I am so sorry to hear this news about Scott. As a past parent, I have known him for more than 20 years. He played such an important role in our families time at UCC, initially as a teacher, and later through his support in launching many wellbeing initiatives at UCC. Such a kind sole who will be missed dearly.

“I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;(John11:25 NIV)

Scott was a wonderful colleague, neighbor, and friend. He was upbeat, insightful, down to earth, and positive. A colleague of mine might say that he “embodied the IB learner profile”! He’s been a great pen pal these last few years, and I will always think of him as a rock solid, man of faith, who loved his family with all his strength…

Scott was one of the kindest people I had the pleasure of working with at the school. He never failed to make us laugh and could do so with such a unique, wonderful wit. Thinking of his family and everyone who loved him. He will be deeply missed.

We had the privilige of being neighbours on campus with Scott and Leslie, Tess and Rachel. A kind and gentle soul. He will be missed. Deepest condolences to Leslie, Tess and Rachel.

I volunteered on the Wellbeing Committee with Scott at UCC and he found him to be the kindest, most positive, fun, and caring person while being strategic and showing great leadership in his role. I will miss him so much.

Working with Scott was always a pleasure — he was such a warm person with a wonderful smile. Scott cared deeply about his students, his colleagues, and his work in influencing young lives. What a wonderful man. My sincere condolences to Scott's family.

I worked closely with Scott during my last 13 years at UCC and fondly remember his compassion and warmth. His openness regarding his health journey was courageous and reflective of his collaborative spirit. My warmest condolences to Leslie,Tess, Rachel and family.

Scott has had a long and valiant struggle with his cancers but his endearing spirit and amazing strength of character always shone through. His regular reports of his challenges have been remarkable, inspiring and very memorable. From the day that I hired him at UCC he demonstrated what a wonderful addition to the community he was by contributing in so many impressive ways. Students, colleagues and parents were positively affected by his warm, compassionate and understanding character and fortunate to have had him as part of their lives. I have many great memories of his time with us at UCC. I send my deepest condolences to Leslie, Tess and Rachel.

I never had Mr. (Scott) Cowie as a teacher or coach, but I felt like I got to know him just through our interactions in the halls. He always said a lovely hello, and you could tell from his kind and attentive demeanour that he really cared about the students. I didn't know that he initiated the "I Believe" speeches in assemblies, but hearing them from the pews and eventually delivering one myself made for some of my most meaningful UCC memories. I'm grateful that I am one of the many boys who got to benefit from his leadership at the school, and wish his family all the best at this difficult time.

It is with deep sadness that I reflect on the passing of Scott, a remarkable leader and colleague. He represented true character for the boys in his care — steady, compassionate, and unwavering in his integrity. Leading by example, he modeled the values he hoped to instill in others and set a tone of consistency and kindness. What set Scott apart was his open door and open heart. Always willing to listen, guide, or encourage, he did so with genuine sincerity. Even after I left the school, we stayed connected — a reflection of his enduring care for people and his passion for education. His offer to tutor DP English students in recent years spoke to his lifelong commitment to helping others learn and grow. Scott will be remembered as a man of true character whose influence continues to inspire. May he rest in peace.

As a parent, it was so comforting to meet with Scott. He was kind, supportive and enjoyed a good laugh. He was a gentle giant. He spoke about his daughters and how much he enjoyed watching them grow up and shine. He was so very proud of them. When our son graduated, I was sad that we did not get to see Scott as often. Scott made an impression on young men and parents alike. He was a generous spirit that will be missed.

I remember when Scott first arrived at the Upper School as a member of the English Department. Within a few weeks of his arrival he was rehearsing vocals with our Jazz Ensemble which was a great way to introduce himself to the musicians at UCC. I always appreciated his support of the music program and the other Arts at UCC. My thoughts go out to Leslie, Tess and Rachel at this difficult time. RIP Scott.

I knew Scott for 26 years. First as a colleague at UCC and then through my role as Executive Director at CIS Ontario. We started together as teachers at UCC in 1999 and interacted professionally over the years until his retirement. Scott was always warm, inviting and caring both as an educator and peer. He always had a smile and time for people. Scott was ready to listen and took the time for conversation, even when he was in a busy administrative role. In recent years, before his retirement, Scott made contributions to the extended member school community by serving on the association's Student Programs Board Committee. He was also well-respected coach in the CISAA for 25 years. I admired Scott greatly and followed his health journey with hope and encouragement over the past few years. I note Scott gave back to Princess Margaret through his engagement with the Home/Cottage Lottery by appearing in testimonial videos to share his experience - a further testament to his giving nature. On behalf of myself and the entire CIS Ontario community, I extend my sincerest condolences to Leslie, Tess and Rachel, Scott's mother Eileen and all of his extended family. He will be greatly missed. A donation in Scott's memory will be made to Princess Margaret Foundation on behalf of all of his friends and colleages in the CIS Ontario community.

A wonderful father, teacher, coach and singer. As his neighbour on campus, Scott generously hosted Friday happy hours and let me borrow his family car. What a guy. Scowie RIP :-(

I met Scott occasionally during parent-teacher meetings at the school. He was always warm, welcoming, and kind. As a parent, I felt a deep sense of comfort knowing that someone like him was there—his presence reassured me that all students, including my two boys, were in good hands. He will be deeply missed.

