I only heard of Jordan's passing last week.  I fondly recall being invited to his home on Beach Drive for lunch. He and Li made me feel very welcome. I'd like to express my condolences to Li and the rest of his family. May his memory be a blessing to all who loved him.



Yesterday, a year after Jordan’s death, Jamie Scott and I were reminiscing about our mutual friend and colleague—the range of his academic expertise and his personal interests, his personal warmth, his combativeness and eccentricity, his loyalty to friends and encouragement of their endeavours, and the generous hospitality that he and Li demonstrated. We miss all that he was to us and to so many others. 
May his memory be a blessing.

The First Year Mind of an esteemed colleague, friend, scholar, and host! Regards, Stephen H. Ford

For the family, I'll always remember Jordan as a loyal friend and a great scholar.

A great scholar (I am reading his recent "Familism"), colleague, and friend: Pamela and I enjoyed his and Lee's hospitality in their Oak Bay home. Our condolences to his family. Stephen and Pamela

Sadly, I never made it to the west coast to visit Jordan and Li. Back at York, though, Jordan was a loyal, inspirational, witty and uncompromisingly honest  colleague for many years. My  warmest condolences to the family. 

Joan Katz Wolarsky was Jordan’s first cousin. We’ve lost contact over the years, but we had fond memories of our stay with Jordan and Li some years ago. Joan pre—deceased Jordan in December 2020.  Joel Wolarsky 


Jordan tried to teach me classical Chinese at York University.  We lost contact when I graduated and only reconnected after he and Li moved to Victoria and I moved to Seattle.  I was honored when he asked me to write a postscript for his book "The Theology of the Chinese Jews".  

I loved Jordan.  He called me his "younger brother" to his "elder brother"-- in Chinese, of course.  I loved his prickly, academic attitude; his love of good food and drink (and smokes); his out-sized personality.  I tried to help him navigate his love/hate relationship with Jewish tradition and I appreciated all he taught me about other faith traditions.

Thank you, Jordan, wherever your spirit may be!  To Li and his children:  May you be comforted in your time of sorrow.

Erica and I have many memories of taking part in wide-ranging discussions with Jordan at UVIc's Centre for Studies in Religion and Society, and also of personal friendship with Jordan and Li. We shall miss our friend.

To Jordan's family, I extend my heartfelt condolences. From the time that I had the privilege of coming to know Jordan as a Ph.D. student at the Centre for Studies in Religion and Society during the late 1990s, I took away much illumination and enjoyment from his capacious intellect, iconoclastic bent, and quick, irreverent wit. Over the years since, some of my most memorable conversations with Jordan occurred in the Oak Bay Rec weight room. He offered inspiration during my own troubled times, for which I am grateful. Jordan will be immensely missed. 

Sincerely,

Andrew Wender

OBITUARY

Jordan David Paper

December 3, 1938 – September 2, 2021

First Memorial Funeral Services

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