Paul Schenk

SCHENK, Paul Edward - Born February 29, 1937 in Stratford, Ont., he died peacefully at home on April 10, 2000, surrounded by his wife and two daughters. In 1963 he earned a Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin and joined the Department of Geology at Dalhousie University. At the time of his retirement in 1997, he was a respected Carnegie Professor in the renamed Department of Earth Sciences. Paul's dedication to undergraduate teaching was legendary, and his long and distinguished research career legitimately earned him a world-wide reputation. Over the intervening years since his 1971 provocative benchmark publication entitled "Southeastern Atlantic Canada, Northwestern Africa and Continental Drift" many subsequent papers strengthened his earlier conclusions which, with characteristic courage, he constantly challenged. Even after retirement and throughout his lengthy illness with ALS, he continued to work on his academic research, preparing his final papers for publication.

Over the years the hallway to his office and lecture room was a well-worn path for students, visitors and tonnes of rock. Paul embraced challenge and his spirit of adventure led him to complete the Halifax marathon, trek up Mount Everest and, with his wife and daughters, circumnavigate the globe in a VW microbus. A man of many talents, he was equally at ease and engaged whether his hands were on a geological hammer, a camera, a leash, a tiller, or a violin bow. He enriched the lives of all who knew him and will be sadly missed immensely, most especially by his wife and best friend, Margot, and their daughters, Margaret and Catherine.

Paul is survived by his wife of 40 years, Margot Ellen Hurd; daughters, Margaret, Halifax; Catherine, Glasgow, Scotland; son-in-law, Duncan Ross; grandchildren, Margaret and Archibald Paul, all in Scotland; sisters, Elizabeth (Mrs. Leonard Johnson), London, Ont.; and Anne (Mrs. Ernest Zarzour), Windsor, Ont.; numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, Emerson and Helen (Hanna). Cremation has taken place. The family invites friends and colleagues to join in a celebration of Paul's life to be held in the Cameron Room, Howe Hall, 6230 Coburg Rd., at the corner of LeMarchant St., Halifax on Friday, April 14, from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Tributes to begin at 5 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the ALS Society of Canada.

Geologist won world renown for theory on Nova Scotia

Paleozoic History of Nova Scotia
A Time Trip to Africa (or South America)

An Appreciation of Paul Schenk on the Occasion of his Retirement

A Celebration of Paul Schenk's Life
February 29, 1937 - April 10 2000

Candid Photos of Paul

Abbreviated Bibliography