I had the privilege of working with Scott for nine years. I remember his big smile, his optimism, and his compassion for the boys. Scott walked in sunshine and shared that light with all of us. He will be missed by the boys he taught and counselled and his colleagues. Unfortunately, I will be out of town for the UCC memorial, but to his family, I want you to know I am holding you close to my heart as you remember this wonderful man! -Robbie Longpre

I had the pleasure of partnering with Scott and colleagues from peer independent schools in 2018 to co-present on Canadian approaches to integrating wellbeing into school life. Throughout the year, in our work and during our travels at the conference in Australia, Scott's genuine care for others, his focus on students and their potential to flourish and live lives of purpose, and his kindness and sense of humour always shone through. My deepest condolences to his family, friends and colleagues.

I was deeply saddened to hear of Mr. Scott Cowie’s passing. His impact at UCC reached far beyond the classroom—through his dedication to education, mentorship, and his unwavering support for students, especially those from underrepresented communities. His efforts helped shape a more inclusive and compassionate school culture. On a personal note, I’m grateful for the time he spent speaking with my son. Those moments meant a great deal to our family and reflected the generous spirit he brought to his work. My heartfelt condolences to his wife Leslie, daughters Tess and Rachel, his mother, siblings, and extended family. May his legacy continue to inspire and his memory be a comfort to all who loved him. With sympathy, Levina (Parent - 2019)

I had the privilege of having Mr. Cowie as my Theory of Knowledge teacher throughout 2019 and 2020. His constant positivity and incredible approach to learning was a rare bright spot during the pandemic. He made it an absolute pleasure to come to class, whether it be in person or virtually, each and every day. Mr. Cowie will be greatly missed.

I am heartbroken that Scott is no longer with us. He was not only my respected colleague but dear friend. We worked closely together for years and he was always a professional, compassionate leader. We spent much time talking about our families and what we were looking forward to on the weekends ahead. I will never forget the times walking into his office, finding him sobbing watching a sappy commercial or being upset wondering if he offended someone or if he did the right thing. He was one of a kind. Despite all the work challenges we accompolished, I think he was most impressed with me when he learned I knew much about professional wrestling! I will forever be grateful to Scott for being so kind and giving me a chance from the moment we met. I will always remember how he was there for me in my own times of grief. He showed up when I needed someone the most. I'm so grateful, despite being so saddened, that he shared his cancer battle along the way. Scott was the epitome of grace. He gave hope and stength to others during times when he deserved it the most. I'm blessed to have known him, he will never be forgotten. Only way I can understand this great loss for his family and friends is that people like Scott were meant to be here a shorter time because he needed to use his wings to fly. Rest in peace my dear friend.

My sincere condolences to Scott’s family especially Leslie, Tess, and Rachel. I am fortunate to have received Scott’s (Mr. Cowie’s) mentorship both as an IB English teacher and IB/academic advisor. His English class was one I always looked forward to and he did indeed make the subject matter accessible and engaging, particularly our world literature studies. Scott was a rock solid advisor with a true and gentlemanly demeanour. He was approachable and I could trust in his guidance to be honest, caring and encouraging be it related to academics or other facets of life at the college and beyond. I am very sad to hear of Scott’s passing but have appreciated reading about Scott’s life, family and so many wonderful contributions and achievements. A life truly well lived.

I am lucky to have known Scott since 2001. I didn't have him as a teacher, but he was always warm and kind. We reconnected when he was Dean of Student Life and Wellbeing. He was both progressive and practical. Most of all, Scott cared about the boys. I really enjoyed the time we spent together and I miss him. My condolences to his family.

Rest in peace

I had Mr. Cowie for Foundation Year and IB2 English back in the early 2000s. He was a great teacher and I still think of his class. He clearly took teaching very seriously, and his classroom discussions were polished and engaging. He also made the literature we studied feel accessible and meaningful to us--no small feat given that his audience was a bunch of teenagers. I also remember his sense of humour. Once, early in the school year, our classroom did not have enough chairs. Without missing a beat, he solemnly announced that he was looking for any students that would be willing to skip his class, particularly if the class occurred on Friday afternoon. A few students immediately raised their hands. It was hard not to laugh out loud. My condolences to the Cowie family. I am so sorry to hear of his passing.

I had Mr. Cowie for Foundation Year and IB2 English in the early 2000s. He was a great teacher and I still think of his class. He clearly took teaching very seriously, and his classroom discussions were polished and engaging. He also made the literature we studied feel accessible and meaningful to us--no small feat given that his audience was a bunch of teenagers. I also remember his sense of humour. Once, early in the school year, our classroom was missing a few chairs. Without missing a beat, he solemnly announced that he was looking for any students that would be willing to skip his class, particularly if the class occurred on Friday afternoon. A few students immediately raised their hands. It was hard not to laugh out loud. My condolences to the Cowie family. I am so sorry to hear of his passing.

Mr. Cowie was always a friendly presence in the hallways and told great stories about his time at the college. He will be dearly missed by the UCC community, and I offer my deepest condolences to his family.

Scott always had the boys interests at heart and I got to know him through his wellness role at UCC. He was a genuine and caring person who always had time for any boy who needed a quiet chat or helping hand.

A man who left an indelible mark on the institution, and thousands of men. His impact is far and wide, not only through meaningful, individual relationships throughout the years but also through his leadership and initiatives that strengthened UCC’s upper school as a whole. Gone far too soon. Condolences to his family.

I really got to know Scott on the famous Ireland/Wales 2001 Rugby trip. Wonderful guy and respected by all the boys. The community will miss him. Sympathies to the family.