Dr. Denis O’Driscoll, retired Professor of Comparative Education at Queen’s University, Kingston Ontario, passed away at his home in Westmount, Quebec with his family at his side on January 16, 2022. He was the loving husband of Loretto O’Driscoll, and devoted father of John (Sylvie) of Montreal, Niall (Helen) of Kingston, and Gillian (John Toth) of Westmount, and late daughter Aisling of Barrie. He was the affectionate grandfather of Brigitte, Denis, David, Katalina, Olivia and Tara. He leaves his three dear sisters, Marion Sloyan, Eileen O’Connell and Siobhan Prendergast in Ireland, and was predeceased by his dear brother Finian. He was grateful for the enduring friendship of his cousin Ann Miller of Chicago.
Denis was born in Oranmore, County Galway, the eldest son of Sergeant John O’Driscoll of Cork, and Maria Cannon of Knock, County Mayo. He spent his childhood summers on Whiddy Island at Reenavanny, the O’Driscoll family homestead. Although he left Ireland’s shores in his 20’s, those childhood summers in Whiddy were never far from his heart.
He emigrated in 1958 to Montreal where he taught at Belmont School. He was joined a year later by his fiancée, Loretto McCarthy, and they were married at St. Patrick’s Basilica in 1959. Devoted partners for 62 years, they continued to light each other’s eyes with love and joy throughout their lives. Their graciousness, kindness, belief in God, in others, and in doing what is right inspired their children and those who knew them.
While teaching full-time in the day, Denis first earned a B.A. in Celtic Philology from the University o f London, and his M.Ed. from the University of Alberta. He was awarded a scholarship to pursue his PhD. in Comparative Education at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. He became a founding member of the Faculty of Education at Queen’s University, where he taught in the area of historical and comparative education, and separate school education, from 1968 until 1995.
Denis had a lifelong interest in Celtic studies, particularly in the Irish language. He had attended Irish immersion boarding school for high school (Coláiste Íosagáin in Ballyvourney), and was a fluent speaker. He was a member and former President of the Kingston Gaelic Society and taught night courses in the Irish language at KCVI and at the Royal Military College. He was a keen oarsmen and marked the 150th anniversary of the construction of the Rideau Canal by Irish labour, by rowing 22 miles a day in his 14 foot boat from Kingston to Ottawa.
Denis was a consummate gentleman in his demeanour and his dress. He was also a gentle person, who would kindly evict mice and spiders from the house to the yard. He was an attentive listener, impressed with other people’s learning and achievements, and generous with compliments. He was a highly regarded teacher, known for his prodigious ability to draw freehand maps of countries around the world, and to elucidate his points with well-chosen metaphors. He was a marvellous and involved father, who modeled life-long learning, taking up swimming, skating and skiing in his 50’s to do them with his children. He encouraged them academically, and was interested in and encouraging of their every pursuit.
He spent his last 8 years in Westmount, enjoying a wonderful quality of life with outings to the café at Five Seasons, trips to the waterfront in Lachine and time with his family. Those years are a testimony to the possibilities of life with Alzheimer’s without the crippling interventions of geriatric psychiatry, and the rewards of time with family and with skilful caring staff. Enduring gratitude to the kind and gifted caregivers he had for those 8 years, who filled his life with affection, good food, gentle care, and Irish music: Johnny Gebreyessus, Cecilia Alexander, Franklin Charles, Abdel Roushanzamir, Bilen Fessahazion, Melissa Doty, Almaz Gebresus, Dacia Earle, and Don Phelps. He was so appreciative of them, often kissing their hands in thanks when he could no longer speak.
His funeral will take place at Ascension of Our Lord Church In Westmount on January 29th at 2:30, with visitation before, with in-person attendance limited to 25 people. The funeral will be live-streamed through the Kane and Fetterly website (www.kanefetterly.qc.ca/en/funeral.php), accessed by clicking on his name and then service live.
Contributions in Denis O’Driscoll’s memory can be made to the Canadian Irish Studies Foundation at Concordia University online at:
www.concordia.ca/artsci/irish-studies/foundation/about.html
or by mail to:The Canadian Irish Studies Foundation, 1455 de Maisonneuve Ouest, Room H-1001, Montréal (Québec) Canada H3G 1M8
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of O’Driscoll Denis 2022..
Death notice for the town of: Montréal, Province: Quebec