of Brill (Leiden, the Netherlands), for which professor Fossey has been an outstanding editor of the scholarly book series ‘Monumenta Graeca et Romana’. Under his editorship many important volumes appeared, including his own catalogues of the Montreal Museum. We cherish the memories of meeting him at conferences and here in Leiden, where we dined in Indonesian restaurants and where he met numerous friends and colleagues, too. We remember him in gratitude and wish you and his entire family strength and a meaningful farewell ceremony and remembrance service.
Please accept my most sincere condolences. I work at the MMFA and it was always a pleasure to work on projects with your father. We would sometimes cross paths, as he made his way home after work, and he would share amazing stories and spoke fondly of his children & grandchildren. A fascinating man! He will be missed.
Mes plus sincères condoléances à vous trois, Jean-Paul, Myrtis et Pavlina, ainsi qu’à vos familles respectives. Pour raisons de santé, je n’ai pu me rendre aux funérailles, mais c’est avec émotion que j’ai pu y assister via YouTube, et ainsi vous revoir tous. Votre père a été mon professeur, mais aussi un ami très cher. Il m’avait rendu visite il y a quelques mois, et j’ai longuement parlé au téléphone avec lui il y a seulement quelques semaines, alors que nous avions encore des projets de publication. Il nous manque déjà à tous. Dieu le bénisse et vous bénisse tous!
Bonjour Ginette,
Quel plaisir de te lire, même dans ces circonstances tristes! La mort de notre prof. m’a beaucoup touché et les mots de condoléance aussi. J’ai pu entendre les souvenirs de Jean-Paul et Myrtis lors des obsèques de John sur YouTube. (Is obsèques a word? My French is not great.) Je voulais te demander s’il y aura un festschrift ou autre publication commémoratif de la vie professionnelle de John. Et je te souhaite mes meilleurs vœux, bien sûr.
Mike (courriel attasm1@mymts.net) au Manitoba
Dear Jean-Paul and Myrtis, What wonderful words you said about your Dad in his funeral service! You captured all the aspects of John that I knew through my student years and beyond. And you added great descriptions of the love he had for you and the rest of his family. I knew him as a professor, as a scholar, and as a friend. He called me Myke and I called him JMF (pronounced Jumph). Learning of his passing brings sadness, but also brings so many fine memories of time spent together in Boeotia, in Perakhora, and in the Leacock Building. Bach’s music in particular comes to mind, as well as puns galore. As little kids, you two were so excited when your father invited “his students” to wine and cheese evenings at your house. There was lots of singing as well. May his singing and laughing and love echo long in your hearts.
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