Geoffrey John England passed away at his home in Nelson, BC at the age of 61. He leaves behind his mother Barbara England (nee Moody), sister Christine, his three sons James, Matthew and Ian and their mother, Marilyn (nee Race), his wife Sandra (nee Christou), and their three daughters Elizabeth, Mary and Barbara. He was predeceased by his father Arthur England.
Born in the English seaside resort of Cleethorpes on January 9th, 1950, Geoffrey was a lively lad who showed an early enthusiasm for reading, music and sport. With a strong sense of justice, good humour and affable character, Geoff went on to graduate with a Masters of Law from the London School of Economics in 1971, a Masters of Industrial Relations from Warwick University in 1972 and a Masters of Law from Dalhousie University in 1974.
Labour relations proved to be his calling and he dedicated his life’s work to furthering the cause of fairness in the workplace. After moving to Canada in 1973 he taught Labour Law at many schools including the Universities of Calgary, Lethbridge, Queens, and Saskatchewan. As an arbitrator, educator, and academic writer he made a significant contribution to the field of labour law in Canada.
Geoff was a dedicated family man. Always a great source of entertainment, his love of history enabled him to weave fantastic stories from his imagination. His six children also enjoyed the excitement of camping expeditions and shared his passions for sport, books, and a good beer. He enjoyed many eclectic interests, spending hours playing guitar, learning languages, reading history… but above all, he was a loving husband and father.
The funeral will take place on Thursday September 1st at the Thompson funeral home in Nelson, BC. It was Geoffrey’s wish that any donations be made to the Strathcona Society in support of soldiers and families of Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians) tank regiment.
Funeral Arrangements are under the direction of Thompson Funeral Service Ltd.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.thompsonfs.ca