Remembering Jim Curtis

Remembering Jim Curtis

On Friday, 27 May 2005, Dr. James Curtis, a long-time faculty member in University of Waterloo’s Department of Sociology, died suddenly following a heart attack suffered on campus. He was aged 63, and is survived by his wife Penny, his four sons, as well as many other family members.

Bob Kerton, the dean of arts at UW, proclaimed Jim’s death “a tragic loss…he has been an inspiring teacher to thousands of students, and a truly wonderful colleague. It is also a major loss to Canada,” a sentiment echoed by countless others. Indeed, Jim was a pre-eminent academic and intellectual figure of national and international prominence and recognition. As such, he has commonly been described as one of the most respected and influential Sociologists that this country has ever produced.

Appointed to the kinesiology and health studies and gerontology departments, as well as to sociology, Jim had been on UW’s faculty since 1970. He was educated at Sir George Williams University, Montreal, 1966 (B.A. Sociology), Central Michigan University, 1967 (M.Sc. Social Psychology), Cornell University, 1968 (M.A. Sociology) and 1968-1970 (Ph.D. Studies, Sociology). Highly productive and collaborative, he has published in well over 100 books, journal articles and book chapters, and he had an incredible number of projects underway at the time of his passing. Although he specialized in areas such as social inequality, it is impressive to note his eclecticism and the breadth of scholarly impact and influence. For example, he worked in areas spanning from topics such as sociology of physical activity and sport to sociology of knowledge, children’s rights, aging, gender, and voting. Jim was particularly well known for his decades of work on the comparison of Canadian and American culture and values.

Jim was also a gifted and tireless editor. He enjoyed this work immensely, and many of us will remember how he could often be found during the early hours of the morning at local cafes editing manuscripts and theses. His most recent books include, The Social World: A Canadian Introduction to Sociology, 4th edition, edited with Lorne Tepperman (Oxford University Press, 2005), and Social Inequality in Canada: Patterns, Problems and Policies, 4th edition, edited with Edward Grabb and Neil Guppy (Toronto: Pearson Education Canada, 2004). He also published in a wide variety of academic journals, including the Canadian Review of Sociology and Anthropology, Sociology of Sport Journal and American Sociological Review.

Although his honours are too numerous to mention, it is noteworthy that he was recognized by the Canadian Sociology and Anthropology Association for Outstanding Contribution to the field of sociology in 2000. He was also admitted as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. Jim also contributed to the university and profession in a number of capacities, such as serving as Vice President of the CSAA and as editor of the Canadian Review of Sociology and Anthropology between 1989 and 1992. In addition, he served as a member of the Advisory Committee on Social Conditions for Statistics Canada.

Jim will also be remembered for his enormous contribution to, and heavy involvement in, graduate student life, training, and supervision. He served on more than 120 graduate student committees, with more than 30 as senior supervisor for both Master’s and Ph.D. theses. As the departmental graduate secretary recently told me, “If you were to interview graduate students they could tell you endless tales of his very special presence in their lives. Jim could always be relied upon for his advice.”

As a former graduate student of Jim’s (1985-1987) and long-time friend, these words certainly ring true to me. Jim was a major influence on my professional life and career as a sociologist. I could always count on him to share his vast academic knowledge, sound wisdom, experience, direction, and support. He epitomized having what C. Wright Mills called the “sociological imagination” and promoted this way of thinking among his students. But Jim was more than an outstanding mentor and role model. He was also a highly social man who loved to be at the hub of the graduate social scene. Indeed, some of my fondest memories of Jim take me back to a time when he loved to play baseball on our departmental team. He was affectionately dubbed “Coach” (among other endearing nicknames), and he took great delight in giving us, and calling us all by his personalized nicknames. After these games, many of us would pile into his “beater” car and drive to a local pub. The Kent Hotel in Waterloo was by far his favourite stomping ground. There, we would eat, drink, play pool, and socialize. Jim was usually the center of attention with his witty wisecracks and his jolly sense of humour. His laughter was infectious and he always had a twinkle in his eye. We always left these social events feeling uplifted and thrilled that a faculty member was willing to take the time to get to know us all on a more personal level.

In short, I feel honoured to have had the privilege to know Jim Curtis and to learn from such an extraordinary man. He will forever be remembered for his pioneering and outstanding contributions to Canadian sociology and he will always remain in our hearts and in our thoughts.

