The Queen’s community is remembering John Freeman, a professor in the Faculty of Education, who died Tuesday, Aug. 1. He was 61.

Dr. Freeman was a vital part of the Faculty of Education for more than 20 years and was a dedicated teacher and mentor to many graduate students, a role he loved. Dr. Freeman was much beloved by the students he worked with, both for his dedication and his guidance, and he was often nominated for teaching and mentorship awards.

He will be greatly missed by colleagues, students, and staff.

As director of the Social Program Evaluation Group for nearly 10 years, he led a number of important national and international research projects and collaborations, the largest being the Health Behaviours of School Age Children (HBSC). After serving for a number of years as a member, Dr. Freeman agreed to become the chair of the General Research Ethics Board (GREB) at Queen’s University, offering his expertise in this significant service role to the university for the past three years. 

Dr. Freeman arrived at Queen’s in 1997 after earning Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Education and Master of Education degrees from Queen’s. He also received a Bachelor of Mathematics from the University of Waterloo and a PhD from the University of Michigan.

Cross-appointed to the School of Health Sciences and Kinesiology, Dr. Freeman’s research primarily focused on how schools can be made to be more welcoming for students, teachers, and parents, regardless of ability level, race, sexuality, or emotional health, among other considerations. He was also the director of the Social Program Evaluation Group.

His memorial service will be held on Friday, Aug. 11 at 1 pm at Grace United Church, 120 Pine St., Gananoque, with a reception to follow. Dr. Freeman was generous with both his time and money, in lieu of flowers, in his memory consider donating to a cause you hold dear or volunteer your own time to an organization in need. Donations can also be made in his memory to the Intensive Care Unit at the Kingston General Hospital.