Firas Kamal Mansour, 50, passed away on 29 December 2021.
Firas joined the department of Physics & Astronomy as a graduate student in 1995. Appointed to a teaching assistantship, Firas was assigned demonstrations in first-year labs. This experience fuelled his passion for teaching. While leading a physics tutorial later that year, his unique teaching ability caught the department’s attention. Finding himself in demand, Firas earned the departmental award for the outstanding teaching assistant. His brilliant teaching career was set on course shortly thereafter when he was appointed to a sessional teaching position. Firas was appointed to a Continuing Lectureship in 2007, where he remained in service until his passing. His outstanding teaching was recognized by students and faculty with a Distinguished Teacher Award in 2012. The citation highlighted his unique classroom style which “provokes” the most hesitant physics students to learn and enjoy physics. Many students commented about his memorable stories and demonstrations, his extra review sessions, and his great sense of humour. He was noted for having an approachable manner and unique teaching style that would hold his students' attention while also effectively building their confidence and problem-solving skills. Over the years, many students claimed that they would not have passed introductory physics without Firas’ fierce commitment to supporting his students.
Firas was an early adopter of Active Learning Techniques in the classroom setting. He understood that each student learns and understands uniquely. This realization propelled his scholarship into alternative learning techniques. Firas was a devoted colleague who contributed so much life to the Department of Physics & Astronomy through service on many departmental and University committees. Firas made great things happen by combining a sharp intellect with his outsized, magnetic personality.
Firas will be remembered foremost as a kind, generous, and gentle man. The outpouring of grief from across the University and beyond is only one indication of how much Firas meant to all of us. Firas leaves behind his beloved wife Melissa Finn and three young sons.
