On Saturday, June 20. 2026, Professor Jeremy Schofield passed away. The following is an exerpt from the announcement by the University of Toronto.
Jeremy Schofield received his A.B. in Mathematics and Chemistry from Amherst College in 1988, before pursuing graduate studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he earned his Ph.D. in Theoretical Chemical Physics in 1993 under the supervision of Irwin Oppenheim. He then held postdoctoral appointments at the University of Chicago and Northwestern University starting in 1993. In 1997, he joined the University of Toronto, where he established his career as a professor of chemistry. His doctoral research formed part of his early contributions to statistical mechanics and the theoretical description of complex systems.
His research interests in theoretical physical chemistry were primarily concerned with the structure, phases and dynamics of complex liquid and biological systems. His most widely cited work, published in Physical Review E in 1999 with collaborators Andrew Marcus and Stuart Rice, provided early experimental insight into cooperative motion in complex liquids and remains one of his best-known contributions to the field. See Jeremy's List of Publications.
'Jeremy was the kind of colleague all people deeply appreciate," said Professor Mark Lautens, Chair of the Department of Chemistry, in an announcement to the Department of Chemistry community. "He gave his all, he stepped up when asked, and he was a responsible and kind person who took on challenging scientific problems.'
Colleagues remembered not only his dedication, but also the warmth and good humour he brought to everyday interactions.
'Jeremy's office and mine share a thin wall - in fact we sat very close facing opposite sides of it," said Professor Dvira Segal. "Whenever Jeremy had a meeting, whether with colleagues or students, there was a big laugh coming out.'
'I loved working with this soundtrack; I always wondered how he managed to turn every science meeting into something that felt like a party.'
Segal added: 'Jeremy was a wonderful colleague, scientist, and mentor. He insisted on enjoying science and not letting the almost daily paperwork take that joy away from him. He will be remembered for his research depth, commitment to every aspect of department life, and great sense of humour.'
Professor Emeritus Raymond Kapral was quick to agree: 'Jeremy was a wonderful person and colleague. He was great scientist with amazing technical skills who worked on difficult problems. Almost all of our scientific interactions took place in his office, which was decorated by his wife, Nathalie.'
'I liked sitting on the brightly colored couch, and our attempts to work on the whiteboard. It had a large supply of non-functioning pens that made every discussion half science and half attempts to find a working pen or see what was written. Our lunch conversations, often in Chinatown, covered all topics, most recently the physics of fly casting.'
'It is difficult to lose a friend and comprehend that these interactions have come to an abrupt end.'
The department extends its sincere condolences to Jeremy's wife Nathalie and his children, as well as to the many friends, students, and colleagues who remember him fondly.