New bursary honours late (and beloved) Laurentian University lab instructor (2024)

A new bursary is being offered to students at Laurentian University in honour of the life and legacy of Bernie Shami, a beloved and long-time lab instructor.

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One year after his passing on June 9, 2023, Shami’s family announced a bursary in their brother’s name.

Shami’s sisters, Jeanne Shami and Laurie Stewart, and his brother, Bob Shami, says they are proud to arrange this gift for future Laurentian students, something they say their brother would have respected.

“Bernie would never in a million years have promoted himself in this way. He was funny, hard-working and kind, but most of all, he was a humble person,” Jeanne said in a release. “That said, he was always willing to help students — he felt any student could be successful if they put in the work. We feel this bursary will help students, just like Bernie did.”

Shami completed his degree in organic chemistry at Laurentian University in 1976 and took a position as a lab instructor upon graduation. A fixture in the lab for more than 35 years, he helped generations of chemistry students, some of whom were too afraid to ask for help. He worked with thousands of students over his career, until he retired in 2012.

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Many of Shami’s students became his lifelong friends.

“He could have gone on to do a PhD or work in the private sector but Bernie loved contact with students,” Jeanne said. “Even at the time of his passing, this was clear. He had saved every card he had received from students throughout his career and in the hospital, doctors and nurses on his health care team had been former students of his.”

One former student who remained close friends with Shami over the years is Denise Garrido, whom Bernie taught in 2005.

“He was a good listener and very open-minded. He was always appreciated for his patience, his ability to explain difficult concepts and above all, his humour and humanity,” she said. “It wasn’t hard to love Bernie. I am proud to have been his friend and I look forward to contributing to this fund to help future students in his honour.”

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With the one-year anniversary of his passing approaching, Shami’s family was thinking about a way to honour him.

“My siblings and I were thinking about this over the past few months and then I heard my former colleague, Dr. Lynn Wells, is now the president and vice-chancellor of Laurentian University,” Jeanne commented. “The timing seemed fortuitous, and we took it as a sign to move forward with setting up this gift.”

The Shami family wants the bursary to be awarded to a student who demonstrates the same humility, humour and humanity their brother showed, rather than simply being an acknowledgement of high academic achievements.

The family welcomes those who knew Shami to contribute to the fund so that it may be endowed and continue to support students for many years into the future.

“I know Bernie would have respected a bursary like this and would have contributed in honour of someone he cared about,” Jeanne said, “And I know there are many who would love to do the same for him. Bernie made an impression and his legacy will continue to improve the lives of students.”

The application period for the bursary will open in the fall. Those wishing to contribute to the Bernie Shami Memorial Bursary can do so at laurentian.ca/give/make-an-impact.

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X: @SudburyStar

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