Obituary of Nicholas James Hardy

The family of Nicholas James Hardy is sad to announce his death on February 24^th 2023 at Hospice House, Fredericton.  Nick died peacefully after a two-year battle with cancer, leaving a profound sense of loss for his wife Mira, their two wonderful children Erik and Raya, his parents Christopher and Maureen, his brother Gareth and sister-in-law Kate, his nephew Leon and nieces Keira and Stella, and his faithful canine companion Spock.

Born on August 19^th, 1978 in London, United Kingdom, Nick was brought up in Bognor Regis, a coastal town in West Sussex. To the surprise of many of his childhood teachers, Nick was very successful at completing a Bachelor’s degree in Politics and Sociology at the University of Essex, followed by a Master's in Ethics, Politics and Public Policy. After 6 years spent working in research roles in London, he moved to Canada in 2006 to pursue a PhD in Sociological Theory from Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario. It was amongst the graduate student community at Queen’s that he found a life- partner in Mira and made many close friends, leading him to make Canada his new home. He taught briefly at King's University College at Western University, and then joined the University of New Brunswick in 2013, where he established himself professionally and eventually became Associate Professor of Sociology. Beloved by many of his students, despite his idiosyncratic tangents and elaborate lecture slides, Nick received the UNB Faculty of Arts 'Excellence in Teaching' award in 2020. He was a respected scholar, and his published work had started to generate robust engagement and critical response from fellow theorists in the field. He was a treasured colleague and a cherished friend to many in the UNB and Fredericton communities.

Great thanks must be given to Nick’s primary care physician, Dr. Erin Tingley, his oncologist, Dr. Luisa Galvis, countless others at the Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital (DECH), and all the staff at Hospice House, who were exemplary in their professionalism and care for Nick during his stay there. His family owes a great debt to all the friends who have been so supportive over the last few years, especially to those in Fredericton who showed and continue to show them many, many kindnesses as they cope with his loss.

A visitation will take place from 3 –5:30pm on Friday, March 3^rd at J.A. McAdam Memorial Chapel, 160 York Street.  All who wish to pay their respects are welcome to attend at this time. A short, secular service will begin at 3:30pm with select readings by family and friends. There will be a celebration of his life at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to one of the following organizations supported by Nick: Hospice House Fredericton; The Canadian Red Cross; Nick’s beloved newspaper The Guardian.