Dr. David Mark Harrison

Obituary

Peacefully, at home in Toronto, on July 22^nd, 2025, with his family at his side. In his 82^nd year. Beloved husband of 45 years to Wendy Elizabeth Harrison Dear father of Christopher Union Harrison, of Toronto. Beloved brother of Diana Wagman of Los Angeles, and Sally Harrison-Pepper of Fort Myers, Florida.

Predeceased by his mother, Mary Davis Hughes, and father Mark Harrison. David was a scientist, a physicist in particular, but foremost an educator. He came to Canada as a Vietnam War resistor, where he did his Ph.D.. at the University of Toronto.  He was then hired by the Physics Department to do undergraduate education, and initiated and participated in many innovations in the field of pedagogy in general, and physics education research in particular. There were other sides to him.  He was a keen musician and lover of music. He was a student of Buddhism and Eastern philosophy for many years, and heavily involved in the martial arts, principally Karate and Tai Chi, for many years.  He was also an avid motorcyclist, back in the day. He loved baseball and the Toronto Blue Jays.

Before all those things, he was also involved in the Civil Rights movement, participating in Freedom Summer in Mississippi in 1964 while attending Antioch College in Ohio. He was a rebel, a passionate and charismatic character who had strong opinions on many subjects. He will be greatly missed by many.

There will be no funeral; he chose cremation. If you wish to share your thoughts or tributes, you can do so at his Facebook page, at https://www.facebook.com/david.harrison.77736 .

If you have a desire to make a donation in his memory, good choices would be your local hospital, or one of Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto Mount Sinai Hospital or Toronto Sick Children's Hospital.

Special thanks to the nurses and staff at Ontario Health at Home and the doctors and nurses of Palliative care unit at Mount Sinai Hospital.

Visitation

Service

Cremation