Garth Donald Abrams

After prolonged illness and five days short of his 87th birthday, Dr.Garth Donald Abrams died on March 20, 2026. His sister Susan, wife Sue, and children Thomas and Margaret were by his side. He leaves behind his first wife Betty and their children Michelle and Michael. Garth was predeceased by his younger brother Ralph.

Garth was the eldest of three children, born in 1939 in Toronto to Muriel and George Abrams. Trained as an Organic Chemist, Garth completed a BA and PhD at the University of Toronto. Dr. Abrams continued in his field to pursue an NSERC Postdoctoral Fellowship at Stanford University in California-often joking that his Canadian NSERC scholarship left him the "poorest paid Postdoc at Stanford." Garth joined the Chemistry faculty at Dalhousie University, Halifax in 1971. There he met Sue, to whom he was married for the past forty-five years. They moved to Saskatoon in 1978, where Garth taught chemistry at the University of Saskatchewan and conducted research and the National Research Council.

Garth lived with a passion for the arts. Studying piano throughout his life - filling the family home with classical and later ragtime music Garth was an emeritus member of an adult music group that held recitals (socials) several times a year. For several years, he shared his musical talent as a volunteer piano teacher to young students at Caswell school, Saskatoon. He was an amateur astronomer, fly fisherman, art collector, golfer, pasta and pastry maker, Canadian football fan, avid pinhole photographer and photo developer. He proudly submitted photos to Worldwide Pinhole Day, April 26th.

Garth was a caring husband and dedicated father, taking on sole duties when Sue travelled for her scientific career. He remained a lifelong patron of the arts, an active follower of politics, and a dear friend to many, both near and far. Garth was a thoughtful travel companion on annual trips to Barbados, and a graceful host for barbecues at home, around the impeccably maintained backyard pool. Garth was a dedicated follower of family tradition, pouring his signature gin martini with a lemon twist at 5:00pm sharp, like many Abrams before him.

The family is grateful for the excellent care from Dr. Johnson and the staff of the Palliative Care Unit at St. Paul's Hospital, Saskatoon. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Medecins Sans Frontiers of which Garth was a strong supporter.