In Memory of Stephen Easton

Tribute Messages

Stephen will be fondly remembered by his colleagues, students, and friends. If you would like to add a message of condolence below, please email econcomm@sfu.ca. 

"Steve cared about the department and the university, always ready to help and to welcome young colleagues. I'll miss his enthusiasm, curiosity, and kindness." 

Nicolas Schmitt, professor

"Steve helped me tremendously in my first years at SFU. Our offices were close by and we talked often, reminiscing about Chicago, or discussing quantum computing, education, crime, or anything in between. He was a very knowledgeable and well-read person, always willing to help, and a good friend. I miss him a lot."

Alex Karaivanov, professor

"With an open heart and a quick mind, Steve has been a steady positive presence in the department for many, many years. I will miss him both as a colleague and as a kind friend."

Jane Friesen, professor

"In memory of my dear friend and colleague, Steve, I am deeply saddened by his passing. Steve was not only an exceptional scholar but also an incredible teacher and friend. Our lengthy conversations, where he shared his extensive knowledge of economics, science and his wisdom about life, were always enlightening. He truly embodied the essence of a scholar with his passion and dedication. Beyond academia, Steve was a kind and generous soul, always ready to lend an ear or offer insightful perspectives. His absence leaves a profound void in my life, and I will miss him dearly. Farewell, Steve. Your memory will live on in our hearts forever."

Fernando Aragon, professor

"Steve was an incredibly kind person and an exemplary university citizen. He was a great mentor for me when I joined SFU. Steve will be missed deeply.

Steeve Mongrain, professor

"Steve was a totally committed and productive academic, a seeker after truth to the end. An inspiration. He was unfailingly positive and cheerful in his interactions with others."

Arthur Robson, professor

"I want to extend my heartfelt condolences to Dr. Easton’s colleagues, friends, and family. He was a fantastic professor and one that left an indelible mark on my approach to learning. The rigor he expected from his pupils when approaching challenging concepts and ideas are only surpassed by his eagerness to help those who sought it, dry wit and humour in his approach to teaching. I will cherish the fond memories I have of my time and lessons in his courses and during my early morning visits to his office." 

Konstantin Rabinovich, SFU Alumni, Economics B.A.

"Steve was a role model for taking care of students.  He always had time for a student in need, or with difficulties, or who just wanted to talk about Economics. Steve also was open hearted and warm with all of us throughout his many years at SFU.  When I first arrived, he always had a kind word and a sparkling smile, and that support mattered for me a lot in my early years."

Krishna Pendakur, SFU Distinguished Professor

"Steve made us all feel welcome in the department, and I will miss him for his warmth and insightful perspectives on a wide range of social issues."

Shih En Lu, professor

"I first met Steve during my undergrad at SFU Economics. Despite my left-leanings, he immediately took me under his wing and became one of my most important mentors. His mentorship continued through my MA (he was on my committee), my PhD at UBC, and when I became a faculty member back at SFU in criminology. He was an important part of my life for close to 25 years, and a dear friend. He always made time for his students, cared about SFU and his home department, and was passionate about economics. He was never without a smile on his face when he talked about his wife, Caroline, and their children. I will miss you, my friend. My condolences to his friends and family."

Martin Andresen, former student, professor in the School of Criminology

"I was a graduate student and I met Steve when he first joined SFU. In the Summer of 1980, I took ECON 805 from him. First class, he walks into AQ6235, picks up a piece of chalk and writes “TANSTAAFL" on the board. He then says “anyone who can tell me what that means gets a B and is excused from the class”. After about 5 minutes of letting us puzzle around, he smiled and told us: “There Ain’t No Such Thing As A Free Lunch.” I've never forgotten that and it remains one of my fondest memories of graduate school and Steve."

