Decarie spent more than three decades as a professor and later chair of Concordia’s history department, and wrote for publications including the Montreal Gazette and Reader’s Digest.
Renowned historian, university professor and commentator Graeme Decarie has died. He was 89.
Decarie died Sunday in Kingston, Ont., according to an obituary that was posted online. A cause of death was not disclosed.
Sign up to receive daily headline news from the Montreal Gazette, a division of Postmedia Network Inc.
Thanks for signing up!
A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.
The next issue of Montreal Gazette Headline News will soon be in your inbox.
Born Aug. 27, 1933 “into pretty severe poverty” in Montreal’s Villeray neighbourhood, Malcolm Graeme Decarie dropped out of high school after failing Grade 10, according to a biography he wrote while teaching at Malcolm Campbell High School.
Having begun working as a clerk for Bell Canada, Decarie was accepted as a mature student into evening classes at Sir George Williams University, the predecessor to Concordia University, where he obtained his bachelor’s degree. He then spent six years teaching Grades 7 to 11 before going back to school to do a master’s degree at Acadia University in Nova Scotia and a PhD in history at Queen’s University.
Upon graduation, Decarie taught for three years at the University of Prince Edward Island. He then returned to Montreal, where he went on to spend more than three decades as a professor and later chair of Concordia’s history department.
Decarie regularly appeared as a commentator for the CBC and CJAD radio. He served as historical adviser for a 1993 National Film Board of Canada film called The Rise and Fall of English Montreal, and wrote for publications including the Montreal Gazette and Reader’s Digest.
Over the years, Decarie was also active in the New Democratic Party, Alliance Quebec, the 78th Fraser Highlanders Regiment and the Sherlock Holmes society known as the Bimetallic Question. Sailing, family history and travelling were among his favourite pastimes.
Decarie had five children and four grandchildren.
A service to remember Decarie will be held Saturday, April 22 at 2 p.m. at the Mount Royal United Church, 1800 Graham Blvd. in Town of Mount Royal, and via Zoom. Memorial donations to the YMCA can be made at ymcaquebec.org.
ftomesco@postmedia.com
-
Obituary: Alvin Segal made a fortune with suits, but his real love was theatre
-
Offenbach guitarist John McGale 'brought a sense of melody' to Quebec band
