The York University community is mourning the loss of Neil Marcellus Livingston, 53, a PhD student in Humanities.
“I feel truly privileged to have worked with Neil. I will miss the wide-ranging intellectual conversations we had, his insights and humour, and his energy and drive to make a difference. He will be remembered by all of us who were lucky enough to know him as a dear friend with whom we wished we could have spent more time,” Markus Reisenleitner, Neil’s supervisor here at York said.
Humanities program director Victor Shea said, “Those of us who were lucky enough to know Neil will remember a kind soul who had a charisma and an energy that lit up a room. Wherever he was there were smiles and laughter, and good debate and discussion of things that matter. In his intellectual work he was writing a dissertation on Little Jamaica on Eglington and gentrification.”
Neil was born in 1971 and raised in Guelph and Elmira by his mother Catherine Elstone. He graduated as valedictorian of Elmira District Secondary School (EDSS) in 1990. He cared deeply for his mother, who passed away in August 2023.
Neil was predeceased by his father, James Livingston, in October 2020. His father greatly inspired him academically.
a photo of Neil Livingston
Neil passed away Thursday, September 26, surrounded by his family and many friends. He had been diagnosed only days before with an advanced and rare form of renal cell carcinoma (kidney cancer) that had rapidly progressed.
Neil was a graduate of Queen’s University, Environmental Science, Honours, 1995, and a student leader while at Queen’s. He served as Director of Services for the AMS, heading Queen’s Project on International Development (QPID) and managing Queen’s Student Constables.
Later in his life Neil came to York University, graduating with a Master’s degree in Environmental Studies (Complex Systems Analysis) in 2014, before proceeding to his PhD. His research topic was Global Digital Gentrification.
Ali Ahmed, speaking on behalf of his colleagues in the Humanities Graduate Student Association, said, “Whenever we met Neil, especially through the advocacy group he formed to revive our grad students' association, we were always taken by his uncontainable spirit, his unaffected and endearing manner of relating to each of us, and his love for family and community. In the midst of our sadness in losing him, we realize even more how much his being was a blessing for all of us; and, in remembering our dear friend, we are led to carry on the task of our association. Thank you, Brother Neil.”
A student of life and a teacher to many, Neil will be missed by his wife of more than 21 years, Claudia Gibson, and their three young daughters Nyah, 11, Luna, 7, and Hannah, 6. He will also be missed by his sister Sara Cooper (nee. Elstone), brother-in-law Chad Cooper, niece Amelia Elstone-Cooper, nephew Holden Cooper, as well as his extended family and countless friends.
A GoFundMe account has been set up on behalf of Claudia and the girls to provide critical support.