Mark Alexander Tovey, of London, Ontario, passed away peacefully at St. Joseph’s Hospice on January 6, 2026, in his 56th year. Born on August 20, 1970, Mark is survived by his mother, Edith Tovey, and was predeceased by his father, John Edward Tovey (2008). A devoted and caring son, Mark cherished his parents deeply.

Mark’s interests and talents were as wide-ranging as they were passionate. He was a runner, actor, poet, audiophile, lifelong Mac user, historian, astronomer, and policy analyst with a focus on green energy solutions. His contributions to astronomy were recognized by the International Astronomical Union with the naming of Asteroid (178088) Marktovey in his honour.

A lifelong learner, Mark began his academic journey at Western University, earning an Honours B.A. (1992–1995) and receiving the Gold Medal in English & Anthropology Linguistics. He went on to complete an Honours B.Sc. in Computer Science with Psychology (1995–1997). In 2002 he entered the doctoral program at Carleton University and earned his PhD in Cognitive Science in 2011, focusing his dissertation on change blindness. Mark also edited the first book exploring how collective intelligence can help address global challenges.

Mark served as Curator of the Cronyn Observatory and as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Western University, where he cultivated a deep interest in the material culture of astronomical instruments, models, and art. During his curatorship he designed three period rooms as permanent exhibits and facilitated numerous exhibitions and talks. Among the highlights of his work:

• In 2015, he organized an evening of historical stargazing on the Eldon House lawn, where more than fifty visitors viewed Jupiter’s moons through replicas of historical telescopes.
• In 2023, he co-edited A Cosmic Treasury – Seeing the Skies Through Poets’ Eyes (B. Welling & M. Tovey, Cronyn Observatory).

Mark also held a long-standing fascination with the history of London, Ontario. He conducted an extensive oral history of the neighbourhoods around Oxford and Richmond and developed Hear, Here London (https://www.hearherelondon.org/) to share these stories with the public.

A confident speaker and enthusiastic public educator, Mark was deeply committed to outreach. He shared his love of astronomy at the Cronyn Observatory and through the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada London Centre. His interest in theatre led him to research and produce two historical plays that recreated early theatrical life in London, Ontario. He lectured widely—including at Eldon House and in graduate public history courses at Western—and performed at Fanshawe Pioneer Village as John Harris, the builder of Eldon House. He also served on the Board of Directors of Eldon House.

Mark’s professional path reflected the breadth of his passions. He worked as a Senior Mac Specialist in IT Services at Western University (1998–2002) and remained a dedicated Mac user throughout his life. He later held roles as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Balsillie School of International Affairs (2016–2018) and Adjunct Assistant Professor of History at Western University, where he created interactive street signs, video documentaries, and large-format interpretive panels highlighting London’s history.

He briefly served as a Science Writer for the Centre for Planetary Science and Exploration (2018–2019) in partnership with the Canadian Space Agency, translating complex scientific information for public audiences. From 2019 to 2023 he worked as a Cultural Heritage Interpreter for the City of London. Most recently, Mark contributed his expertise to Public Services and Procurement Canada (2023– ) as part of the Green and Clean Technology Procurement Technical team.

Mark’s intellect, creativity, and generosity of spirit touched every aspect of his life. He will be profoundly missed by all who knew him.

A visitation in Mark’s honour will be held at Harris Funeral Home, 220 St. James St. at Richmond, on Saturday, January 17 from 3-5 pm with remembrances at 4:30 pm. To view the remembrances by Zoom that day, please log on to this link by 4:15 pm: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88659924107?pwd=v3X4RGXv015aVahlFn82MpRbmizN2a.1

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Hume Cronyn Memorial Observatory at Western.

To view a recording of the remembrances that were share by friends at his memorial, please click the following link:  Mark Tovey Remembrances