Peter Francis Cronin

After a series of medical challenges Peter Francis Cronin (born February 6th, 1944) passed away peacefully on March 9, 2023. During his life Peter was always first and foremost a passionate teacher of mathematics where he inspired innumerable students with what he considered to be the beauty, power and clarity of mathematics. This led him to help develop the first gifted mathematics program at Leaside High School where he walked his (sometimes bewildered) students through all he loved about perfect numbers, the golden ratio and sacred geometry. He also took great pride in his work as a Union President with OSSTF negotiating collective agreements on behalf of the teachers of East York. Peter was also a seasoned and enthusiastic world traveller and spoke eloquently through out his life on the joys and discovery that could be had through travel. Until his final days he would speak fondly of his epic overland trips through Europe, Greece, Afghanistan, India and many other countries. He also shared his awe and love of travel with his still very young sons by loading them into his beaten up old Volvo (which had no working head lights and had to be parked on a hill to start) and taking them on multi month long camping trips that spanned the entirety of Canada from PEI to British Columbia. Even though Peter faced an ever mounting series of health challenges over the last decades of his life he continued to engage vigorously in the many intellectual pursuits he enjoyed such as watching baseball, voraciously reading and vigorously debating politics. Peter also took great pride in watching his grand daughters Annie and Isobel grow into what he considered to be accomplished and compelling young women. Peter is survived by his son David Vincent Cronin, his grand daughters, Annie and Isobel Cronin, his sister Carol Sandercock and his brother Paul Cronin. He is predeceased by his son John Henry Cronin, sister Mary Cronin, his father Henry Mathew Septimus Cronin and his mother Rita Cronin (nee O’Hara). The family would also like to thank the staff at Toronto General Hospital who saw Peter through the final weeks of his life. Whether it was the doctors, nurses, technicians, PSWs or transport staff, each and every one of them treated Peter with care, kindness, astounding medical expertise and empathy. The family is truly thankful for all that was done for him.