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Dr. Harry Foster of the Department of Geography passed away on August 15, succumbing to one of the diseases that he had done so much to add understanding of—cancer. It was an enormous shock to the department, who had so recently and exuberantly roasted Harry on his retirement just a few short months earlier. A further celebration of Harry’s life will be held at the University Club on October 27 at 3.30 p.m. and all are welcome to attend.
Harold Douglas Foster was born in Yorkshire, something that might account for his direct manner and well-known sense of humour. He attended University College, London, where he obtained his PhD in 1968, and was appointed to the Department of Geography at the University of Victoria in that same year.
Last year he received his 40-year service commendation from the university. Harry was ostensibly a geomorphologist, but soon expanded his interests into a wide variety of applied topics, often working in concert with W.R.D. (Derrick) Sewell. Harry went on to author early books on solar power, climate change, resilience, water management, disaster planning and many other areas that are now looked on as much more mainstream than in the years that he wrote them. Over 30 years ago he was writing books on renewable energy and 25 years ago warning of water shortages in Canada, seemingly impossible in those days.
However Harry will be best remembered for his contributions to medical geography, where he developed many early concepts regarding the spatial distribution of diseases and environmental causality behind certain diseases long before such relationships were recognized. He wrote books on schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s, AIDS and cancer, to name a few. He was enormously productive with some 400 articles and over 16 books published. He was also the series editor for the department’s well known Western Geographical Series of book publications.
Harry also developed and sponsored programs that implemented some of the measures that he suggested to “make things better,” such as AIDS initiatives in Africa. Nothing can sum up my recollection of Harry better than his contribution to a departmental wrangle a few years ago about measuring academic productivity. Harry suggested we should be assessed on the basis of “how much good we have done for society” in a discussion that was focused on crucial academic matters such as the relative impact factors of various journals in different fields. Obviously Harry didn’t get it. Or perhaps he was the only one that did. He will be sorely missed.
Submitted by Dr. Philip Dearden, Chair, Department of Geography
Dr. Morgan Baker of the Department of Sociology passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by family on Aug. 19 after a brief battle with cancer. Morgan had a long history at UVic, first as an undergrad where he obtained his BA (honours) in sociology in 1973. Later, after earning his PhD at the University of Minnesota in 1977 and working for a year as a research officer in Ottawa at the Department of National Defence, he returned to UVic in 1978 where he enjoyed a successful career researching, teaching and contributing to his department until just weeks before his death. Morgan’s early research focused on social psychology and small group dynamics. He then expanded his research scope to include social gerontology. In more recent years, he returned his attention to social psychology, particularly attitudes toward money. His latest project was a sociological theory textbook on which he had been working for several years. Morgan’s passion was teaching, and his courses were extremely popular. During more than 30 years at UVic, he taught courses on theory, statistics, social psychology, small groups, social gerontology and death and dying. Morgan also contributed to the department and larger university. He was chair of the department from 1989 to 1991 and served as acting director of the Centre on Aging in 1991. One of his final projects was to compile a history of sociology at UVic. He will be dearly missed by his colleagues, students, friends, and family.
Submitted by Dr. Zheng Wu, Chair, Department of Sociology
Luzia Williams, who passed away on Aug. 9, had a very strong bond with UVic as alumna, teacher, employee and retiree. She received her BA (hons.) in Germanic languages and literature, taught in the German department and was a senior library assistant in McPherson Library’s Reference Division for many years. Following her retirement in 1992, she became a proud founding member of the UVic Retirees Association. Among her many contributions to the UVRA over the years, she was events coordinator, vice-president and president and, in 2006, she was appointed an honorary life member of the executive board in recognition of her extraordinary service. Luzia had a vast general knowledge and was committed to community service through the UVRA and her church (committees, mentor, synod, verger, youth guild leader). She also had many talents—her gardening expertise and handwork (knitting, sewing, smocking, book mending) were exceptional. Luzia leaves five brothers, three daughters and sons-in-law, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and extended family—with some of the younger ones continuing her UVic connection.
Submitted by former colleagues in the UVic Libraries
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