We are saddened to share that Dr. Irwin Guttman, Professor Emeritus in the Department of Statistical Sciences, passed away peacefully on February 26, 2026, at the age of 95.
Dr. Guttman was a professor at the University of Toronto for more than 20 years and became Professor Emeritus with the Department of Statistical Sciences on July 1, 1993.
An internationally recognized scholar in statistics, he published more than 120 academic papers and five textbooks, with influential contributions to Bayesian statistics. In 1995, he received the Gold Medal from the Statistical Society of Canada, one of the discipline’s highest honours. Colleagues and students remember him for his intellectual rigour, clarity of thought, integrity, and generosity as a teacher and mentor.
Outside of academia, Dr. Guttman was guided by a deep commitment to fairness and justice, and he supported a range of social causes throughout his lifetime. He also found joy in music as an amateur flute player and devoted lover of classical repertoire.
We extend our sincere condolences to Dr. Guttman’s family, friends, and all those who knew him.
Dr. Guttman's family is very interested in any stories you can share about Dr. Guttman - please send them to his son Dan Guttman at d_guttman@hotmail.com
More information is available on Dr. Guttman’s obituary.