Geoffrey Arthur James Scott

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Geoffrey A. J. Scott on November 5th, 2025, at the age of 81 years.

He is survived by Nila, his loving wife of 52 years, his children Troy (Rebecca), Greg (Laura), Sara (Dan), and his grandchildren Burke, Reid, Jasper and Daphne. He is also survived by his sister Valerie, his sister-in-law Maureen, as well as many nieces, nephews, and extended family. He was predeceased by his father, Ernest, his mother, Mary Elizabeth, his stepmother, Aimee, his brother, Michael, brother-in-law, Phillip, and close friends Brian and Clay, who were always part of the family.

Geoffrey was born on April 17th, 1944, in Strabane, Northern Ireland, where he was raised. He attended University at Queen’s University in Belfast, where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 1967 with honours. He was an avid rugby player and had the scars to prove it. He pursued post-secondary education at the University of Hawaii, where he earned his master’s degree with honours in 1971. In 1972, his beloved friend and colleague Brian Evans offered him a job at the University of Winnipeg. Luckily, he accepted and moved to Winnipeg, where he met the love of his life, Nila, whom he married in 1973. He completed his PHD at the University of Hawaii in 1974.

He was passionate about his work, and his research took him all over the world. He lived with the Incas in the Amazon Basin of Peru, where he built lifelong relationships with the people he met while studying the physical geography of the region. His research took him to the Philippines, Hawaii, Papua New Guinea, Thailand, Cambodia, the Mariana Islands, the Galápagos Islands, the Solomon Islands, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela. His time on sabbatical was spent doing field studies in the tropics. He was an avid photographer and chronicled his travels with colourful photographs that captured both the natural beauty and the diverse cultures of the countries he visited.

Geoffrey worked as a professor of Geography at the University of Winnipeg for 35 years. Not many are fortunate enough to find a profession that they truly love, but he was one of them. Anyone who knew him at the University knew of his passion for teaching and research. If you saw him in the hallways of the 5th floor of Lockhart Hall, he always had a smile on his face, and a kind word or joke to tell. Geoffrey held his colleagues in the highest regard and left behind countless students whose lives were positively impacted by his teaching.

As a true Professor, Geoffrey loved talking to people, and people loved listening to him. He befriended everyone, whether it was the president of the university, or a parent from the opposing hockey team. He loved to talk about Ireland, trees, tectonic plates, atolls, volcanoes, earthquakes, soil (NOT dirt!) and shifting cultivations. He truly had the gift of the gab and brightened the atmosphere of any function he attended with his banter and magnetic personality.

He loved to travel, but nothing made him happier than being home with his family. His wife and children were the light of his life. Troy was born in 1977, Gregory in 1980 and Sara in 1981. He worked hard for his family, making sure that they had everything they both wanted and needed. He drove his kids to early-morning hockey, baseball, and figure skating practices. He never missed a game, concert or performance. He was very involved in his children’s school, chaperoning school trips and serving on the parent council.

Vacations with his family consisted of trips to Armagh, Northern Ireland to visit family, or to Toronto to visit Auntie Nancy, Uncle Don, Dolores and Mariliz. Summers from 1997 and on were spent at the beloved Cottage at Sunset Beach, where his garden was his pride and joy. After his children went to university, he and Nila were finally able to go on much-deserved yearly vacations in the Caribbean. Unfortunately, his travelling days ended when he became ill in 2017.

Geoffrey loved spending time with his family and grandchildren and was able to attend their hockey games up until last spring. He was thrilled to meet his youngest Grandchild, Daphne, who was born in August 2025. He spent the last two years of his life in the care of the wonderful staff at Golden Links Lodge. Not enough can be said about the kindness care and compassion they showed him every day. We would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation to Geoff and Nila’s good friends Jim and Mary Bole for their years of loyal friendship. A very special thanks to University of Winnipeg colleague Brian McGregor, for his faithful friendship and visits. We would like to express our deepest gratitude to Dr. Brian Sharkey, for the care provided to Geoffrey for over 40 years. A celebration of life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Alzheimer's Society in Geoffrey’s name.