David Thornton McNab

David died suddenly and unexpectedly on May 30, 2026 in Toronto. David was a devoted and loving husband to his wife Ute Lischke for 56 years with whom he shared many diverse interest from their common academic passion for history, Indigenous issues and many travels throughout the world.

He was a devoted father to his sons Jeffrey (Lisa) and Paul-Emile in whom he instilled the values of kindness, humour and curiosity—and a great love of sports. He was a loving grandfather to Max. He will be dearly missed by his brothers Alan (Renate) Cameron (Linda) and his sisters Heather and Laurie (Shilling); His brothers in law Kurt and Paul, his nieces, nephews and many more relatives as well as all the many loving friends that he met during his 78-year journey. David was predeceased by his parents John and Kathryn McNab.

David was born “free” on October 28, 1947, in Kitchener, Ontario the first of five siblings. As the taxicab driver lost the race with the stork, David was born in the taxicab outside K-W Hospital. The driver was so confused with the events that he drove away and forgot to collect his fare. This is one of many stories David loved to recount when asked where he was born. As the years went on, the story became ever more dramatic in its retelling. It always gave us a chuckle. That was the kind of person that David was, energetic, engaging, full of humour and many, many stories—and a humble, kind, and patient man. 

A wonderful husband and father, he shared his passion for sports with his family. With his family and his sons many friends dragged along, he attended Toronto Blue Jays games at Exhibition Stadium and later the SkyDome (watching the Blue Jays win the World Series in 1992) to Toronto Maple Leafs Baseball games, a summer tradition at Christie Pitts. His love for Canadian Football and a loyal season ticket holder with the Toronto Argonauts, taking his son to training camp at the University of Guelph. Winter was hockey season, taking his two sons to hockey practice and scoring their MTHL games, including nights at Maple Leaf Gardens watching and hoping for the next Toronto Maple Leafs Stanley Cup that never came. David loved all of it.

David raised his family in Toronto, after spending many years in various locations while earning his academic degrees. He lived in Hamilton while studying for his MA at McMaster University and then moved on to Cambridge, UK, while working towards his PhD at Lancaster University. His first academic position took him to Memorial University, Grenfell College in Corner Brook, Nfd where he spent two years before settling down in Toronto.

 In his professional career, David was devoted to his engagement with Indigenous issues and work with the Native Affairs Directorate with the Ministry of Natural Resources in Ontario. Later, his passion and collaboration with various First Nations (including the Walpole Island First Nation) on Land Claims, teaching at various universities across Canada, including his many years at York University.

David was a devoted scholar and was the author of several books and many articles that covered the range of historic and complex Indigenous issues in Canada. Elected a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada in 2017, David continued to engage in his scholarly research until the end.

David will be missed by many. A celebration of life will be held later this summer. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the Canadian Council for Indigenous Business, Aboriginal Legal Services or the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto. 
Or, celebrate David’s life by planting a native tree in his memory.