Angus Ian Robertson McLeod

Ian McLeod passed away on Sunday, September 27, 2026 at University Hospital in London, Ontario, surrounded by his family, at the age of 78, after a sudden illness. Beloved husband of Maree (Libal) McLeod for 38 years. Loving father of Jonathan McLeod and Matthew McLeod (Mikyla) and proud grandfather of Keanna and Riley. Loving brother of Patty (McLeod) Tulloch (Brian) and uncle to Adam and Tyler. Predeceased by his parents, Angus Morrison McLeod and Lucy Mae (Robertson) McLeod, and his sister, Janice McLeod.

Ian was a professor at Western University from 1978 until his retirement in 2019. He was one of the founding members and a former Department Chair of the Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science. He was a brilliant scholar with a deep passion for the field. Ian made many enduring contributions to Time Series Analysis and Statistical Computing, including the development of the McLeod-Li test. He authored numerous papers and took great joy in mentoring generations of graduate students. Ian had a keen interest in interventional analysis, environmental statistics and especially in water resources issues. He loved the university and his department and always said he felt so fortunate to have a career doing what he loved.

Ian was always kind, welcoming and generous. He wanted the very best for everyone he came across in life and always saw the good in people. Ian loved his family very dearly and his greatest joy was spending time with his wife, his two sons and his grandchildren. Whether scuba diving, windsurfing, playing spirited games of table tennis with his sons or taking the family to amateur astronomy events, he was always so full of life and curious about the world.

He shared his passion for reading with his children who have very fond memories of their father reading many books out loud to them on long winter nights and on warm summer afternoons in the backyard treehouse, including the entire Lord of the Rings to each of his sons.

Ian passed on his love of the outdoors by taking his family on many adventures camping, canoeing, biking, hiking, and cross-country skiing. He enjoyed travelling all over the world including working as a visiting scholar in Australia, Brazil, and Japan.

Visitation will take place at Westview Funeral Home and Cremation Centre, 709 Wonderland Road North, London, Ontario on Thursday, October 8, 2026 from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. The funeral service will also be held at Westview Funeral Home on Friday, October 9, 2026 at 10:30 a.m.  Interment to follow at Woodland Cemetery.

For those unable to attend, the service will be livestreamed.  To register for the livestream, click on Remembering Ian

Those wishing to make a donation in memory of Ian are asked to consider giving to the United Way Elgin Middlesex or to a charity of their choice.