Dr. Paul Bernard Pencharz
elevated HEzXA Visitation
Sunday, June 14, 2026 from 2 – 4 & 6 – 8 pm
Holy Cross Catholic Funeral Home
211 Langstaff Road East, Thornhill, Ontario, L3T 3Z6
elevated HEzXA Funeral Mass
Monday, June 15, 2026 at 10:30 am
Chapel of St. Joseph at Holy Cross Catholic Funeral Home
211 Langstaff Road East, Thornhill, Ontario, L3T 3Z6
elevated HEzXA Click here to watch the mass
Reception
To take place following the Mass at Holy Cross Catholic Funeral Home
elevated HEzXA Obituary
(December 1, 1943, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa – June 7, 2026, Toronto, Ontario)
elevated HEzXA Passing peacefully at the age of 82 in the presence of family at the Palliative Care Unit, Sunnybrook Hospital after a resolute struggle with Parkinson’s, cancer, and heart complications.
elevated HEzXA Devoted husband of 55 years to his beloved Eleanor (nee. Burnett). Loving father to Sarah, Jonathan, and James. Favourite father-in-law to Farah and Donna. Cherished grandfather to Leila, Oliver, and Samuel. And dear brother to William. A man loved, respected, and admired by a wide circle of colleagues, relatives, and friends.
elevated HEzXA Born in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa to Nathan and Mary Pencharz, Paul was raised in the United Kingdom by his widowed mother after the passing of his father when he was only 8 years old. He completed medical school at the University of Liverpool before immigrating to Canada in 1969 and settling in Kingston, ON where Paul would meet the bright and beautiful young nurse, Eleanor, whom he would marry in February, 1971. Completing a PhD at M.I.T. in Boston while welcoming daughter Sarah and then returning to Canada, now in Montreal, in 1974 where Jonathan and James would follow. A move to Toronto was sparked in 1978 by the opportunity to establish the Division of Clinical Nutrition at the Hospital for Sick Children eventually merging into the Division of Gastroenterology and Clinical Nutrition.
elevated HEzXA Over a distinguished career spanning more than three decades, dedicated to both clinical care and tireless research, Paul rose to Professor Emeritus of Paediatrics and Nutritional Sciences at the University of Toronto and a Senior Scientist at The Hospital for Sick Children and was the co-recipient of the Osborne-Mendel award with his long-standing collaborator, Dr. Ron Ball. The author or co-author of 344 peer reviewed publications and 101 book chapters and reviews he was instrumental in broadening the field of Paediatric Nutrition as well as helping to train 74 Research Trainees, many of whom he was proud to see spread throughout the globe to Australia, Israel, Europe, and other parts of North America. Even well into his retirement years Paul strove to continue to push the boundaries of his area of research.
elevated HEzXA Despite being hopeless on skates, Paul’s immigrant experience in Canada included developing a devotion to the religion of hockey, especially the Montreal Canadians who were winning Cups in the 1970’s and who he never totally abandoned even after almost 50 years of living in Toronto (but then who could blame him?). When his sons took up the game Paul and Eleanor spent many chilly nights in arenas and eventually Paul governed the North York Knights of Columbus Hockey Association.
elevated HEzXA A lover of water, especially the lakes of Ontario’s cottage country, Augusts were often spent at a rented cabin pursuing swimming, canoeing, and sailing while making sure his children all became water-babies in their own right. An avid (some might say obsessive) golfer who enjoyed many days on the course with Eleanor, he will be missed on the links at Meadowbrook Golf and Country Club where he was a member for over 35 years. His lifelong affection for the game of Bridge helped to keep his mind active, even while his health failed, by playing with friends either in person or online.
elevated HEzXA A regular member of the congregation, first at St. Timothy’s and later Blessed Trinity, his unwavering faith gave him strength on even the toughest days and brought peace and serenity in the face of terrible adversity.
elevated HEzXA A warm, thoughtful, and ever caring soul who saw the good in all and spent a lifetime dedicated to healing children. He will be sorely missed by the blessed group of family and friends who have been forever shaped and inspired by his life’s example and by his endless and perfect loving kindness.
elevated HEzXA In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Hospital for Sick Children
Our sincere condolences to you and family Eleanor. John and I will miss our regular Sunday golf, with Paul and you, followed by dinner. May he rest in peace. Sending hugs and much love your way…
Dr P was my PhD supervisor from 1994-98 and he had a hugely positive influence on me. He demanded the best but teased it out of you in a very constructive way and was always kind. A sad loss but his legacy to the world as a clinician, scientist and human will live on x
Dr. P, as we graduate students affectionately called him, was my PhD advisor at the University of Toronto. He was a wonderful mentor and I credit any professional success I may have had in large part to his guidance and nurturing. Dr. P demanded a lot and expected nothing but our very best efforts, but was always fair, had faith in us, and was our loudest cheerleader when we got it right. The worlds of medicine and nutritional sciences shone brighter for his contributions. Thank you, Dr. P. I will never forget you and I’m grateful that you took me under your (impressive, rigorous, caring) wing.
Dear Eleanor and family,
I first met Paul during his PhD at MIT and then was inspired by his research,exemplary mentorship, unwavering standards and personal wisdom after he joined HSC. A privilege to have been a long-time colleague. His academic contributions are outstanding and will have a continuing impact.
Paul was without question the greatest and most impactful mentor I have had in my career. He was extremely selfless in his approach to mentorship, helping me to finish my PhD started in another institution and providing guidance during a difficult time in my career development and long after. His unique teaching style shaped me to become an independent researcher and I to try emulate his mentorship style with my own trainees. Beyond his individual impact in my life, I know Dr Pencharz has had immeasurable impact on the field of pediatric nutrition, few clinician scientists of his stature have graced our field. He was a true gentleman, scholar, and will always be a giant in nutrition science. My condolences to Eleanor and to all his family, he was beloved and will be terribly missed.
I will always treasure and remember the generosity of Dr P’s mentorship of my clinical skills. As a new dietitian at SickKids he embraced my passion for clinical care and was always willing to share his vast knowledge in nutrition support. He was always willing to answer my endless questions and challenged me to think outside the box. Those early Monday morning meetings at 7:30 am always inspired and yes challenged me, but I always walked away better for it. Thank you for also supporting me in my PhD, while I still maintained a clinical role as a dietitian. My condolences to Mrs Pencharz and family. Dr P will be missed by everyone who knew him.
Dear Eleanor & family
Dear Eleanor & family
Paul, we will always remember your incredible support and friendship after Jackie’s birth.
We especially appreciated you coordinating the appointments with the children’s Hospital Staff.
Having you in our corner made a world of difference during a very stressful time, and we were so grateful for you.
Hugs and lots of love
Diane & John
To Eleanor and family,
Our deepest sympathy on the passing of your dear husband and father. We
only met once for dinner at
Our home in Sydney .
We felt an instant bond.
Long life to all.
I learned so much from Dr.P about the critical role nutrition has in the development of a child but also compassion and caring. In the best ways possible, he would challenge me in my critical thinking and learning. A true leader.
Dear Eleanor and family,
Our heartfelt condolences to you all.
As a fellow South African and new to Canada, I met Paul through friends and we discovered we were cousins.
Paul and Eleanor created a family tree which spans many countries.
He was such a gentleman. Kind and giving and we enjoyed our times with him and Eleanor.
Dr. Pencharz was my PhD supervisor from 2000 to 2003 at the University of Toronto. He was a true gentleman, a distinguished scholar, and the most influential mentor I have had throughout my career.
He demanded a great deal from us and expected nothing less than our very best efforts, yet he was always fair, believed in us, and became our strongest supporter when we succeeded. I cherished every individual meeting I had with him during my PhD journey.
More importantly, he taught me that the true value of a PhD lies in embracing intellectual challenges and becoming an independent thinker. That lesson shaped me not only as a researcher but also as a person.
Much of what I have achieved professionally has been built upon the foundation of his guidance, encouragement, and trust.
Thank you, Dr. Pencharz, for your mentorship and for believing in me. Your influence will continue to live on through your students and all those whose lives you touched. I will never forget you and will always be grateful to have had the privilege of learning under your guidance.
May you rest in peace.
I was Dr Pencharz’ Ph.D student from 1999-2003.
I am deeply grateful for his guidance, wisdom and unwavering support throughout my academic and personal journey. He was more than a teacher- he was an inspiration, role model and source of encouragement, who believed in his students and helped us discover our potential. I am truly blessed to have learned under his mentorship and to have experienced his kindness and dedication.
Thank you Dr Pencharz, for your patience, your guidance and the impact you made in my life. May your soul rest in peace.
My deepest condolences to Mrs Pencharz and all family, and all who were fortunate enough to know him and learn from him.
He will always be remembered with immense respect and gratitude.
Dear Eleanor and Family;
Although I only met Paul at our infrequent family gatherings , I was always impressed by his humility. He was always friendly, funny and engaging with all of us.
Please accept my sincere condolences to you and your family.
Don Stewart
Dear James, Farah, and the Pencharz family,
Saroj and I were deeply saddened to hear of the passing of your father. Our hearts ache for all of you, and we want to extend our deepest sympathies to all whose lives he touched. We know that there are no words that can truly ease the pain of losing a father, please know that we are thinking of you and you are in our prayers. Grief is a personal journey to be taken one day at a time. May his soul rest in peace.
Dr. Pencharz was an exceptional mentor and a distinguished scholar. I feel truly fortunate to have had him as my Ph.D. supervisor. His mentorship, wisdom, and kindness had a profound impact on my life, and I will always be grateful.
My heartfelt condolences to Mrs. Pencharz and family. Dr. P will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him.
