RIP Marie DeYoung

April 22, 2022

Donna Bourne-Tyson and Madeleine Lefebvre shared the following announcement:

With a heavy heart we are writing to share very sad news about the passing of Marie DeYoung, a beloved and esteemed colleague, the former University Librarian at Saint Mary’s University, past Library Director at Nova Scotia Community College, and past-president of the Canadian Library Association.

Marie also served as Novanet Chair twice and Chair of CAUL-CBUA, was active with various Dalhousie School of Information Management committees, and President of the SIM Associated Alumni twice. She was instrumental in revising the Standards for Canadian College Libraries as a member of the Canadian Technical and College Library Standards Committee (CACUL). She was awarded the NSLA Norman Horrocks Award for Library Leadership and richly deserved it.

Marie passed away peacefully the morning of April 20th, surrounded by loved ones. More information will be forthcoming at a later time; this is just a brief overview of Marie’s many accomplishments.

Many people have been affected by Marie’s death — the many amazing qualities she had as a mentor, colleague and friend are now being remembered and shared. She will be missed by us all. Marie’s colleagues and friends, in mourning her passing, have been using words like wise, courageous, vibrant, independent, generous, good humored, wonderful, fantastic, positive energy, fierce, dignified, calm, kind, a giant in the Canadian library community, cheerful, empathic, and a beautiful person. All apt descriptions, and others have noted her tremendous sense of fun and the twinkle in her eye. She was highly regarded leader in our profession and tireless in her work.

Obituary: Marie Elizabeth DeYoung (1952-2022)
The Chonicle Herald. April 23, 2022

Marie DeYoung, chair of the SIM Alumni Association, and SIM director Sandra Toze (left) at the Dalhousie School of Information Management’s 50th anniversary celebration