Carl Gösta Widstrand
December 23rd, 1928 - November 5th, 2023
We said goodbye to Carl in the evening of November 5th at May Court Hospice. He passed away in comfort and peace with his family at his side. Husband to Rede, father to Staffan (Tuula), Anna (Andrea) and Thomas (Kan), grandfather of Liisa, Mimmi and Ellie. Brother to Peter (Eva).
A talented polymath with a big heart, he was a man for all seasons. As an educator and friend, he shared his enthusiasm and curiosity for learning in his many fields of knowledge with kindness and a fine sense of humour. His outstanding life as an archeologist, sociologist, ethnographer, linguist, classical scholar and musician was marked by many achievements, awards and accomplishments. He was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws (2004) from Carleton University and a Jubilee doctorate (2008) at the University of Uppsala, Sweden. He was educated at the University of Stockholm, (Classics, Archaeology, Anthropology, B.A. 1952), Freie Universität, Berlin and the University of Uppsala where he had his MA (1953) and Ph.D. in Anthropology, (1958) specializing in early African material culture.
Carl was the Director of the Scandinavian Institute of African Studies in Uppsala, Sweden. He then served as a professor of Anthropology at the University of East Africa as well as at the University College of Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania. He was also a Professor of Sociology at the University of Manitoba, and a visiting Professor of the Norman Paterson School of International studies at Carleton University, Ottawa. Carl was appointed as a resident representative for the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Towards the end of his long career in academia Carl was a professor and chairman of the Graduate School of Water Research at the University of Linköping, Sweden. In his retirement, he served as an adjunct professor of classics and natural science at Carleton University. Over his lifetime, he published seventeen books on various topics (including a lamb cookbook, Agnus Deli), over 100 academic papers along with two unplayable string quartets (according to him!).
A huge Beethoven and Mozart aficionado, his natural musical talent included learning to play a large variety of brass, string, wind and percussion instruments. No matter where he lived and worked in the world, he played in orchestras (17 years with Divertimento Orchestra in Ottawa) and marching bands making many friends along the way and sharing his love for music.
Carl’s knowledge of botany and love of the natural world led Carl and Rede to study and visit heritage gardens all over the world. Over his many years, he joined Rede in hosting gatherings at their Ottawa home, garden and porch for their neighbours and many friends.
There will be a gathering for family and friends in the early summer of 2024 to celebrate his rich and varied life.
A heartfelt thanks to the doctors, nurses and personal care attendants on the geriatric unit at the Civic hospital, along with all the staff of the May Court Hospice.
In Carl’s memory please consider a contribution to Water Aid or the Ottawa Food Bank