Barbara A. Mitchell
Simon Fraser University


	Canadian Journal of Sociology Online September-October 2005 Remembering Jim Curtis On Friday, 27 May 2005, Dr. James Curtis, a long-time faculty member in University of Waterloo’s Department of Sociology, died suddenly following a heart attack suffered on campus. He was aged 63, and is survived by his wife Penny, his four sons, as well as many other family members. Bob Kerton, the dean of arts at UW, proclaimed Jim’s death “a tragic loss…he has been an inspiring teacher to thousands of students, and a truly wonderful colleague. It is also a major loss to Canada,” a sentiment echoed by countless others. Indeed, Jim was a pre-eminent academic and intellectual figure of national and international prominence and recognition. As such, he has commonly been described as one of the most respected and influential Sociologists that this country has ever produced. Appointed to the kinesiology and health studies and gerontology departments, as well as to sociology, Jim had been on UW’s faculty since 1970. He was educated at Sir George Williams University, Montreal, 1966 (B.A. Sociology), Central Michigan University, 1967 (M.Sc. Social Psychology), Cornell University, 1968 (M.A. Sociology) and 1968-1970 (Ph.D. Studies, Sociology). Highly productive and collaborative, he has published in well over 100 books, journal articles and book chapters, and he had an incredible number of projects underway at the time of his passing. Although he specialized in areas such as social inequality, it is impressive to note his eclecticism and the breadth of scholarly impact and influence. For example, he worked in areas spanning from topics such as sociology of physical activity and sport to sociology of knowledge, children’s rights, aging, gender, and voting. Jim was particularly well known for his decades of work on the comparison of Canadian and American culture and values. Jim was also a gifted and tireless editor. He enjoyed this work immensely, and many of us will remember how he could often be found during the early hours of the morning at local cafes editing manuscripts and theses. His most recent books include, The Social World: A Canadian Introduction to Sociology, 4th edition, edited with Lorne Tepperman (Oxford University Press, 2005), and Social Inequality in Canada: Patterns, Problems and Policies, 4th edition, edited with Edward Grabb and Neil Guppy (Toronto: Pearson Education Canada, 2004). He also published in a wide variety of academic journals, including the Canadian Review of Sociology and Anthropology, Sociology of Sport Journal and American Sociological Review. Although his honours are too numerous to mention, it is noteworthy that he was recognized by the Canadian Sociology and Anthropology Association for Outstanding Contribution to the field of sociology in 2000. He was also admitted as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. Jim also contributed to the university and profession in a number of capacities, such as serving as Vice President of the CSAA and as editor of the Canadian Review of Sociology and Anthropology between 1989 and 1992. In addition, he served as a member of the Advisory Committee on Social Conditions for Statistics Canada. Jim will also be remembered for his enormous contribution to, and heavy involvement in, graduate student life, training, and supervision. He served on more than 120 graduate student committees, with more than 30 as senior supervisor for both Master’s and Ph.D. theses. As the departmental graduate secretary recently told me, “If you were to interview graduate students they could tell you endless tales of his very special presence in their lives. Jim could always be relied upon for his advice.” As a former graduate student of Jim’s (1985-1987) and long-time friend, these words certainly ring true to me. Jim was a major influence on my professional life and career as a sociologist. I could always count on him to share his vast academic knowledge, sound wisdom, experience, direction, and support. He epitomized having what C. Wright Mills called the “sociological imagination” and promoted this way of thinking among his students. But Jim was more than an outstanding mentor and role model. He was also a highly social man who loved to be at the hub of the graduate social scene. Indeed, some of my fondest memories of Jim take me back to a time when he loved to play baseball on our departmental team. He was affectionately dubbed “Coach” (among other endearing nicknames), and he took great delight in giving us, and calling us all by his personalized nicknames. After these games, many of us would pile into his “beater” car and drive to a local pub. The Kent Hotel in Waterloo was by far his favourite stomping ground. There, we would eat, drink, play pool, and socialize. Jim was usually the center of attention with his witty wisecracks and his jolly sense of humour. His laughter was infectious and he always had a twinkle in his eye. We always left these social events feeling uplifted and thrilled that a faculty member was willing to take the time to get to know us all on a more personal level. In short, I feel honoured to have had the privilege to know Jim Curtis and to learn from such an extraordinary man. He will forever be remembered for his pioneering and outstanding contributions to Canadian sociology and he will always remain in our hearts and in our thoughts. Barbara A. Mitchell Simon Fraser University http://www.cjsonline.ca/soceye/curtis.html September 2005 © CJS Online Click here to download PDF file