John Edward Mothersill
| John Edward Mothersill | |
|---|---|
| Edward Mothersill | |
| Born | 1971 Thunder Bay District, Ontario |
| Died | 1999-01-07 Victoria, British Columbia |
| Occupation | Philosophy student |
| Father | |
| Mother | |
John Edward Mothersill (1971 – January 7, 1999), known as Edward Mothersill at university, was born in the Thunder Bay District, Ontario, the only son of Lakehead University geologist and dean John Sydney Mothersill and Valerie Ann Dennison. He died in a car accident in Victoria, British Columbia, at the age of 27.[1][2]
Life
He was born in 1971, when his father was teaching at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay; Find a Grave gives his birthplace only as the Thunder Bay District.[1] He studied philosophy at the University of Victoria, which lists him as a 1999 graduate (BA'99).[3]
The university describes him as someone who was a philosopher at heart before he studied the subject formally: morally minded, caring about truth, fond of argument and debate, and moved by other people's joys and pains. It says he died in a car accident after a short life of emotional struggle, just as he was about to start a path he hoped would be fulfilling.[3]
Death and burial
He died on January 7, 1999.[1] A Chronicle-Journal obituary appeared on January 9, 1999.[2] Find a Grave lists his burial at Shady Creek Cemetery in Central Saanich, British Columbia, and records the cause of death as a car accident; a contributor's note says the British Columbia death registration (no. 1999-000976) gives Victoria General Hospital, which is actually in View Royal, as the place of death.[1] His father's 2024 obituary notes that he was predeceased by his only son, John Edward, in 1999.[4]
Memorial
The Edward Mothersill Scholarship in Philosophy at the University of Victoria was established in his memory by donors, who hoped it would help a young person with similar values put them to public good.[3]
Family
- Father: John Sydney Mothersill (1931–2024), geologist and dean at Lakehead University.
- Mother: Valerie Ann Dennison.[1]
- His father's wife at the time of the 2024 obituary was Diane; the obituary does not say she was his mother.[4]
Identification notes
The Find a Grave memorial (died January 1999 aged 27, car accident, Victoria), the University of Victoria page (Edward Mothersill, 1971–1999, killed in a car accident) and his father's obituary (only son John Edward, died 1999) agree on date, place and cause, so they are treated as one person. He is a different person from his father, John Sydney Mothersill, who is the "J. S. Mothersill" in the Lakehead yearbooks.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Find a Grave, memorial 115856835, John Edward Mothersill. Archived copy; original: findagrave.com.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 The Chronicle-Journal, 9 January 1999, p. 7(D)
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 University of Victoria, "Edward Mothersill Scholarship in Philosophy" (award background). Archived copy; original: uvic.ca.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 McCall Gardens, obituary of Dr. John S. Mothersill (2024). Archived copy; original: mccallgardens.com.