Obituary of Richard Michael Kane

Peacefully with family by his side, Richard was given to eternal life on Friday, October 1, 2010 after a 9-month fight with kidney cancer at the age of 66. Much loved husband of Jo-Ann Butler, cherished father and mentor of Michael of San Francisco and Jennifer of Toronto. Beloved brother of Sister Margaret Kane, CSJ, Guelph and cherished cousin, uncle and brother-in-law. Richard's two great loves in his life were his family and his vocation to mathematics. He was also an avid gardener, photographer and adventurous traveler. Since 1980, he has been a member of the Department of Mathematics at the University of Western Ontario. He received his PhD in Mathematics from the University of Waterloo in 1973. He has held post doctoral fellowships at Oxford and MIT and visiting professorships in Princeton, Barcelona, Bonn, Aberdeen, San Diego and Sydney. He was the recipient of the David Borwein Distinguished Career Award, the Canadian Mathematical Society of Distinguished Service Award and is a member of the Royal Society of Canada. He is known by his colleagues and students as a dedicated teacher and distinguished researcher in the field of algebraic topology. He has profoundly influenced the course of mathematics in Canada through his exemplary career. Illness forced his untimely retirement from teaching in January 2010. Despite all his academic achievements he will forever be remembered for his humbleness, gentleness and kindness. We thank the nursing staff of London Health Sciences Centre for their dedicated and loving care of our dear Richard. Family will received friends at John T. Donohue Funeral Home, 362 Waterloo Street at King Street, on Tuesday September 5, 2010 from 2-4 and 7-9 o'clock. A Vigil Service will be held at 8 o'clock. Mass of the Resurrection will be held Windermere on the Mount Chapel, 1486 Richmond Street, at 11 a.m. on Wednesday October 6, 2010. Interment to follow at St. Peter's Cemetery. As expressions of sympathy, memorial donations may be made online to www.kidneycancercanada.org. "The learned will shine . . . as bright as stars for all eternity." Daniel 12:1-3