It is with a sad heart that we share news that Dr. Richard Virr died December 23, 2025. Richard Virr was the archivist for the Diocese of Montreal since 1989 and the archivist for the Ecclesiastical Province of Canada since 1995. He was also the former editor of the Journal of the Canadian Church Historical Society and was still an active member of the CCHS Committee. He served the church all those years as a volunteer.
From the Montreal Gazette:
Dr. Richard E. Virr, 83, of Montreal, Quebec, passed away December 23, 2025. Richard was born on August 16, 1942 in Topeka, Kansas. Before retiring, Richard was The Head and Curator of Manuscripts for Rare Books and Special Collections at the McGill University Libraries in Montreal. Richard earned a BA in History from Tulane University, an MA from Queen’s University and a Doctor of Philosophy from McGill University. He was published numerous times in academic journals and elsewhere about Rare Books and Bibliography, including several entries in various volumes of the Dictionary of Canadian Biography, as well as he served as editor for the Journal of the Canadian Church Historical Society and on the editorial board for the Bibliographical Society of Canada. Richard was a respected lecturer and teacher at McGill in the School of Information Studies and co-supervised several Doctoral students. His descriptive Bibliography students fondly recall how interesting the course was and how beneficial it was in their subsequent careers. Richard’s life was spent in zealous and joyful academic pursuit. His rich career wove a tapestry of knowledge and detail for his enthusiasm and love for the printed word. His was a life of deep commitment to his work and the advancement and preservation of bibliographical knowledge. His expertise was widely respected throughout the profession, and he was considered a valued colleague and mentor to many. He will be greatly missed by his family and those who worked with him. Richard is survived by a brother, Tom Virr, niece’s Linda Virr-Niemackl, Cathy Sloop and Laura Schmidt. He was preceded in death by his brother, John Virr. Memorial service will be held in Spring 2026.