Leroy James Dickey

Leroy James Dickey, known fondly as Lee, passed away peacefully on August 3, 2024, at the age of 85, in Edson, Alberta. He was born on April 3, 1939, to Martha Madeleine (McLenahan) and Robert Somerville Dickey. His Aunt Helen Harriet McLenahan also played a significant role in his upbringing.

Lee is survived by his younger  brother, John (Sue) Dickey of Fort Worth, Texas, and his children: Kathleen Jean Dickey (Steve Utter) of Kitchener, Ontario, Sonja Louise Dickey (Murray Ostrander) of Jasper, Alberta, and Keith Douglas Dickey of Waterloo, Ontario. He was a proud grandfather to Erika Fiedler, Alyssa Fiedler, Kyle Dickey, Tori Dickey, Molly Ostrander, Emerson Ostrander and Walter Ostrander.

Lee spent his formative years in Tucson, Arizona, where he attended Amphitheatre High School. He had a passion for chess, was an amateur Ham radio operator, and played the oboe, even receiving invitations to guest conduct. He was also a talented photographer, skilled in both composition and the processing and developing of photographs. His special love for language and etymology was evident throughout his life.

He pursued higher education at the University of Arizona, earning both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Mathematics . It was during his time in the church youth group that he met Carol Sherrick, and their shared commitment led them on a trip to Carborca, Mexico, where they helped build a roof on a classroom for a school attached to a mission church. They were married in Tucson on July 15, 1961, and welcomed their first child, Kathleen Jean Dickey, in 1963.

Following his studies in Tucson, Lee and his family moved to Madison, Wisconsin, where he completed his PhD in Mathematics, specializing in Geometry. During their time in Madison, they welcomed Sonja Louise Dickey in 1964 and later Keith Douglas Dickey in 1967.

In 1970, Lee accepted a position as a teaching position in the department of Pure Mathematics at the University of Waterloo. Shortly after arriving in Waterloo, the family became lifelong members of the Unitarian Fellowship (now Grand River Unitarian Congregation.) His involvement in the church was an important part of Lee’s life. He taught Sunday school, sang in the choir, and served on various committees.

In 1977-78, Lee took a sabbatical year in London, England, where he and his family traveled extensively across the UK and Continental Europe, visiting castles, national monuments, museums, and galleries.

Lee and his beloved wife, Carol, shared a love for travel, exploring countries such as Italy, Austria, Great Britain, France, Spain, Switzerland, Germany, Iceland, China, India, Japan, Russia, Mexico, the Grand Caymans, Turks and Caicos, Curacao, New Zealand, and Australia. After snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef, Lee and Carol were inspired to take up scuba diving and enjoyed return trips to Turks and Caicos even more.

While they loved their adventures abroad, they were equally passionate about gatherings with friends and family, at home or at their cottage on Lake Huron. 

After Carol passed away in 2010, Lee found companionship with Helga Tewfik, with whom he enjoyed walks and coffee visits with friends.

In 2018, Lee was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, and due to his declining health, in 2023 he moved to Jasper, Alberta, where he found solace in the mountains, reminiscent of his early life in Tucson.

Lee will be remembered for his dry sense of humor, love of attending symphonies, involvement in Third Age Learning, a passion for APL and ’J‘ programming languages and a great storyteller.

Cremation has taken place.

Please join us for a Celebration of Life on Saturday, August 24, 2024, at 11:00am
Grand River Unitarian Congregation
299 Sydney St S. Kitchener, Ontario
N2G 3V8

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a scholarship fund. Details to come at a later date.

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