Stephen Spector, retired senior lecturer, Beedie School of Business

"Steve was a great role model in many ways: exceedingly polite and cheerful in the face of controversy, kind and welcoming to new colleagues, always ready to serve the department and university, and just a generally good friend and colleague. We didn't always agree, but he gave me some valuable advice over the years and told more than a few funny stories.  I will miss him a lot."

Brian Krauth, professor

"I was one of the thousands of students that Professor Easton impacted materially. Much can be said of Professor Easton's academic career and contributions to our understanding of issues like trade, education, and crime. But more importantly, he had a material impact on his students, whom he cared a great deal about."

Read Neils' tribute to Stephen Easton here: https://www.fraserinstitute.org/blogs/stephen-t-easton-economics-professor-fraser-institute-senior-fellow-mentor

Niels Veldhuis, President, Fraser Institute

"I knew Steve since 1979. International Monetary with an 11 page reading list was my intimidating first day introduction to grad school. He was an excellent lecturer; the best. He told me “It's acting.” I tried to emulate. We did some economic history together. We spent a day in the southern Alberta foothills where some of his ancestors had tried homesteading. Whether it was economics, food, singing in his choir or his eclectic reading, Steve sought quality. He loved singing. He had a playlist of tunes on his office computer and would sing along in the late afternoon. He delighted in people pursuing quality. I recall his delight when a star undergrad told him he planned to be a high-end Robson St. hairdresser and his expressed admiration for the then Vancouver Police Chief among others.  Being good at whatever mattered.  He was kind and helpful to me in and others. I miss him."

Bill Gibson, PhD

"I knew Steve since 1979. International Monetary with an 11 page reading list was my intimidating first day introduction to grad school. He was an excellent lecturer; the best. He told me “It's acting.” I tried to emulate. We did some economic history together. We spent a day in the southern Alberta foothills where some of his ancestors had tried homesteading. Whether it was economics, food, singing in his choir or his eclectic reading, Steve sought quality. He loved singing. He had a playlist of tunes on his office computer and would sing along in the late afternoon. He delighted in people pursuing quality. I recall his delight when a star undergrad told him he planned to be a high-end Robson St. hairdresser and his expressed admiration for the then Vancouver Police Chief among others.  Being good at whatever mattered.  He was kind and helpful to me in and others. I miss him."

Bill Gibson, PhD

"It's truly an honor to have had Dr. Easton as my economics professor. His engaging lectures, infused with humor and profound knowledge, made every class session not only informative but also enjoyable. Despite any challenges he may have faced, Dr. Easton consistently showed up and dedicated himself to teaching. His unwavering commitment to his students and the subject matter left a lasting impression on me. I'm grateful for the opportunity to have learned from such a remarkable educator."

Dustin Poon, student

"Steve was an enthusiastic research colleague and a very kind friend. I cut my teeth in economics from him. I also learned to appreciate Japanese and French cooking from he and Caroline. He learned the finer points of throwing a curveball from me. I will miss him."

Duane Rockerbie, professor University of Lethbridge, SFU alumnus

"Steve was the mainstay of the department. He welcomed newcomers and made them feel at home. He cheerfully accepted administrative tasks in the department and the university even becoming grad chair during a support staff strike. He was an enthusiastic teacher forming lifelong bonds with many students. His extensive research ranged from esoteric trade models to report cards for BC schools.

I still treasure our 400 or so commutes with their corny jokes and a sprinkling of gossip mixed with economics chat that allowed me to start the day on a positive note."

John Chant, emeritus professor

"Steve was a true gentleman.  Always positive and polite,  always asking about things in my world and caring about other people.  I am sad today to hear this news."

Linda Sheldon, former Economics staff member

"Steve Easton was my favorite professor back when I was doing my MA at SFU.  Such breadth of interest and knowledge!  I remember his discussing, seemingly out of nowhere, the connection between some of the math we were using in macro with music.  (Not having done any work in continuous time to that point, it was a revelation to me.)  And joy!  He infused in me not only a deeper enthusiasm for the subject, but also a confidence that I might be able to make something out of this stuff.  Even though we haven’t spoken in years, I feel like I’ve really lost something with his passing."

