In memory of

Ian Robert Graham

May 3, 1948 -  December 13, 2025


Professor Ian Robert Graham was born on May 3, 1948, in Oxford, England, and passed away peacefully on December 13, 2025, at the Grenadier assisted living facility in Toronto, where he had resided for a number of years while living with advancing Parkinson’s disease.

Ian received his undergraduate education at the University of Toronto, graduating as the top student in his class. He obtained his doctorate at Princeton University and went on to complete a postdoctoral fellowship at MIT, before returning to Toronto, where he was a professor of mathematics until his retirement. Ian was recognized for excellence in teaching and for his research, which was primarily in geometric function theory of several complex variables.

For those who knew him, behind his formidable mind was a quiet and gentle person, always interested in the lives of his family members, his friends, and their families. He was known for his dry wit, generosity of spirit, and love of family.

In 1978, Ian married the love of his life, Chibeck Mok, who at the time was the librarian in the mathematics department. Together they shared real happiness for twenty years, until Chibeck’s passing in 1998. Their life together included travel and research leaves at the University of California at Berkeley and Stanford University, reflecting their shared curiosity and companionship. Although they did not have children of their own, Ian and Chibeck took a special interest in each of their nieces and nephews, forming close and lasting bonds.

Ian remained a solid and steady mooring within his family, even during the later and more difficult years of his illness. He never complained about his circumstances, and an academic to the end, he gave a final lesson in sickness and in dying, marked by dignity and grace. The family wishes to express heartfelt gratitude to the staff at the Grenadier, and especially to his devoted caregivers, Mira, Gloria, and Imelda.

Ian had a positive influence on everyone around him, and he will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

A memorial service will be held at St. Giles Kingsway Presbyterian Church, 15 Lambeth Rd, Etobicoke on Monday 5 January 2026 at 1 pm. In lieu of flowers, kindly consider a donation in Ian's name to the St. Giles Kingsway Presbyterian Church or the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation.

Guestbook 

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John Ambrose (Princeton roommate and life-long friend)

Entered December 31, 2025 from Picton Ontario

I was privileged to be Ian’s friend. I saw every day Ian’s quiet personality. We had a few friends in common including Scott Graham. We attended his wedding and met Chibeck who later sent us her recipe for her fruit cake. At Princeton Ian rode his CCM bike that was his hallmark. I shall miss his wise and thoughtful friendship. John Ambrose

Stewart Gillis (Fellow Member SGK)

Entered January 3, 2026 from SGK

Ian was often in attendance at St.Giles Kingsway Presbyterian Church .In light of his quiet Christian humility I doubt many of us were aware of his stellar professional and personal accomplishments..
Rest easy,Ian.

Renee Chiang (Auntie Chibeck and Uncle Ian's Goddaughter)

Entered April 24, 2026 from Seattle, WA

My mother was childhood friends with Auntie Chibeck in HK. I remember sending her letters as a child and she gave me a yearly subscription to Crickets Magazine. Interestingly, although I grew up in Southern California, I'm a Canadian too, just like them which made it an even more perfect fit.

I tried to write letters, but this was back before email and I was a kid. But I got the Cricket's subscription every year. I attended UC Berkely and my strongest memory of Uncle Ian was during his sabbatical there, I was working in SF and was able to meet up with him and Auntie Chibeck in real life. Uncle Ian was kind and gentle and keenly interested in my work which was a sort of data modeling to improve quality for a retailer.

Will you please reach out to me via email? I would love to share some remembrances and a story of my own godson, Ian.

Photos 

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