In loving memory of
Morton Fels
Morton Fels, PhD., P.Eng.
On Monday, August 10th, 2026, Dr. Mort Fels passed away due to sepsis.
Morton, who preferred to be called Mort, was born in Montreal, Quebec, on September 26, 1939, to parents Freda Solomon and Sol Sidney Fels, an Advocate and Senior Partner of the Fels-Leavitt law firm. Mort grew up with his sister Sarah and always considered Montreal to be his real ‘home’. He earned his undergraduate and master’s degrees in Chemical Engineering from McGill University, and his PhD from the University of Waterloo. After completing his PhD, he worked as a research engineer at Battelle Memorial Institute in Columbus, Ohio and later in Frankfurt, Germany, where he met his wife, Sabine. Battelle was founded in 1929 and is the world’s largest independent non-profit applied science and technology organization and Mort took great pride in having contributed to a number of innovations through his work there. Mort also held professorships in Chemical Engineering at both, Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Ontario and at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia before retiring in 2010.
During his childhood, Mort was an avid builder and mechanic, and was often found playing with his Meccano sets, which sparked his life-long love of all things mechanical and construction related, particularly old Volvos. During his youth, he spent all of his summers at Camp Hiawatha at Lac Brule near Montreal. This fostered such a love of the outdoors that he continued the tradition of wilderness exploration throughout his life. Outside of the university and the many student activities he supported, Mort was a dedicated member of the Halifax Gilbert and Sullivan Society, an avid bridge player and a grand teller of scientific facts, stories, and jokes to anyone who would listen.
Mort loved animals. Over his lifetime, he cared for many dogs and cats, which he loved dearly and talked about with everyone. During his later years, he and the family’s dog, Marlow, and his cat, Bailey, would enjoy each other’s company and had many conversations. He also loved visiting and feeding the local crows, an activity so routine, the crows cawed in anticipation at the sight of Mort approaching in his Volvo.
Mort’s memory lives on through his wife Sabine, his children Deborah, Mark, Sidney, and Rebecca, his grandchildren Nathan, Sander, Arianne and Pascal, and his sister Sarah Usher McKay, as well as all the friends and neighbours he had throughout the years and who remember him fondly.
In keeping with Mort’s wishes, a Jewish green funeral and burial took place at the Sunrise Interfaith Cemetery in Hatchet Lake on August 14, 2026. A celebration of his life will be held at his house in Halifax on December 20, 2026, for all wishing to attend.
Our family would like to extend a huge thank you to our incredible community for all of the support Mort received over the past few years. In Mort’s memory and in lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Northwood Adult Day Program in Halifax or the Nova Scotia Humane Society for Animals or SPCA.
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SERVICES & GATHERINGS
Green Burial
August 14, 2026 11:00 am
Sunrise Park Inter-Faith Cemetery
2025 Prospect Rd. Hatchet Lake, NS
View on Google Maps
Service Note
In keeping with Mort’s wishes and commitment to the environment, there will be a Shroud burial.
Clebration of Life
Hi Sabine, I read what a beautiful life Mort lived and Bailey as well.
I was so fortunate to have met both of them and enjoyed a funny video with Mort, what a sweet character he was . How lucky was I!🥰
Bailey was the best boy for his pawdicures, I was able to receive a cuddle as I did so😻.
My heart was broken to hear of their passings.
I wish you warmth and memories.
Thank you as well for being so kind to me. I’ll miss them both and as well seeing you and Marlow!
I know they will both be missed so much.
Take care, and my thoughts are with you and your family!❤️