Bob Tetlow, BA (1982), MA (1984), Senior Advisor, Division of Monetary Affairs, Federal Reserve Board

"I met Steve in the fall of 1981 when I took his trade class. After the MT he asked me to come by his office where he said: "I sure hope you're going to grad school in economics." "I don't know," I replied, "I'm actually a business major."  "WHAT!?" Steve said, "why aren't you an economics major?"  "Because I don't want to take economic history" (which was a required course). At that point Steve asked me to wait,  he came back a few minutes later with Clyde Reed, and for the next 20 minutes they beat me into switching majors. Forty-three years later I'm still in the economics department.  I'd say that's a pretty good example of Steve having an impact on a person.  As many have said, Steve was nothing if not passionate. He was a great colleague."

Doug Allen, professor

“Steve was one of the members of the department who helped me most when my partner and I first came to SFU from Germany. He invited us to his choir events and other social activities, and was always there when I needed advice and support, as a new immigrant to Canada and a new faculty member. Later, I frequently came by his office just to chat and to exchange ideas. Steve as always curious and the conversations were never boring. He also was a very kind and caring person; I am deeply saddened by his passing. We will miss him." 

Anke Kessler, professor

"I send my condolences to Steve's family, colleagues and friends. I got to know Steve through his membership on Senate and especially through his work on the scholarships committee. He used his skills as an economist and researcher to ask tough questions of administrators about the rationale for allocation of merit-based and needs-based financial awards made to students by the university. Our discussions continued over coffee meetings and hallway chats and he developed compelling arguments based on his analyses of the facts and the relevant literature. His contributions are a good example of how collegial governance should work at a university."

Jonathan Driver, PhD, Professor Emeritus, Department of Archaeology, Simon Fraser University

"Steve was one of the most kind and welcoming faculty members at SFU when I arrived in 2018. He made a point to connect me with faculty outside of our department with shared research interests. He was a treasured member of SFU Econ and the institution as a whole. He had friends all over campus. His presence will be missed greatly but his influence on myself and colleagues will ensure that his enthusiasm and kindness lives on through others." 

Kevin Schnepel, associate professor

"I first encountered Steve Easton in Paris over forty years ago. At the time, I was a graduate student, and he was a Visiting Professor. He encouraged me to complete my studies at Simon Fraser University (SFU). Taking his advice, I arrived there in January 1986. Throughout my tenure at SFU, I engaged in numerous discussions with Steve. His intellect was effortlessly brilliant, and he fearlessly challenged conventional wisdom.

Periodically, Caroline and he hosted dinner parties, where I always felt warmly welcomed. Their hospitality was unwaveringly gracious. Over the years, we maintained contact. Steve even visited my home in Toronto, where I learned of his occasional enjoyment of a Cuban cigar! Steve played a pivotal role in my life, and his passing leaves a profound void."

Xavier de Vanssay, professor, York University, SFU alumnus

"So sad to learn about Steve Easton’s passing. A wonderful human being who will be missed. RIP and our best wishes to his family."

Shiva Nanda, Sakuntala LLC

"My heartfelt condolences to Steve's family, colleagues, students, and friends. I am deeply saddened at the news of his passing. As a young and dynamic teacher in a young SFU (in the late seventies), he deserves a good share of the credit for making my time at Simon Fraser such a fruitful and pleasant experience: He was a partner always generous with his time and expertise (in the preparation of courses, workshops, and drafting of papers);  he was sometimes a redoubtable opponent (in the faculty-versus-graduate-students ice hockey departmental games); and a very wise and helpful mentor (when he stepped in as the de facto supervisor for my thesis during Herb Grubel's sabbatical in Kenya).  I am forever grateful, Steve. Rest in Peace.."

Philippe Callier (Ph.D student, 1975-79)