Tyllon Winfred Valentijn Sierhuis

It is with great sadness that we announce that Tyllon (Tillon) Winfred Valentijn Sierhuis passed away on 22 April 2024 at the age of 74 years old. Son of the late Alfred Alfonsus Maria Sierhuis (1922-1989) and Lydia Ebbes Sierhuis (1914-2006). Predeceased by his brother Elloy “Alfred” P. Sierhuis (1947-2012). He is survived by his daughter Danuta Sierhuis.

Born 15 June 1949 in Groningen, Netherlands, Tyllon came to Canada with his family in 1951, growing up in Ottawa in the Manor Park neighborhood. He pursued education in Political Science at Simon Fraser University and a degree in Math at Carleton University (BSc 1984). From an early age, Tyllon’s passion lay with photography. In the 1970s, his photographs, primarily portraiture and landscapes, won awards and were published and exhibited. His work was recognized in the travelling exhibition Exposure: Canadian Contemporary Photographers, a juried survey of Canadian photographic communities from across the country organized by the Art Gallery of Ontario in 1975. For a time, he also worked in commercial photography in Montreal, and a small selection of his portraiture can be found in the Concordia University Archives. He was an active member of the Camera Club of Ottawa for many years. He enjoyed the technical aspects of photography, including composition and lighting, and he admired the work of photographer Yousuf Karsh. His daughter grew up in front of his camera and learned a great deal about photography from him. She had the immense joy of curating his work as part of The 3rd Carleton Community Art Exhibition at Carleton University Art Gallery in 2013. He experimented with new photographic forms from film to digital throughout his life, and most recently with artificial intelligence. Photography was a lifelong practice for him.

Tyllon was a successful computer programmer and systems analyst in Ottawa in the 1980s. He was an expert in rebuilding systems and fixing code, and he worked on significant projects in Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal and occasionally travelled for work, including a special trip to London, UK. He retired from this line of work in the late-1990s.

Family was important to Tyllon. He was married in 1987 in Ottawa (later divorced). He raised his daughter Danuta in his childhood home. He was a wonderful father and enjoyed spending time with his daughter. Together, they enjoyed playing chess, going to museums, and cooking and baking fun things to eat.

In his retirement, Tyllon enjoyed being outdoors and became an avid cyclist. He would often bike long distances. His favourite bike rides included biking along the Rideau and Ottawa Rivers, to Mer Bleu Bog, along the pathways in Gatineau Park, and as far as Kemptville and Merrickville. He often enjoyed camping as part of these bike rides and made it a family affair by bringing his daughter with him too.

Tyllon loved to discuss and debate philosophy, politics, art, and literature, and he is fondly remembered for his wry wit and sense of humour.

He is dearly missed by family and friends.

Tyllon will be laid to rest alongside his mother and brother at Beechwood Cemetery.

Tyllon expressed a wish to support the Royal Ottawa Centre for Mental Health, and, if you should feel inclined, please make a donation in his memory.