Obituary of Cyril Eugene Challice

January 17, 1926 - London, England

December 3, 2023 - Calgary, Alberta

After a truly remarkable and fulfilling life, the Reverend Canon Dr. Cyril Challice passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, December 3, 2023, just six weeks shy of his 98th birthday.

Cyril was the consummate example of a full life well-lived. He was so many things packed into one person—loving husband; loyal father and grandfather; unflappable and humorous friend; dedicated teacher; biophysics researcher; pioneering university administrator; Anglican priest; amateur singer, violinist, photographer, and painter; carpenter; builder; freemason; world traveler; philanthropist.

He was foremost a scientist, doing research at the intersection of physics and biology. But life had so much more to offer. He was heavily involved in his church. He sang in choirs. He painted landscapes well into his 90s. He made his own wine. He built his own furniture. He built his own house. He never stopped thinking and writing; he was still working on a manuscript when he passed away. He was a paradox in that his two greatest passions were his scientific work at the University of Calgary and his faithful ministry with the Anglican Church.

Cyril was born in London, England in January 1926. Like many of his generation, he was uncomfortable being idle, in body or mind. His first job was delivering early morning newspapers in London during the Blitz. At an early age, he showed promise as an artist, and he spent his Saturdays at an art school—training he never forgot.

After the start of WWII, as a young teenager, he joined the Air Training Corps of the Royal Air Force. In 1944 he entered university studying physics. He obtained a BSc (Honours) in 1947 and a PhD in 1950, both from Imperial College of Science and Technology, at the time part of the University of London. As part of his research, he built and refined one of the first electron microscopes in Britain, to provide high-resolution imaging of biological samples. He served as a research scientist at St. Mary’s Hospital Medical School in London from 1952 to 1957.

Cyril loved music, and as a student, he sang in the University of London Musical Society choir. There he met Elizabeth Lewis, whom he married in 1951. Cyril and Elizabeth, an elementary school music teacher, were happily married for 68 years, until her passing in 2019. Together they raised two children.

In 1957 Cyril and Elizabeth immigrated to Canada, where Cyril had been appointed an associate professor at the nascent University of Alberta at Calgary, as it was then known. He was promoted to full professor in 1963 and served the University of Calgary (as it became) for 34 years until he retired in 1991. He was among the first science faculty—and the first physicist—hired at the fledgling university. Shortly after he joined, the university became autonomous, and he was instrumental in the foundational development of the University of Calgary, helping plan buildings, recruit staff, and design curricula and graduate programs. He built the first electron microscope at the university. During his tenure, he served in many administrative roles, including as head of the Department of Physics for many years in the 1960s—a time when many young, promising scientists were hired to join the growing university. He felt strongly that all faculty should teach undergraduates, and over the years he taught introductory physics to nearly ten thousand students, ran a research program, and served in various administrative roles. Among his more high-profile (and favourite) tasks was that of mace bearer at all University of Calgary convocations until 1992.

Cyril had numerous academic achievements. He studied biophysics, and his work on the electrical properties of mammalian hearts brought him to the forefront of his field. This was recognized in 1975 when he was awarded a Doctor of Science in Biophysics from Imperial College. He was one of the first Killam Residential Research fellows, in 1978. He was elected a fellow of the New York Academy of Sciences, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Royal Society of the Arts (FRSA), the Alberta Society of Professional Engineers, and the Institute of Physics. In 2002 he was admitted as a member of the Order of the University of Calgary. During his career he supervised thirteen graduate students and published 109 research papers and reviews, five academic book chapters, and one book.

Cyril was a man of faith and a staunch Christian. In addition to his work at the university, Cyril was, ever since his arrival in Calgary, heavily involved in the Anglican Church. He began as a lay reader, serving at St. Edmunds (Bowness), Holy Trinity (Montgomery), various rural parishes, and at the Cathedral Church of the Redeemer.

In 1980, with the solid support of the congregation and staff of the Cathedral, Cyril was ordained Deacon, and in 1981 he was ordained Priest. He went on to serve at the parishes of St. Mark’s (Calgary) and St. Clement’s (Balzac), as well as at the Cathedral. In 1987 he was made Canon Residentiary at the Calgary Cathedral. Cyril baptized children, married numerous couples, including his daughter and her husband, conducted many burials, preached regularly, and provided pastoral advice to those who sought it. In all, Cyril had over 60 years of volunteer service to the church.

Cyril read widely about science and religion, and in 1988 he joined the newly formed Society of Ordained Scientists. He felt strongly that believing in God and being a physical scientist were compatible. As in everything he did, he strove for understanding and for application—how do scientific understanding and theological vision relate, and what does that mean for us? His association with the Society was a major focus of his retirement years.

After he retired, he was heavily involved in the Emeritus Association, now the University of Calgary Retirees Association, including serving as its president. And to keep his mind sharp, he joined the Calgary Knights of the Round Table, a local service group that meets once a month to hear from speakers from all walks of life. He was also active in the Saint Mark’s Masonic Lodge in Calgary.

Cyril loved to travel. He and Elizabeth journeyed for extended periods to the USA in the late 1950s, Brazil in 1968, and Hungary in 1972 (when it was still behind the Iron Curtain). He served the university on sabbatical in roles in Botswana, India, and South Korea focused on undergraduate physics education. And he had a special relationship with France, from which a number of his graduate students came. After he retired, Cyril and Elizabeth liked to take cruises, which they did too many times to count, all over the world. In 1988, Cyril and Elizabeth moved to a house he had built in Bragg Creek. There, as always, Cyril was active, among other things helping to organize the rebuilding of a new community center, after a fire consumed the previous one. They lived in Bragg Creek for nearly two decades.

In addition to his wife, Cyril was predeceased by his mother (Gladys), father (William), and sister-in-law (Margaret). He is survived by his children Anne (Rob) and John (Brian), and his grandchildren Ashley and Rachel, all of whom—along with Cyril’s many friends—will miss him and his many wonderful stories.

The family would like to thank Dr. Elisabeth Woolner for her phenomenal care of Cyril over the years. Thanks also to the wonderful staff at the Manor Village of Rocky Ridge.

If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, which was one of Cyril’s favourite charities at Donate Now | Banff Centre. On the donation form under “Designation,” please choose “Other” and type “Cyril and Elizabeth Challice Teaching Fellowship Fund for Music” in the “other designation” field. To donate by phone, call 1-888-495-4467 (Toll-Free), or by mail, send a cheque to Banff Centre, PO Box 1020, Banff, AB, T1L 1H5.

Funeral Mass will be celebrated at the Cathedral Church of the Redeemer (corner of 7th Avenue & 1st Street SE, Calgary, AB) on Saturday, January 13, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. Reception to follow in the Parish Hall. Dr. Challice’s service will be live-streamed and available after the funeral at https://youtube.com/live/kujl3K7YBZY?feature=share for family and friends unable to attend in person. Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed with Cyril’s family here.

In living memory of Rev. Canon Dr. Cyril Challice, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Park Memorial, 5008 Elbow Drive SW, Calgary, AB T2S 2L5, Telephone: 403-243-8200.