Xiaodong Lin

Xiaodong Lin passed away peacefully in his sleep on the morning of February 6, 2026, surrounded by his loving family. Born on January 22, 1969, Xiaodong lived a full and meaningful life of 57 years. He was a devoted husband and a loving father to three children, two sons and one daughter.

Xiaodong was deeply committed to supporting his children in all their pursuits. He willingly traveled long distances to accompany them to competitions, never hesitating despite the physical and scheduling demands. Regardless of how challenging his commitments were, he consistently made every effort to be present, offering encouragement through every success and setback.

In 2019, Xiaodong relocated to Guelph with his wife and daughter, while his sons pursued their education at the University of Waterloo. He was employed at the University of Guelph as a professor, where he taught postgraduate students in the field of computer security. Beyond his academic responsibilities, Xiaodong also volunteered as a swim meet official for the Guelph Marlins Aquatic Club.

Throughout his professional career, Xiaodong achieved significant distinction in academia. He was named a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) in 2017. He also received several prestigious awards for his contributions to the field of cybersecurity, including the 2025 IEEE Transactions on Information Forensics and Security (TIFS) Best Paper Award and the IEEE INFOCOM 2018 Best Paper Award.

Xiaodong will be deeply missed by his family, friends, colleagues, and all whose lives he touched.

A visitation will be held at the WALL-CUSTANCE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL, 206 Norfolk St., Guelph, on Thursday, February 12, 2026 from 10:00 am to 11:00 am. Funeral service will be held in the funeral home chapel at 11:00 am. Reception to follow in the Wall-Custance Family Reception Centre.  

Arrangements entrusted to the WALL-CUSTANCE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL 519-822-0051 / www.wallcustance.com.

A tree will be planted in memory of Xiaodong Lin in the Wall-Custance Memorial Forest.