Doris Margaret (McEwen) Nicholls

Suddenly and surrounded by love, Doris Margaret Nicholls (McEwen) passed away peacefully at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto, Ontario Canada, to the strains of The Glen Miller Band's "In The Mood". She was 94. Doris was predeceased by her adored husband, Ralph Nicholls, O.C. (York University Distinguished Research Professor Emeritus (Physics) and Founder of the Centre for Research on Earth and Space Science) and by her parents Fred and Ellen McEwen (Peck). Doris was born in Bayfield, Ontario. Even at a young age, she was a brilliant student, earning many awards, scholarships, bursaries and accolades throughout her academic career. This brilliance continued as she advanced scholastically and earned an incredible 4 degrees from the University of Western Ontario - Bachelor of Science, Master of Science (both in Botany), MD cum laude with 2 gold medals & a PhD (Biochemistry). These designations are impressive now but truly a remarkable feat for a woman during those early days. While she was working on Botanical Cancer Research at the University of Western Ontario, she met her future husband Ralph, when she accidently flooded his lab from her lab, one floor above. The rest is history and they were married for 56 years until he predeceased her in 2008.

In 1965, Doris and Ralph were recruited by the burgeoning York University to help establish the new university, to teach and to conduct research. They both continued to teach and encourage Graduate students well into the 2000s. Any summer breaks if not spent with Graduate students, were spent travelling to the USA, Scotland and abroad, enjoying the sights, sounds and pace of the different locales they visited while catching up with friends. Doris as Professor Emerita (Biology) at York University, taught and mentored many Graduate students throughout the years. She was regarded as a quiet, very intelligent and caring professor who was available always for her students. That was her work persona but those who were fortunate enough to know her outside those academia walls, knew Doris as an incredibly intelligent, shiny and bubbly spitfire, able to recall a litany of facts on many subjects as well as names and places with a ferocity that was unparalleled. She was a gracious host, excellent cook and baker - which she continued to do, preparing her 3 meals from scratch every day until her last days. Not surprisingly, she was also a very effective plant whisperer and her carefully coaxed Gloxinias (propagated from her mother's early 1900s plants), were a sight to behold when they bloomed.

Though her physical health had been declining over the past couple of years, her brilliance and zest for life did not wane. To the end, she was compassionate, fun and caring with an infectious laugh that seemed too big for her tiny frame. As per her wishes, cremation has already taken place and no funeral service will occur. In Doris' memory, donations in her honour may be made to any of her favorite charities listed below. She will be in our hearts forever and the memory of her laugh and big hugs will carry us through the tough days ahead.