Hendrik Pieter Bernelot Moens, Peter Moens for short, was born in 1931 in Sukabumi, Indonesia from Dutch Parents and died on April 28, 2008 in Toronto.  Peter spent his first 14 years in Indonesia and then was repatriated to the Netherlands with his family, shortly after the end of the Second World War.  In 1953, he and his new wife Marja emigrated from the Netherlands to New York City, where he worked as a physiotherapist at the Mount Sinai Hospital. In 1956 he moved to Canada, becoming a Canadian citizen in 1961. In Toronto, Peter resumed his education and initially studied forestry, but became interested in research and eventually graduated in 1963 with a PhD in Biological Sciences from the University of Toronto. Peter became a founding member of the York University Biology Department in 1963, where he researched and taught with passion and dedication until he fell ill in late 2007. Even after that, when his health allowed, he continued to meet with students and associates and to work on various projects. He died just weeks after learning that his grant from the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada had been renewed for five years. During his career at York, Peter became an internationally respected leader in the field of reproductive cell biology.  His research and teaching was strongly influenced by his understanding of genetics, evolutionary theory and scientific method. Peter was elected a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada in 1978, became a Distinguished Research Professor at York University in 1981, and served as the Scientific Editor of the Canadian genetics journal Genome for the last 25 years. Peter was an avid tennis player, sailor, and triathlete, not only participating in these pursuits but recruiting his children, students and friends to them as well. He was also a flutist, a maker of jewelry and furniture, and a great lover of natural beauty.  He will be remembered for his energy and his enthusiasm for life. Peter is survived by his wife Marja and his children Richard (Eileen) of Toronto, Ted (Nancy Hamilton) of Vancouver, BC, Vivian Moens (Matthew O’Gorman) of Toronto, Cecilia Moens (Garry Hamilton) of Seattle, WA, and Francis (Melissa) of Toronto, and by 14 grandchildren, also by his brother Wil, and by many wonderful friends and colleagues.