I’m so sorry to learn of Prof Gruzleski’s passing. I had the pleasure of working under his leadership in the Faculty of Engineering at McGill  in 2004. He was a great leader, a very compassionate and kind human who made everyone feel welcomed in the Dean’s office. God rest his soul.  May he rest in heavenly peace. 🙏

My sincere condolences to John’s family. We were so privileged to have him as a professor, an excellent teacher and very approachable. His door was never shut when he was in his office. He had a lovely sense of humour as well. When some students taped a large poster of a grizzly bear on his office door he simply left it there for the longest  time. 
Thank you John. 
Jan Nesset, Class of 1975

Please accept my deepest condolences on John Gruzleski's passing. 

John and I were colleagues at McGill. I first got to know him when he was Dean of Engineering.  I collaborated with him when I was Director of the Brace Water Centre on the Macdonald Campus, which came under the direct control of the Faculty of Engineering. I had to frequently interact with John on the running of the Centre.  We established a very close, collaborative relationship. I admired John for his foresight, leadership, wisdom, and openess.  He was always collegial and highly respectful.  A most wonderful personality in all respects.

John supported me when I was appointed Dean of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at McGill and provided a lot of encouragement. Unfortunately he retired from McGill the same year I was appointed Dean.  However, our friendship continued, and we met a few times while he was at Guelph. We had dinner one evening with mutual colleagues and friends from both McGill and Guelph living in the Guelph area. I fondly remember that evening of great camaraderie and conversation.

May his soul rest in peace.

Chandra Madramootoo

I remember Mr Gruzleski as one of my professors at McGill. He was a good professor who influenced many in the field of metallurgy. My condolences to the family. 
Eva Carissimi year of 89

Prof. John Gruzleski was my PhD supervisor. He was the welcoming face when I moved to Canada from the US and as I entered the McGill campus at the FDA Building for the first time in 1983. John was a supervisor who could get the best out of you as a researcher, perhaps mainly because he was so positive and motivating and appreciative and patient and left you room to grow, he treated all his students with respect, humour and friendship; he instilled confidence in all of us and an expectation of good things to come in the future and through that he was a positive influence on the careers  of many of his alumni. He was a safe haven throughout my career making me aware of potential career opportunities when needed. When Noranda (now Glencore) closed its Technology Centre in Pointe-Claire, John, then the Dean of Engineering, asked: “Is it time to join McGill, Mihriban?”   It was time, though it was not as usual a free ride with him: I had to work at getting an NSERC Chair for my position.

When he retired and left McGill just as I had joined the Department as Faculty, I was worried, we would all miss his solid leadership. He said that he had family in Guelph that he had grown especially close to in recent years and that Olga and he wanted to settle in close to them. John took decisions very quickly and they were always the correct ones. I send my deep condolences to Olga his love of life, and his family that has provided him with love and warmth. You will be deeply missed John but always remembered with appreciation and gratitude.

This is really very sad news. Like so many others in the Department of Mining & Materials Engineering at McGill University, it was John who supported me first as a non-tenure track assistant prof back in 1983 and in 1987 when he appointed me as tenure-track assistant prof. John was self-less putting the department’s interests first always supportive of all staff (academic and support) and students.  As an example, John volunteered to be the first (unofficial) director of the coop program in metallurgical (then) engineering after he had spent 11 years as Department Chair! His strong collegial leadership qualities were recognized beyond the department scene rising to the post of Dean of Engineering with his tenure immortalized with a recognition plaque on the walls of the Trottier Building. My deep condolences to Olga, his life long love and companion. He will be missed dearly. George Demopoulos
PS: On behalf of the Department I had the honour to read a memorial tribute to the Faculty of Engineering Council meeting earlier this week. The tribute will also be read at the next meeting of the University Senate by the Dean.

A photo shared by Jacques LeNormand (right in the photo) with Prof. John supervising him and Tom Ladanyi pouring aluminum castings.  I circulated the obituary notice and my classmates shared many fond memories including this photo.

Sincerest condolences to Mrs. Gruzkeski and to the entire family.
I have fond memories of Professor Gruzleski during my years at
McGill, and connections with him when he was Dean.

