WALTER WAYNE GIESBRECHT

Walter Wayne Giesbrecht passed away on March 8, 2026, at the age of 69. He was born on December 18, 1956, in St. Catharines, ON, to parents Peter and Margaret, and sisters Irene and Susan. Walter held a BSc from Brock University and an MLIS from the University of Western Ontario, where he met his wife of 38 years, Martha Roberta. The couple lived in Richmond Hill, ON, with their only child, Sarah. Walter worked as a Librarian at York University from 1988 to 2020 and was involved with IASSIST and the Data Liberation Initiative. His professional interests included early internet integration, data accessibility, and web design, while his personal interests included science, science fiction, music, and rhinos. He is survived by his wife, Martha Roberta; daughter, Sarah (Jason); sister, Susan (Tim); nephews; two cats; and a variety of friends. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to a local animal shelter or the International Rhino Foundation. A Celebration of Life is planned for a future date.