Nov. 6, 2024

I was very sad to hear about Ian's passing from a cousin in Winnipeg. Ian was two years ahead of me in the Honours Chemistry program at the University of Manitoba. He was my

enthusiastic and knowledgeable lab demonstrator, and I got to know him better playing sports. When I won a scholarship to go to Cambridge in 1964, I wrote him for advice on the a college residence and asked him to find out if any Chemistry faculty were interested in having a student in a very new spectroscopy. Amazingly, he surveyed many chemistry faculty, and found out that one faculty member had already made plans to assemble a spectrometer in this field (there were no more than 5 in the world), and required a new student. This very generous initiative enabled a quite fantastic Cambridge experience for me. We overlapped one year in Cambridge at Corpus Christi College, and rowed together in a college 8 boat.

His enthusiasm and generosity never waned throughout his career, and his enormous scientific contributions place him as one of Canada's finest scientists.

Best Regards to Eva

Mike Bancroft

I knew Dr Smith when he was on the board of the U of Manitoba's alumni association in the late 1990s. He was always very jovial, helpful and kind. When he learned of my Swedish ancestry he excited taught me a bit of Swedish. All I can remember now is "Jar ist hungering!" (I am hungry). My condolences to his family and especially his wife, Eva, of whom he spoke often and with great love and admiration.

I was both saddened and surprised to learn of Ian's passing. He was so full of life, creativity and advice that he had a profound impact on my life.

Please accept my belated condolences.

I first met Ian at one of the Annual Meetings of the Biophysical Society in the US, and over the years we have met and talked on many occasions. He was one of the driving forces behind the launch of “Biophysical Reviews”, the official journal of IUPAB, published by Springer. We discussed the pros and cons of launching a new journal for a long time and finally decided to give it a try. I still vividly remember how proud we were when the first issue was published in Q1/2009, just in time for the Biophysical Society meeting in Boston. The picture below shows the two of us at the Springer booth in Boston with the first issue of “Biophysical Reviews”.

I have always appreciated Ian's professional approach, coupled with his great friendliness. We always had a laugh together and I really enjoyed meeting and working with Ian. Over the last few years, we have lost touch as I have moved on from working on biophysics journals to other topics at Springer. However, I thought of him immediately when I saw that “Biophysical Reviews” had finally got an impact factor (4.9!). It is so sad that we will not be able to celebrate this success together.

My sincere condolences also on behalf of my colleagues and Springer publishers. My thoughts are with his family.

Best wishes,

Sabin

Dear Eva and family,

I was very sad to hear of Ian's passing. I had the privilege to work as a PhD student under Ian's supervision at the NRC in Ottawa. Ian was an inspiration to me as a student and guided me through the early stages of my career. I currently work with the Biophysical Society of Canada (BSC), which Ian helped found in the mid 1980s. Ian would be proud to see how the BSC has grown and continues his legacy of promoting both biophysics in Canada and the careers of young Canadian biophysicists. Ian had an enourmous impact on science in Canada. He will be especially missed by the Canadian biophysics community. I send my heartfelt condolences to all of you.

Privileged as I am for having published with Ian when a young post-doc, I still vividly remember him as an inspirational and highly supportive charismatic scientist. In our brief interactions when I worked with Derek Marsh, Ian showed a deep insight into the science, and enthusiastically included young researchers like me in our discussions.

His time at IUPAB was equally memorable. Ian dealt with a multi-national community with ease and professionalism, sometimes requiring expert diplomatic skills. I will be well satisfied if I can bring just a fraction of Ian’s influence to World biophysics.

A true gentleman and role model; a great loss to the community.

My sincere condolences to Eva, who my wife and I also very warmly remember well, and his family.

Tony Watts, Oxford (IUPAB President (2024-2027)

Dear Eva and family,

I have just learned of Ian's death. Please accept my deepest condolences. I did my PhD under Ian's supervision in the early 1980s, when he founded the Molecular Biophysics Group at the NRCC of Ottawa. I learned a great deal from Ian, from his enthusiasm for scientific research and its application to the general public. His mentorship, always very benevolent, has been decisive in my research career in France and abroad. His greatest legacy to us, his students, is his passion for science. Farewell Ian.

Thank you Ian for all that you did for me and so many others. Your door was always open and you were always there to nurture those starting their journey in science or providing feedback and advice to experts. He played a pivotal role in bringing together the Institute for Biodiagnostics (IBD) and the Winnipeg chapter of the Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP). A truly visionary leader. You were always and will remain "the best of the best" and will be deeply missed.

I met Ian in 1992 at the Society of Magnetic Resonance in Medicine Annual Conference in Berlin for the first time and he was the reason I ended up coming to Winnipeg after getting my Ph.D. I worked under his supervision for 19 years. He was a great boss, an ideal mentor, and a true friend. Ian was truly visionary. He always looked at the big picture and was always full of ideas. He had an infectious optimism. Every time I left his office after a meeting, I felt more upbeat and more positive about things. He showed a lot of interest in my kids growing up and always asked about them. He was also always happy to talk about his children and was very proud of them. Ian liked trying different ethnic foods and Indian food was probably his favorite. He was a great scientist and a committed public servant. He truly liked Winnipeg and has done a lot of great things for the scientific and business community in the city. He will be dearly missed. My sincere condolences to Eva and the family.

My condolences to Eva and the family. Ian was my boss for 11 years at NRC and he was a great guy to work for. He not only set the direction of IBD, he set the atmosphere - and it is my favourite place of all the places I've worked. I feel very lucky to have had the opportunity to work for him.

I first met Ian in 1985 in Myer Bloom's NMR lab at UBC. From that point onward he gave freely of career advice and supported me in many ways. I still remember a night in the late 90's when Ian was at our first house in London for dinner and a police officer came to pick him up! It was Cormack. Canada and the NMR and MRI communities owe him a debt of gratitude.

I was sad to hear the news today that Ian had passed away. He was very influential in my career. He was kind and thoughtful in mentoring me as a Canadian scientist. Ian made a difference. He will be

It is with great sadness that I learn of Ian's passing. He was a wonderful colleague, a dear friend and a mentor during my time with NRC in Ottawa and NRC/IRAP in Winnipeg. He was a recognized internationally renown scientist and local champion of innovation and technology commericalization in Winnipeg. Along with Clive Willis, Ian revitilized NRC's presence in Winnipeg and transformed IBD into a centre for innovation. He challenged us all to be better NRC employes for many decades. My family and I are grateful to Ian and EVa for helping us with our move to Winnipeg and for helping us come to treasure Winnipeg as our home.

Kära Eva och barnen.

Vi kommer alltid att minnas Ian med värme och glädje. Alla de mysiga resorna, goda måltiderna och hjärtliga skratten. Många kramar och vi tänker på er. Harry, Hans och Helene

I am blessed to have known Dr Smith during my time with NRC in Winnipeg. I'll always remember his kindnrsd and generosity.

My sincere condolences, very sad to hear this news. I had the honour of being his PhD student. He shaped my career. He was a highly respected leader and there was so much to learn from him from research to management.

I met Ian when I was working at Brandon University and he was receiving an Honourary Doctorate. I remember distinctly what a lovely person he was. I have run across his name here and there throughout all these years since, and always remember that one time I met him. He was the kind of person you don't forget. My condolences to his family.

I am deeply saddened to hear of Ian's passing. His vision and leadership brought the NRC Institute for Biodiagnostics to Winnipeg, a move that profoundly shaped my career. His genuine interest in others' work, coupled with his unwavering dedication to promoting Winnipeg, made a lasting impact on many of us. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

Ian was always a great support of early researchers and showed a tremendous interest in developing talent. He was especially proud of Winnipeg and keeping researchers here. Our condolences to Eva and her family.

I remember Ian as a strong leader with vision who cared for his employees.

During my time at IBD, I learned a lot and continue to draw on that experience. I also appreciated the friendly and collegial environment we shared, thanks to Ian.

My deepest sympathy to Eva and her family.

Ian gave me 18 happy years of productive research at the Institute of Biodiagnostics, and fostered a spirit of belonging to a family,. He was a uniquely gifted individual and will be very much missed.

Condolences to Eva and the family.

I worked with Ian at NRC Winnipeg early in my library career. He was an advocate for the importance of informed decision making and was a strong supporter of libraries overall. On a personal note, working at NRC Winnipeg, the Institute for Biodiagnostics then, was like working with family, and Ian is the person that created that atmosphere. I have very fond memories of that time..

My condolences to Eva and family. Thank you for sharing Ian with us.

My condolences to Eva and family.

I first meet Ian when I worked with CIHR and he gave us a tour of the NRC facility in Winnipeg. Later, when I worked with CIMTEC, Ian joined our Board of Directors, became the chair and then CEO of the company. We greatly appreciated Ian’s dedication and guidance . He was always supportive and eager to help promote the translation of research. He will be missed.

I was sad to learn of Ian's passing. He was a friend and ally to many in Winnipeg's medical/research community.

We first met when the IBD was being established in Winnipeg and the first MRI was being set up at St Boniface Hospital. He was always trying to support our efforts and I would be hard pressed to list all of the good turns that he did for us.

A true champion of Winnipeg and a leader.

My condolensces to Eva and the family.

My sincere condolences to you, Eva, and the family.

Ian was a lifelong friend and supporter. He was the most important mentor to me as a graduate student. Ian provided me with great opportunities for career development at a time when women scientists hardly existed at the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) and elsewhere in Canada. For this I am profoundly grateful. Ian had a very open mind, bringing researchers from all aroud the world to his work in his lab at NRC. Everyone was treated equally and with respect, regardless of their country of origin. His enthusiasm for science was infectious. Everyone learned and had a good time working in the lab. His trainees were given ample opportunities to advance their training by attending conferences around the world. Ian believed in NRC and promoted biomedical scientific research in Canada and in Ottawa, Winnipeg, Calgary and Halifax in particular. He was much in demand as a guest lecturer at conferences and universities around the world. He was truly deserving of his prestigious membership in the Order of Canada, among his other career recognitions and awards.

Ian was a truly great guy and we had fascinating collaborations and discus

charles Bernstein

Sincere condolences to Eva and the extended family. I was privileged to work for Ian as a Research Associate from 1986 to 1990 first on Sussex Ave and later at M-40 on Montreal Rd which housed one of Canada's first MRI instrument. Ian attracted scientists from around the world including Dr. Jim Peeling and Dr. Garnet Sutherland from Winnipeg who subsequently hired me as manager of their new lab at the University of Manitoba. I was thrilled that Ian followed me to Winnipeg and was greatly aided in my work by the expertise of many scientists and technicians who worked at IBD.