Quill & Quire Editor Derek Weiler Dies

Terrible, terrible news: Derek Weiler, the editor of Canadian book trade magazine Quill & Quire, passed away yesterday at his home in Toronto. He was just 40 years old. More from the upcoming obituary at the Waterloo Region Record, reprinted by Q&Q: "Derek is survived by his cherished wife and best friend, Sari Morrison; his loving parents, Gerald and Marie Weiler; his sister and brother-in-law Marcy and Kraig Hespeler, and their children, Brynn and Eli. He is also fondly remembered  by his grandfather, Wilfred Weiler; his father and mother-in-law Bob and Sandy Morrison; brother and sister-in-law, Jamie and Jenn Morrison and their children, Robbie and Evelyn. Derek will also be sadly missed by his aunts, uncles, cousins and especially Grandma Mater, his wife’s grandmother. Derek will also be fondly missed by his many friends and colleagues. His maternal grandparents, Marc and Anne Lafleur, and his maternal grandmother, Colette Weiler, predeceased him." Weiler's family is currently making arrangements and is requesting privacy. There will be more obituaries to come.

I cannot say how sad I am about this news. I contribute reviews regularly to Q&Q and while Derek was not my direct editor, he did work with me on a couple of features and we met up once a few years ago when I visited the Q&Q offices in downtown Toronto. He was more shy than I expected, but clearly a book lover who stuck to his guns even as he welcomed debate and discussion. In short, a class act, taken far too soon. R.I.P. and my deepest condolences to his family and friends.

More from the National Post, Bookninja, the Globe and Mail, CBC.ca., Steven W. Beattie (Q&Q Reviews Editor), Ed Champion, Carmine Starnino, and Masthead Online, and there's a tribute page up at Facebook.

UPDATE: A funeral service for Weiler will be held at the Walser Funeral Home in Kitchener on Saturday, April 18 at 11 AM.

Comments

[Mike]

This is a terrible shock. Sad to hear.

[jenny milchman]

I was shocked and saddened to read about this. Book lovers and writers everywhere seem to be reeling. May his family find closure and peace in how loved he was and in the wonderful work he did.