Jaan Martin Peets

Jaan Martin Peets, born 3 January 1954, died 21 March 2016 in Ross Memorial Hospital, Lindsay, Ontario of glioblastoma.

Jaan was the only child of Juhan and Helga Peets, both deceased, who were born in Estonia and emigrated to Canada after the Second World War.

Jaan leaves his beloved life and business partner of more than twenty years, Catherine (Cathie) Menzies. He is mourned by many friends and colleagues around the world.

A neuroscientist educated at the University of Toronto, Jaan spent much of his working life focused on research in the pharmaceutical industry.

We will remember Jaan for his prodigious talents

and his intellect, as well as for his unique sense of humour. An accomplished and gifted photographer, animal lover, gardener, bird watcher, reader, chef, target shooting and vehicle enthusiast, astronomer, cyclist, collector of a wide variety of objects, scientist and deep thinker, Jaan was a font of knowledge and enthusiasm. With the possible exception of team sports, there was very little that did not draw Jaan’s sharp mind. Latterly, his biggest joy was the farm he and Cathie moved to in 2012, a place where serenity could be found in the middle of nature.

Jaan was known by his closest friends as “the Peets,” because they only made one.  We know that we will never see his like again.

Cremation has taken place. According to Jaan's wishes, there will be no funeral. Please no cards or flowers. It is Cathie’s wish that any donations you may wish to make in Jaan’s memory should be to a charity that you personally feel strongly about: Jaan would have wanted that.