Margaritis, Dr. Argyrios

January 20th, 2019

Peacefully, surrounded by family, on Sunday, January 20, 2019 at University Hospital. Dr. Margaritis was a Professor of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering at Western University. Beloved husband of Mary for 42 years. Loving father of Demetrios and his wife Christina, and Athena Niarchos and her husband Jonathan. Devoted Papou of Nicholas, Marianna, Ioanna, and Kassiani. Survived by his brothers Michael and his wife Kathy, Emilios and his wife Joanne, his sister-in-law Maria, as well as many nieces and nephews. Predeceased by his brother Pavlos, and his parents Demetrios and Kyriaki. Argyrios was born and raised in Kastoria, Macedonia, Greece. As a teenager, he emigrated to Canada to pursue his dreams. He attended the University of Waterloo, where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering. He followed that with his Master of Science in Chemical Engineering and his Ph.D in Biochemical Engineering, both from the University of California at Berkeley. Upon graduation, he began his career as a Chemical and Biochemical Engineer at the University of Western Ontario, where he spent over four decades immersed in what he loved the most – teaching and researching. He had a wide range of interests and areas of focus in his research, including biopolymer nanoparticles for drug delivery, biomedical engineering, bioenvironmental engineering, biofuels (ethanol, butanol and hydrogen gas), and fermentation. As a professor, Argyrios was respected by his students as a caring mentor and a dedicated researcher. His teaching and research achievements have been recognized with many awards and distinctions through the years, most notably: Fellow, Chemical Institute of Canada, Officer Order of Honour, Professional Engineers of Ontario, Fellow, Engineers Canada, Fellow, Canadian Academy of Engineering, and Research and Development Medal, Professional Engineers Ontario. Argyrios will be most remembered by those who knew him best as a man with deep convictions, who was dedicated to his family, his faith, and as a compassionate advocate of his students’ learning and well-being. Visitors will be received at WESTVIEW FUNERAL CHAPEL, 709 Wonderland Road North, London, on Thursday, January 24, 2019 from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m., with prayers at 8:00 p.m. A funeral service will be conducted at HOLY TRINITY GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH, 131 Southdale Road West, London, on Friday, January 25, 2019 at 11:30 a.m., officiated by Rev. Father Demetre Mouselimis. Interment to follow at Woodland Cemetery. If desired, donations can be made to Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church or to the Dr. Argyrios Margaritis Memorial Scholarship, at Western University; attention Anthony Newton, Western University, Westminster Hall, Suite 110, 1151 Richmond Street, London, Ontario  N6A 3K7 (cheques payable to Western University), or by calling 519-661-4200. 

Charitable donations may be made to:

• Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church
• Dr. Argyrios Margaritis Memorial Scholarship at Western University

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