BUBENIK, Dr. George Anthon

Peacefully, surrounded by his loving family at the Riverside Glen Long Term Care on Tuesday, January 23, 2018, in his 76th year. Beloved husband of Ella for 45 wonderful years. Loving Tata (Dad) to Peter (Jodi), Susan Lodge (Greg) and Helen Fagan (Matt). Cherished Děda (Grandfather) of Evan, Mira, Amanda, Alyssa, Alex, Eric and Markus. He is survived by his sister Jelena Vašak (Milan) in Switzerland. He will be sadly missed by his family and many friends.

George was born on May 19, 1942 in Brno, Czechoslovakia to parents Anthony and Marie. He graduated with an M.D. from Charles University in Prague in 1967 and was class valedictorian. From 1976 to 2004, he was a professor in the Department of Integrative Biology at the University of Guelph. He was an internationally-known researcher in both the study of deer and melatonin and had over 180 scholarly publications. He also gave interviews explaining sneezing, hick-ups, yawning, eye blinking, and goose bumps, as well as on the “biochemistry of love”.

George enjoyed sports, particularly downhill and cross-country skiing, scuba diving, and volleyball with the Czech Club; all plants and animals, particularly bromeliads and the family dog; travelling, particularly camping with his family and beach vacations with Ella; playing music on his organ or harmonica; and dancing with Ella at the Swiss Club. After retiring George volunteered at the Guelph River Run Theatre. 

Family and friends are invited to the Gilbert MacIntyre & Son Funeral Home, Hart Chapel, 1099 Gordon Street, Guelph, where a memorial service will take place on Thursday February 1, 2018 at 11:00am, with visitation beginning at 10am and a reception following the service. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Alzheimer Society Waterloo Wellington would be greatly appreciated by the family. Cards are available at the funeral home at (519)821-5077.