Peter Hess

Obituary

It is with great sadness that Jeannette and Melanie announce the loss of their dad, Peter Hess. He passed on Tuesday May 6th, 2025 in his most comfortable room at Serenity Retirement Residence in Barrie, ON where he lived happily for the last 8 years.

Peter came to Canada from Germany in 1957 to visit his brother George who had recently immigrated to Canada. He came for a visit but within the first week, met our mom Maria and fell madly in love. Jeannette came quickly thereafter, and the new family called London, ON, Providence, RI, a sailboat called the “XV Verbena”, and then Toronto, ON home before Melanie was born 21 years later.

With broken English, Peter managed to secure a job at Volkswagen and get him self accepted into Western University where he completed his first university degree. He went on pursue a higher education at Brown University where he earned his Masters and Doctorate in Philosophy and had the opportunity to study with some of philosophies great minds.

Peter and Maria settled in Toronto in the 1970s and he began his 30+ year career as a professor at Victoria College. He spent his days lecturing, talking with fellow academics about current events, publishing journals and even wrote a book (which many of us will never be able to understand). Upon their retirement, Peter followed Maria on yet another wild adventure, where they attempted to be farmers and then lived in a secluded log cabin on the Bruce Peninsula.

For a man who walked off a boat without any plans or belongings to his name, he certainly built an impressive life in Canada. He was the kindest and most consistent person in our lives and was always there when we needed help. Even after Maria passed away in 2017, Peter continued to enjoy his quiet life at Serenity in Barrie, close to his daughters and his computer. He loved to talk about philosophy and his early life in Germany, and spent each day eating cookies and still partaking in the occasional cigarette or bedtime glass of wine.

Peter will be missed so much by those who loved him. Please leave your memories and stories below and share this website with Peter’s friends and family so that we can all remember Peter and the ways in which he touched our lives. We will be using this platform in leiu of an in person gathering at this time to share and celebrate the life of Peter Hess. 

Gallery

Memory wall

July 12, 2025

I will always remember Dr. Hess for being a most encouraging professor at Victoria college. He helped me to form a philosophy of science club there in my very first year .. with biweekly informal meetings where he showed keen interest in the efforts of some of us to find a 'reconciling bridge' between the realism of experiment as touching ontology and the epistemic ideas by which we experience and interpret them, and infer to the ontic. By his mentorship I continued in science with a minor in philosophy, deftly supervised in my Master's program by Bas Van Fraassen. Even in my more technical PhD studies (Ottawa) years later, I never lost my keen interest in philosophy as a mistress of science .. thanks to Dr. Peter. I trust that he passed on that warm mentoring spirit to his daughters.

Gary D Knight

June 25, 2025

I have known Peter since he joined the department in Victoria College in 1968. Peter was an excellent philosopher and college. We spent many hours discussing a variety of philosophical problems. Our conversations were always delightful – educational and deep. I visited Peter and Maria at their farm after Peter took early retirement from the College and Peter and I picked up our conversations in mid-sentence. I will miss Peter as I’II miss our conversations.

William Harvey, Emeritus Professor of Philosophy, Victoria College, University of Toronto.

Bill Harvey

June 25, 2025

Peter was a good friend and colleague for many years. I have fond memories of countless coffees, cookies and long chats - such varied topics - in the coffee rooms of Victoria College.
We often spoke German together, exchanging favourite little phrases: "Pfaffen und Weiber vergessen nie" He did enjoy these !
Requiescat in pace, mein Freund.

Michael Eben

June 24, 2025

Great guy. I used to think of him as the best dressed man at Vic. Most of that was good taste and presence - tall and dignified.

We’ve missed him since he retired and moved away.

Peter, old friend, Sit tibi terra levis.

Frank Collins

June 24, 2025

Peter and I were colleagues at Victoria College for many years. We had many conversations and I very much liked him. I especially remember his sailing adventures and misadventures in the West Indies!

Alan Davies

May 19, 2025

If you search Wikipedia for 'Cool Intellectual' you will see a photo of Peter. He was a man of great and heavy thoughts and from all that I know, practiced calmness even in the flickering clarity and increasing confusion of his later years. Always thankful and gracious; there is now a void; he is greatly missed.

Bill J

May 18, 2025

I spent a lot of time at Mel's house when I was younger, not only were we great friends but we lived on the same street! I really enjoyed speaking to Peter when visiting, he was very funny, interesting and always very kind. I was always made to feel so welcome whether at the house or on the farm. Sending so much love and thoughts to the family at this difficult time and hope that Peter's memories will bring comfort.

Liz Bassett

May 17, 2025

I will remember Peter for his kind heart and fun loving soul. My condolences. I hope your memories will provide the strength to get through this difficult time. Here another image of the seven seas that I found on the pier21 site.
https://5104.sydneyplus.com/final/portal.aspx?lang=en-US

Nick von Wahl

May 16, 2025

Peter will forever be the gentleman with perfect manners. Always sincerely thankful for the simplest things, "May I have a cookie please?", and his sparkling blue eyes that crinkled at the corners due to his ever present smile.

He will be missed.

Deepest condolences for the loss of a very special man.

Anne S