I had the privilege of being Dr. Pencharz’s Ph.D. student from 1993-97. I am deeply grateful for his mentorship, encouragement, and the confidence he instilled in his students. I feel fortunate to have benefited from his guidance and example. My heartfelt condolences to Mrs. Pencharz, his family, and all who were fortunate enough to know him. May his memory be a blessing.
I was Dr. Pencharz’s MSc student from 1993 to 1995. Dr. Pencharz taught me to how to approach the scientific process with rigor. He taught me a framework that I have used to guide my work to this day. I was always nervous for my weekly early morning meetings with Dr. Pencharz, but I was also always prepared, and he instilled that in me. I will always be grateful for his strong mentorship. I also have fond memories of the Christmas parties at his home with Mrs. Pencharz, and even the visit to his golf club. My thoughts are with Mrs. Pencharz and family.
When I arrived at SickKids as a clinical fellow in 1999, I met “Dr P” the teacher and his “Let’s take it back to first principles…” approach to addressing challenging clinical questions, through which he imparted so much knowledge about child nutrition and physiology. Later as a faculty colleague I always valued his wisdom, willingly shared to benefit the Division and our trainees. And everywhere I went I became aware of the army of previous medical trainees, dietitians, scientists and others that Dr P guided during his long career, who form an extraordinary testament to his impact on paediatric nutrition. Julie and I are so sad to hear of Paul’s passing, and we send our deep condolences to Eleanor and the extended family. We hope that the warm memories of good times spent with Paul in the past will comfort you at this difficult time.
Dear Eleanor and family,
Dr. P was a mentor, friend, an inspiring and most kind individual. He was one of the most influential people in my career, and am grateful to have had the opportunity to let him know this a few years ago. I would not be the clinician or person I am today had I not had those 7:30 meetings with Dr P as he prepared me for my Masters training, or the challenging questions at each and every meeting, asking, ‘but what is the mechanism?’,or the kind and sincere advice given when he spotted the engagement ring on my finger.. so many very fond and meaningful memories that I will never forget. A true gentleman. May fond memories, meaningful words from so many whose lives Dr P made better support your family during this time.
Sincerely, Daina
Our beloved Dr. P shaped so many of our lives. I started working for him as a technician after getting my BSc. In my interview apparently I stood out because I could identify the smell of acetone in the lab. In reality, I thought the lab smelled like nail polish remover, which I knew contained acetone. I was green – he gave me a chance.
Dr. P entrusted me with my dream project studying nutrition support in the NICU for my masters, and with developing a piglet model of nutrition support for my PhD. He and Ron Ball co-supervised many students who benefitted from their respectful and complementary support as mentors. This groundbreaking collaboration between a paediatrician and an animal scientist was recognized by the American Society of Nutrition with the Osborne Mendel award. They made impactful new discoveries while educating a new generation of leaders in nutrition.
Over the 11 years I trained with Dr. P, he showed such dedication and fairness in inspiring his lab members. He created an atmosphere where students worked together, supported each other and socialized together (chicken wings, Who Flung lunches, moose hunting weekends…). Many of us became lifelong friends.
Later on in my career, it was a pleasure to collaborate with Paul, and to host him as a recipient of the Earle W Crampton award at McGill University. The award was given in honour of his scientific accomplishments in improving our knowledge of protein and amino acid metabolism and paediatric clinical nutrition, and his career-long service to the field of nutrition.
My deepest condolences to his inspiration Eleanor and family.
When I arrived at SickKids for my postdoctoral fellowship, Paul was, to me, the internationally renowned researcher and highly respected Head of the Division of Clinical Nutrition. It did not take long, however, for that perception to evolve. He soon became a stimulating and intellectually curious conversation partner, an invaluable mentor and advisor, and ultimately a lifelong friend.
This transformation in my perception reflected Paul’s remarkable warmth, his genuine interest in people and their ideas, and his brilliant mind. He will be remembered not only for his outstanding professional achievements, but also for the kindness, wisdom, and humanity that touched so many lives.
Eleanor, we were sorry to learn of Paul’s passing. We fondly remember the years of playing golf with you guys at Meadowbrook. And despite his nutrition background, the Weathers candies to help sustain us over 18 holes. Paul and Chris
It was my honour to ‘serve’ with Paul 20 years ago as my attending staff during my fellowship at Sickkids. He was a clinician who cared, a scientist that questioned, and always the teacher. He gave legendary tutorials that left indellible imprints on the minds of so many. His velevty and calm ‘radio voice’ disarmed the most stressed of patients and parents. As chief fellow, I had the pleasure of paying tribute to Paul at his Festschrift on behalf of all Sickkids fellows, which was a great celebration. Notwithstanding all his academic achievements, Paul always name-dropped his family, recalling stories and anecdotes with pride and humour. May he have a bed in Heaven after a life well lived, and a community well served.