On the morning of August 29th, the world lost one of its most intelligent, generous and kind human beings. With heavy hearts and profound sadness we announce the passing of Geoffrey Alexander Booth at his home in Toronto at the age of 57. Geoff was a beautiful soul both inside and out. He died peacefully with his loving husband and partner of 23 years, Jason Donaldson, by his side and surrounded by family and friends.
Geoff was born in Montreal, Quebec in 1967 to the late John Mackenzie Booth (Sutton, PQ) and to his adoring mother Gail Beverley Booth (nee Fry) of Sutton. Geoff will be dearly missed by his two sisters and brothers-in-law, Janet Booth (David St.Croix) of Whitby, ON and his younger sister, Carolyn Booth (Tom Darling) of Chicago, IL. Geoff was a proud and devoted uncle to his nieces Emma, Charlotte, Beth and Emily, and his two nephews Brian and Iain. Geoff will also be missed by his husband’s parents, Ted and Lois Donaldson, along with Jason’s sister, Jennifer Laundry and her husband Brad Laundry.
Geoff grew up in Montreal and attended high school in Oakville, Ontario. In 1985, he returned to Beaconsfield, Quebec with his family to enroll in undergraduate studies at McGill University. Geoff would later return to Toronto in 1989 to attend graduate school, where he completed his masters studies and his PhD in English literature at the University of Toronto. His dissertation was on Jacobean and Elizabethan drama. Upon completion of his postgraduate studies, Geoff was a professor in the faculty of English, but would later move into the private sector to pursue a long and successful career in content marketing.
Geoff met his partner and husband of 23 years, Jason, in 2001. Together they created a loving and vibrant life in Toronto that was made richer by a close-knit circle of friends. They spent many summers traveling, and made regular trips to Bancroft, Ontario and Sutton, Quebec to visit their families. The Eastern Townships held a special place in Geoff’s heart, with many fond memories of summers spent as a young boy at the family cottage on Brome Lake, surrounded by his maternal grandparents and his beloved aunt Mil. The nearby Booth family farm in Abercorn overlooking Pinnacle Mountain provided endless adventures with his many cousins in tow.

In his 40s, Geoff became passionate about learning how to play classical guitar, and he took up lessons at the Royal Conservatory in Toronto. Geoff’s other lifelong pursuit was his love of Victorian fiction, which started the summer before he began university (his self-described first summer of indolence) and continued throughout his life. In the evenings or on Saturday afternoons, Geoff could be found delving into a book from this period — sometimes a work by a lesser known author of this canon, or a newly discovered Anthony Trollope novel (which would become a reading obsession). Rereading a classic by Dickens, the Brontë sisters or Jane Austen was a favourite pastime. In his last year, Geoff acknowledged in his blog that this love of Victorian fiction delivered him both solace and intellectual stimulation during an unfamiliar and challenging time.
One of Geoff’s other passions was gardening. He transformed the front and back yards of their home in Leslieville, Toronto, into an urban oasis where Geoff and Jason enjoyed entertaining friends and family. With some initial reservation, they decided to share this space with the newest addition to their family, a loveable Cavapoo named Finnegan, whom Geoff affectionately referred to as “our 18 pound bundle of joy.”
Fourteen months ago, Geoff’s life would be forever changed when he was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour, one of the most aggressive types a Grade 4 Glioblastoma (GBM). He was a champion in the face of this unfortunate diagnosis and resolved himself and those around him not to let the disease change or define the time he had left. Geoff never stopped smiling. In his last year, despite three surgeries and six weeks of radiation and chemotherapy, he managed to travel extensively while also spending time with family and friends, and he directed his love of writing into his blog. myteemingbrain

Jason and Geoff’s family are appreciative of the excellent treatment and care received at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto by the neurosurgery team lead by Dr. Dos, the oncology team at Sunnybrook Hospital including Dr. Perry, Dr. Saghal and the amazing nurse practitioners Eirena and Inga at the Odette Cancer Centre. In Geoff’s final weeks, the team from the Temmy Latner Palliative Centre were a formidable force and a blessing in ensuring Geoff’s comfort and supporting his desire to remain at home. Special thanks to Dr. Tedesco and the palliative team and his incredible PSWs Emee and Jessica and the nursing team of Nigel and Leslie for their compassionate and tireless care of Geoffrey during his final days. Donations are welcome to the Odette Cancer Centre and the Temmy Latner Palliative Care Foundation.

“If our affections be tried, our affections are our consolation and comfort; and memory, however sad, is the best and purest link between this world and a better.” ~ Charles Dickens