Gabor Lantos   Met Eng '72

I am deeply saddened by John's passing. I worked with John for 8+ years while he was Dean of Engineering at McGill University. His leadership was distinguished, and I was privileged to pursue the fundraising and alumni engagement on behalf of the Faculty with him. His humour, intelligence, and humanity helped lead us to great success in our fundraising efforts. I never ceased to be impressed by John's depth of knowledge - in terms of the academics of his discipline, but also the university's history, functions and complex funding practices, both internally and in terms of government. He earned the admiration and loyalty of his academic colleagues, and numerous graduate and doctoral students who he mentored with care. John also had the gift of relating the arcane workings of the institution in terms that could be understood by everyone he came into contact with. He conducted business with impeccable efficiency,  enthusiasm, and generosity of spirit. My heartfelt condolences and sympathy are with his lovely, gracious wife Olga and their families.

I offer my deepest condolensces to all of John's family, friends and colleagues. 

 John was an exceptional man, as a person, a professional, a professor and as a leader.  He was a gentleman in every sense of the word. He made a huge diffference in the lives of many people, including me. He supported me and offered me opportunities at McGill while he was Dean that put me on a path that I could never have foreseen. When I was Associate Dean (Student Affairs) reporting to John, I used to jokingly introduce John to others as "the Dean with whom I am associated".  In fact, I meant it. My relationship with John was strong and enduring and it was one that benefited me for many years.  John will be missed terribly by all of us who knew him at McGill. He leaves behind an important legacy that lives on in the many students, staff and academics who he worked with and supported. 

Jim Nicell
Professor
McGill University

Dear Olga,
Our deepest sympathy on John's passing.
Throughout all our years of friendship, beginning  in Montreal in 1976, we've enjoyed so many happy times together with you and John...filled with laughter, delicious food, interesting conversations and special events...birthdays, retirement celebration, art and theatre outings, visits to each other's country properties.
Old friends are gold...and we treasure all these memories of times spent together.
John will be missed deeply, for his stimulating conversations and his wry sense of humour.
Olga, we continue to hold you in our hearts as a very dear and  close friend.
Love from the Weldons
Cathie, Barry, Andrew & Jonathan
Montreal

John came to McGill in 1968, a year after me, and we were the best of friends, especially in the early days under the tutelage of our chairman, Professor William Malcolm Williams. John went on to be a great administrator,  following in the path of Bill's footsteps. He later became the Dean of Engineering, before leaving back to his home province, Ontario. He was always measured in his ways, and his chosen colleagues will be forever grateful for his guidance. John, may you rest in peace! 
Rod Guthrie.

Dear Olga, 

My deepest condolences to you and your family for your loss. I only met John for the first time when I started working in the Faculty of Engineering at McGill three years ago, but John has always remained close to McGill and cared deeply about the Faculty of Engineering and he was very generous with his time, offering advice and wisdom. 

A kind, thoughful and very smart leader, John will be missed by many, but he has left a huge impact on the many lives of students, faculty and staff here at McGill.

My thoughts are with you, 

Virginia Roe

I worked in the Department of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering, McGill University, in the 80s as Admin Assistant and John Gruzleski was my boss.   So many great   memories of my time at McGill, many of them  thanks to him.  He was very well liked by all.   My sincere condolences to Olga.

Please convey my sympathies to Olga.  John was an amiable participant in our adult French class at Brock Road school.   He is remembered as a pleasant and intelligent man.  RIP John.

Linda RANKINE

Dear Olga,

I was deeply saddened to hear of John's passing. Please accept my heartfelt condolences during this incredibly difficult time.

I had the privilege of working closely with John from the beginning of his term as Dean up until his retirement from McGill’s Faculty of Engineering. He was not only a great leader but also one of the kindest and most considerate people I’ve had the pleasure of knowing. His warmth, wisdom, and dedication to the Faculty of Engineering left an indelible mark on all of us who had the honor of working alongside him.

He will be sorely missed, not just by me, but by so many within the university community. His legacy will live on through the countless lives he touched and the many contributions he made to his field.

Please know that my thoughts are with you and your family. I hope you find comfort in the love and support of those around you during this difficult time.

With deepest sympathy,

Anabela Fernandes

Dear Olga,
Our sincere condolences to you and family on your loss.  We will always remember John as a true gentleman, a great host, and an open-minded and knowledgeable conversationalist.  We lit a candle in his memory.
Zivana and Allan

OBITUARIO

John Edward Gruzleski

10 diciembre, 1941 – 1 noviembre, 2025

Gilbert MacIntyre & Son Dublin Chapel

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