Passing of Former EOAS Professor Arthur Soregaroli

Arthur Earl (Art) Soregaroli

1933 - 2017

Art Soregaroli was a UBC alumnus and former faculty member within UBC Science. His many accomplishments during his illustrious mining exploration career speak for themselves, but his legacy truly lies in the lives he touched along the way. He was highly intelligent, keenly observant, and always enthusiastic to share his deep knowledge of the natural world. If you showed even a remote interest in geology or minerals, he was a willing and earnest partner in conversation for as much time as you would afford him.

Art was born and raised in small-town Madrid, Iowa, where he learned to hunt and fish and appreciate the land and nature. He excelled at team and individual sports throughout his youth, always playing several inches above his height class.

He completed his undergraduate degree at Iowa State University, and his Masters in Geology at the University of Idaho. He then went on to pursue his Doctorate at the University of British Columbia in 1962, where he met and married Rosalie. They started their family as he completed his PhD in Geology while working for Noranda Mines. During this time, he also embarked on two other life-long love affairs: one with mineral collecting and the other with ice hockey, both of which kept him actively engaged until well into his retirement years.

Art returned to UBC as a professor of Economic Geology in the early 1970s before taking a position with the Geological Survey of Canada in Ottawa. The mid-70s saw his return to Vancouver as Vice President of Exploration for Westmin Resources. Art capped off his career with nine years as chief geoscientist for Teck Corporation.

Highlights of Art’s service to the mining community included driving the effort to acquire and display the world-class Pinch Collection for the Canadian Museum of Nature, and resurrecting the Britannia Mine site near Vancouver, stewarding it as president for many years towards its new life as the BC Museum of Mining. Throughout his career, he was very active with industry associations and was highly accomplished in his field. Art authored numerous scientific publications, and was regarded as one of the pre-eminent geologists in Canada. He held elected and appointed positions with, and received awards from many industry associations, including:

            • Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM, Vice President, District 6 Proficiency  Medal (1986), Julian Boldy Award (1989), Distinguished Service Medal (1991), A. O. Dufresne Award (2000))

            • Geological Association of Canada (GAC, Duncan R. Derry Medal (1987))

            • Society of Economic Geologists (SEG, President)

            • Association of Exploration Geochemists (AEG, President)

            • Canadian Mining Institute (CMI) and the Geological Survey of Canada (GSC)

            • President and an editor of the highly respected publication the Mineralogical Record

            • Editor of authoritative books on the minerals of Russia and Peru.

Art finally retired from his exploration career in the late 1990s, and his irrepressible love of mineral collecting and travel took him and Rosalie to many exotic destinations in the years that followed. With the new millennium, his discretionary time was soon directed toward a new-found passion: his grandchildren. Always a teacher, he spent many hours playing with and guiding them during their formative years.

Art lived his life with consummate integrity. He championed the underdog, stood up for justice, and reached out to those who were in need of a lift. His friendly, genuine and kind disposition endeared him to many, and his keen sense of humour, accompanied by that mischievous twinkle in his eye, enriched our lives. He will be greatly missed by us all.