Please find below, the funeral arrangements for our friend and colleague, Dr. Bill Petrusic, Distinguished Research Professor. Bill joined the Psychology department in 1970 and retired in 2004, after which he continued to supervise graduate students. He was a prolific researcher. He was among a handful of faculty at Carleton who received continuous funding from NSERC for more than 25 years. Those of us who had the pleasure of interacting with Bill were repeatedly exposed to clever arguments about how central psychophysics was to perception and cognition. For him, psychophysics and mathematical modelling were not only extremely important scientific endeavors , but also extremely FUN to do and to live by. Tasting and comparing beers and wines became occasions to discuss JNDs and power laws. Calibration had many homes such as in his cooking, washing dishes and such ordinary daily activities. Bill was a generous colleague and an incredible mentor. He loved what he did both while teaching stats, conducting research and writing papers. He was a loyal friend to many of us, this even after his retirement. He will be missed.
Joanna Pozzulo
Chair, Department of Psychology
May 18, 1939 – December 12, 2014
It is with great sadness that we announce the sudden death of Bill at his home in Ottawa. Bill is survived by his loved and loving wife of 55 years, Elaine (née Gibbs), his children Michele St. John (Phil), Michael, Chris (Donnalee Bell) and his grandchildren Stephanie, Georgie, Sheldon, Alex and Rowan and many extended family and friends. Bill was a Professor Emeritus and Distinguished Research Professor in the Department of Psychology. He received his Ph. D. at Michigan University in 1966 after which he taught at the UBC before arriving at Carleton University in 1970. His stellar career spanned 50 years. Bill was fascinated by the brain: how we think, make decisions, what we remember and how we learn. His area of speciality was psychophysics in terms of judgement and choice. He was a generous and insightful colleague and mentor. His enthusiasm for his work and teaching was infectious. Bill loved his home and family life. If you liked good conversation, wine and food and could tolerate loud Bob Dylan and eating at midnight, you were welcome at Bill and Elaine’s anytime. He was gregarious and welcoming and his winter barbeques and extravagant meals are the stuff of legend. His compassion, humour and generosity of spirit are irreplaceable. Dr. P., Professor, Sir, Bill, Dad, Pa is and will be sorely missed by his family, friends, colleagues and students. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Psychology Department at Carleton University c/o the Dept. of Advancement www.giving.carleton.ca. A Celebration of his Life will be held at the
Kelly Funeral Home, 585 Somerset Street West, Ottawa on December 19, 2014 at 3 p.m. The family will be receiving condolences after the funeral.