91��ܽ

We are deeply saddened by the passing of John “Jock” Munro, one of the earliest members of 91��ܽ’s Department of Economics and a highly respected figure within the university’s administration during his nearly 40-year career at SFU. 

Munro received his BA in Economics at the University of British Columbia, and his MBA and DBA from Indiana University. An expert in urban and regional economics, Munro’s research explored regional and transportation economics, with an emphasis on British Columbia’s natural resource economy. He joined SFU in 1966, one year after the founding of SFU, as a junior faculty member in what was then known as the Department of Economics and Commerce. 

As one of the earliest contributors to the Department of Economics, he played a key role in shaping its academic foundations. Munro was an integral member of the department in its early years, including supervising the department’s first PhD thesis in 1972. However, one of his greatest contributions was his administrative service to the university.  He served as the Dean of Arts in 1977 and 1978, where his exceptional handling of administrative matters resulted in his subsequent appointment as Vice-President, Academic from 1979 to 1984. He helped navigate a time of transition during which Business became a separate faculty and split from the Department of Economics.  

In recognition of his dedication and service, the university established the Munro Lecture Series in his name in 2000. The series honours Munro’s enduring commitment to academic excellence and public discourse In a letter to the Board of Governors supporting the creation of the lecture series, then SFU President Jack Blaney wrote, “Dr. Munro’s strong leadership throughout his career as senior administrator deserves much of the credit for the university's growth in size, mix of programs, quality of faculty and students, services to the community and overall stature among Canada's premier universities.”

After nearly 40 years at SFU, Munro retired as a professor emeritus in 2003 but continued to work as the director of the newly established Graduate Urban Studies Program.

Economics professor Doug Allen remembers that Munro “demonstrated incredible common sense and wisdom during [times of turbulence]. Jock was calm under pressure, humble, and always saw the bright side of any situation.”

We celebrate his contributions to the department and the university, and we send our condolences to his family and friends.