Obituary of Kristian Slavoj Palda

Kristian Palda, 91, professor emeritus of Queen’s University, Kingston ON, passed away peacefully at home on July 26, 2019 surrounded by family. He is predeceased by his wife Isabel and son Filip and will be greatly missed by his daughter Valerie and grandchildren Kristian, Emily and Marie.Born in 1928 in Prague, he fled to Canada to escape the rise of communism in 1949. After completing a B.Com in 1956 at Queen’s University, he continued to complete an M.B.A. in 1958 and a Ph.D. titled The Measurement of Cumulative Advertising Effects in 1963 at the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business, for which he was awarded the coveted Ford Foundation prize in the same year. This work came to be one of the most cited in the fields of marketing and the economics of advertising. Professor Palda continued his research throughout his career, teaching both at Queen’s and abroad. He was awarded the Queen’s Prize for Excellence in Research in 1987. He retired from Queen’s in 1995 and remained active in the research community for many years thereafter.Professor Palda spoke four languages fluently and was everyone’s reference library before Google existed. Throughout his life and even into his final year, Professor Palda actively shared his incredible intelligence, learning and genteel manner with those who surrounded him. He will be missed.A Graveside Service will be held on Tuesday, July 30, 2019 at 2:30 pm at the Cataraqui Cemetery. Memorial donations to Hotel Dieu Hospital in Kristian’s memory would be appreciated by the family. Arrangements entrusted to CATARAQUI CEMETERY AND FUNERAL SERVICES.