David Sealy, a lecturer in York’s Law & Society Program, was a gifted scholar

David Sealy, a lecturer in the Law & Society Program at York University, died suddenly in the early morning of Dec. 26. 

Prof. Sealy is described as being a brilliant scholar, an engaging teacher and an inspiring mentor by his colleagues in the Law & Society Program. His passion and commitment to social justice guided and shaped his scholarly pursuits and left a mark on those who knew him.

Right: David Sealy

David’s intellectual depth and breadth was evident in his wide-ranging interests, which spanned post-Marxist, post-colonial and post-structuralist theory, urban studies, legal studies, criminological studies, popular culture studies, gender studies, race and psychoanalysis, and black diasporic, black Atlantic and black transnational studies.

His most recent research deployed multiple theoretical and methodological tools to draw the discourses of black transnational and black Atlantic studies into considerations of Canadian law, crime and justice. Prof. Sealy’s intellectual legacy and scholarly generosity will continue to provide inspiration and guidance to his family, friends, students and colleagues.

He will be remembered by his partner Alka, his mother Cynthia, his sisters Gayle, Patricia and Tamara, his nephews Christian and Joshua, his brother-in-law Darren, theTandan/Sawhney families, his many friends, and colleagues as well as his students.

A bursary, the David L.J. Sealy Award, has been established in his memory. Pledge forms will be available at the memorial and donations can also be made online through the York University Foundation. To have your donation be eligible for fund matching, please ensure you direct this gift to "other" and when the text box opens, type in "David L. J. Sealy Award". Your gifts will enrich David’s scholarly commitments and contributions by supporting a student working in the field of black studies and social justice. For more information, associate director of development, at 416-650-8210 or by email at kadlis@yorkfoundation.yorku.ca.

There will be a memorial service for David Sealy on Friday, Jan. 15 at 6pm, with a reception to follow at 7pm at the Centre of Criminology in the Canadiana Building at 14 Queen’s Park Cres. W., Toronto.

Submitted to YFile by Professor Richard Wellen, chair, Department of Social Science, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies