In Memoriam
Remember and celebrate the lives of our alumni, faculty, staff and friends
2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015
March 3, 2023
Lauranna Marie Jones passed away peacefully on Friday, March 3 in her 102nd year at Cobble Creek Residence. Laura was a caring, kind, and independent person who lived a full life. She was a devoted wife and mother, but also knew she wanted to contribute something more.
She obtained her bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbour and her master's in education (MEd) from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) of the University of Toronto. She became Supervisor of Adult Learning at Georgian College during the 70s, a time when higher education for women was still hard to attain. Laura found herself in the role of Women's Advisor for the college and helped foster equal opportunities in education and in the workplace for countless women, tirelessly working extra hours to help them to achieve their goals. After retirement, she learned how to hand-weave beautiful tapestries and enjoyed painting nature scenes and the lakeshore of Lake Simcoe with watercolours. Laura was also a fan of theatrical performances at the Stratford Festival, a devout CBC Radio listener, and every Saturday afternoon, she would be tuned in to the Metropolitan Opera Company from New York on her radio.
Please join us in remembering our alumna.
Natalie Kuzmich, Professor Emeritus
Posted: February 25, 2023
Natalie Kuzmich, Professor Emeritus of OISE, University of Toronto, passed away at the age of 90 in her Toronto home surrounded by her family on January 7, 2023.
She was the only child of immigrant Ukrainian parents, and from an early age she developed a strong work ethic, working in her parents’ restaurant. But she also played the violin and developed a passion for music. She graduated from a faculty of music, which followed with an MA in musicology. She became one of Canada’s premier music educators, first working at Lawrence Park Collegiate and winning many local and national accolades for her work with the string program. She moved onto a professorial role at U of T’s faculty of education (OISE), and soon after became a chair related to music education.
Her love of teaching and music blazed the way for not just women conductors and music teachers, but also for innovations in music education, including but not limited to the use of improvisation, composition, and the wealth of world music in the classroom, when music education, whether inside or outside the classroom, was primarily limited to the strict conventions of Western art music.
As her role as music educator developed, so did her love of fine art and good food, which made her an exquisite chef and host, and a most loved family member and friend. Natalie encouraged love, curiosity and critical thought through music, art, good food and drink.
Please learn more about Natalie and her upcoming celebration of life.
Rina Cohen, Professor
January 16, 2023
Retired Professor Rina Cohen from the Department of Curriculum, Teaching and Learning has sadly passed away on Monday, January 16. Rina was a loving mother and mother-in-law of Leron, and Eldan and Ayala, a dear sister and sister-in-law of Hanni and Hanoch Gilad, Alex and the late Ester Strasser, and a devoted Safta of Judah and Levi. A violin prodigy in her teenage years, Rina went on to pursue degrees in theoretical mathematics at the Technion Institute and analog programming for the IDF. In Canada, she completed her PhD and went on to teach at York University and OISE, University of Toronto. She focused her work on Holistic Math Education, largely augmented by her personal practice of Mindfulness Meditation. She volunteered to assist women with newly diagnosed cancers. A devoted mother, she was known for her kind gentle manner and loving optimistic approach.
Please join us in remembering Rita.
Walter Howard, OISE Instructor, U of T alum
December 7, 2022
Dick Holland, Instructor
October 12, 2022
Anne Millar, Associate Dean
August 25, 2022
We received the very sad news over the long weekend, that Margaret Anne Millar passed away on August 25, 2022.
Many will remember Anne as Associate Dean of OISE having retired from the position some years ago. She was a key member of the academic leadership team during a time of transition in teacher education with the merger of Faculty of Education (FEUT) and OISE.
Anne was a U of T Arbor Award recipient in 2007, recognized for providing historical insights on teacher education and educational studies as a member of the OISE 100th Anniversary Advisory Committee. She was Chair of the Publication Sub-Committee, donating countless hours to launch the 100-page commemorative book, Inspiring Education: Celebrating 100 Years of Studies in Education at the University of Toronto.
Anne was one of the kindest members of our community, often going well out of her way to maintain connections with colleagues and friends. She had the uncanny ability to meet you just once, and from then on, remember your name. She always greeted everyone with such respect, acknowledging you by name with a sincere “how are you?” She was an extraordinary people-person and in recent years continued to maintain contact with the Dean’s Office to ensure our institutional retiree lists were updated, and to share news from members of the OISE retired community.
Anne’s family has posted an obituary inviting friends and colleagues to a celebration of life to take place on October 7, 2022. Please take a moment to read the obituary and as we start this new academic year, and remember our colleague and friend Anne Millar.
Dorothy E. Smith, Professor Emeritus
June 3, 2022
Dorothy was a professor emerita of the Department of Social Justice Education at OISE and a member of the Order of Canada. She taught sociology at OISE for nearly 25 years until 2005 and is credited with helping to bring feminist principles and perspectives to the field.
As a very highly regarded scholar, Dorothy pushed the boundaries of traditional sociology developing institutional ethnography. Many in our community and beyond have been and will continue to be deeply influenced by her extensive body of work.
Starting in the 1960s, she sought to re-center her discipline on the experiences of women, people of colour and other marginalized groups.
Read Dorothy E. Smith, Groundbreaker in Feminist Sociology, Dies at 95: New York Times
Doug Hart, Staff Member
May 30, 2022
Doug was an incredibly valued member of OISE's staff for several decades: as Research Officer and then appointed as Institutional Researcher following the merger in 1996-97. Those who worked collaboratively with him in the Modern Language Centre realized early on that having Doug participate on any research project enhanced the quality of the work immensely. He played a key role in the Dean’s Office through the analysis of complex student, faculty, staff, and financial information. He contributed to OISE as a union leader, a data analyst, and as the academic lead of the OISE Public Education Survey in the later years of the project.
Former Dean Glen Jones shared the following reflection.
“I had the tremendous honor of working with Doug for many years. He was devoted to OISE and I always marvelled at his knowledge of our history and evolution. He was a great researcher and analyst, but he was also renowned for his kindness, dedication, and his appreciation of mystery novels. He was a truly wonderful man and extremely proud of OISE.”
Edmund O'Sullivan, Professor
February 13, 2022
Edmund O'Sullivan passed away on February 13, 2022.
A valued member of the Adult Education and Counselling Psychology programs at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, he supported so many in their scholarship on adult learning, advocacy and community building.
A visionary leader, he founded the Transformative Learning Centre and through it, held the Spirit Matters gatherings that brought together Indigenous wisdom keepers from many peoples with known visionaries like Vandana Shiva, Michael Lerner, bell hooks, John Mohawk, Marion Woodman, Tom Berry and many others. These communities continue his work outside the university on every continent.
Michael Allen Westover Jones, Alumnus
January 19, 2022
Michael Allen Westover Jones passed away in Orillia on January 19, 2022. Leadership educator, facilitator, and pianist, he touched many people with his sixteen piano recordings, and his stories. He earned a BA in Music and Psychology from Mount Allison University and a MA in Adult Learning from University of Toronto.
For over twenty years he was a thought leader with the MIT Dialogue Project, Banff Centre for Leadership Development, the Executive Leadership Programs at the University of Texas, San Antonio, The International Leadership Association and the Fetzer Institute Dialogues on Leading for Transformation. The Fetzer Institute supported the publication of The Soul of Place. The Brueninger Foundation hosted place-based retreats for three years at Wasan Island in Muskoka. He wove his music and place-based themes in multi-disciplinary conferences. More recently he integrated these themes into the Truth and Reconciliation workshops at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity and Truth and Reconciliation Round Table online and in Orillia.
Michael will be most remembered for his question, "Who will play your music if you don't?"
Michael's obituary was originally published in the Globe & Mail
Watch Micheal's Celebration of Life featuring his music
William Grenville Davis, OISE Founder
August 8, 2021
U of T remembers William G. Davis, Ontario’s ‘education premier’: "The very ethos of OISE traces to the passion and leadership of Mr. Davis — as education minister, as premier, as friend of the Institute," said OISE Dean Normand Labrie. "We hope we continue to make him proud."
Read OISE's full statement on the passing of William G. Davis
U of T remembers Bill Davis, Ontario’s ‘education premier’
William Robert Waters, OISE Friend
July 28, 2021
OISE is saddened to hear about the passing of William Robert Waters, champion of education.
Waters knew first-hand what it was like to struggle — he earned his undergraduate degree from U of T in his late 20s as a part-time mature student because economic hardships forbade him from pursuing full-time studies. So, it's no surprise that he would spend his life breaking down barriers to education for others, including OISE students.
Read about our extraordinary friend below.
OISE friend and champion of education William Waters passes away
Paula Joan Caplan, Professor
July 21, 2021
OISE received the sad news of the passing of Professor Paula Joan Caplan on July 21, 2021.
Paula was one of a small number of founding feminist psychologists in OISE’s Department of Applied Psychology and Human Development. She was a full professor of applied psychology and Head of the Centre for Women’s Studies in Education at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, as well as a lecturer in Women's Studies and Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto.
Please review the recent story in the New York Times and also the obituary to gain a fuller sense of Paula’s life and contributions to psychology and education.
John Keith Gilbert, U of T Professor Emeritus
Posted: July 15, 2021
John Keith Gilbert: Born August 17, 1934 in Singapore. Died April 22, 2021 in Toronto.
The late Professor Emeritus John Gilbert's scholarly knowledge of theatre was intimately tied to his life on stage, the many and diverse roles he played and, importantly, the generosity characteristic of actors who uphold the words and worlds of playwrights. To a room of students, his teaching proposed that the imagined world of theatre had everything to do with the real one we were inhabiting.
OISE Professor Kathleen Gallagher reflects on the life of her remarkable colleague and friend, John.
Margrit Eichler, Professor Emerita
July 8, 2021
It is with deep sadness that we share the very recent news of the passing of Professor Margrit Eichler on July 8, 2021. We understand that Margrit was able to spend some special time over the last little while with her dearest OISE colleagues and friends.
Many in our community will remember Margrit as she had a tremendous influence at OISE and beyond. On a personal note, Interim Dean Normand Labrie certainly remembers the frequent interactions he had in the hallways of OISE, in meetings or at OISE Council at a time when her activism, energy, and scholarship were as always, so present. She will be dearly missed.
A Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, Margrit was a professor emerita in OISE's Department of Social Justice Education and over the years had served in a number of important roles across the University of Toronto. Plans for a memorial will be forthcoming.
Read more about Margrit's path-breaking career, her scholarship and remarkable character.
Alison Prentice, Professor
June 25, 2021
Over the past few weeks, many have written to express their saddess over the passing of OISE Professor Alison Prentice on June 25, 2021 in Victoria BC. We understand that a service is planned for July 24, 2021 with the possibility for remote access and we encourage you to review details found in her obituary.
Alison was a vital member of the OISE community for many years with an exceptional history of work and influence in the field of feminist studies.
Please read a tribute by several OISE colleagues and friends who worked very closely with Alison, highlighting just some of the many contributions she made in the field of education and beyond.
Mimi Ho, Staff Member
June 24, 2021
It is with the greatest sadness that we share the news that our dear friend and colleague Mimi Ho passed away June 24, 2021 after a year-long battle with cancer. Mimi died in the comfort of her home with her two loving sons Terrence and Torrance by her side.
Throughout Mimi’s incredible 30 years of service at the OISE Library, she remained deeply committed to providing excellent customer service for U of T students, staff, and faculty. As a colleague so aptly noted, Mimi’s “warm and welcoming smile brightened everyone’s day at the OISE Library Circulation Desk for 30 years.” As OISE’s Senior Access Services Associate, Mimi worked tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure that the Library’s Service Desk and course reserves ran smoothly, and that the Library always opened on time and the Desk was always staffed, no matter how bad the weather or how big the subway delay.
What those of us who worked with Mimi will remember most about her was her incredible kindness, her generosity, and her strength and positive attitude in the face of adversity. Regardless of the hardships in life she may have faced, Mimi filled the lives of those she knew with thoughtful words, gifts and gestures. In the words of another colleague, it “was impossible to work alongside Mimi and not be affected by her kindness and her way of being in the world.”
Mimi’s family has requested that individuals wishing to make donations in her honour do so by giving to the Canadian Cancer Society to support the battle against lung cancer.
Mimi will be deeply missed by her colleagues, the OISE community, and others whose lives she has touched.
Eleanor Gower, Instructor & Office Head
June 21, 2021
We share with you the sad news that OISE colleague Eleanor Gower passed away on Monday, June 21.
Eleanor was highly regarded for her work as a secondary school principal in the Toronto District School Board before working at OISE. For several years Eleanor was an instructor for Additional Qualification courses (History, Principal Qualifications). For many years Eleanor served as head of the Student University Partnerships Office/Student Services (SUPO/SS) where she lead a team that oversaw student services and partnerships with schools for practice teaching.
Those who worked with Eleanor, relied on her wisdom and strength when facilitating administrative tasks, solving problems and providing guidance and support. Colleagues and teacher candidates praised Eleanor for her positive demeanour, her professionalism, and her friendship. Please take a moment to remember Eleanor and his contributions to OISE.
Philip R.D. Corrigan, Faculty Member
Posted: April 24, 2021
We received the sad news of the passing of Philip R.D. Corrigan. Philip was a professor in the Department of Sociology in Education at OISE from 1983 to 1989, and Department Chair from 1986 to 1988.
Corrigan’s broad intellectual interests encompassed historical sociology, Marxist theory, cultural studies and critical pedagogy, and sociology of education. He was one of the founding Managing Editors of the Journal of Historical Sociology, and his authored and edited publications include The Great Arch: English State Formation as Cultural Revolution (with Derek Sayer, 1985); Social Forms/Human Capacities: Essays in Authority and Difference (1990); and Capitalism, State Formation and Marxist Theory: Historical Investigations (1980), as well as countless articles and book-chapters in scholarly and popular publications.
While his tenure at OISE was short, we understand his impact on students and colleagues endured to the present. He is remembered among his many students for his intense and heady graduate seminars, his encouragement of informal spaces of scholarship and debate, and his generous guidance through thesis research and writing. And, in the age before the internet, he is remembered for his practice of circulating articles and newspaper-clippings, as well as his detailed notations and responses to student work. His approach was collegial and supportive in ways that sought to build confidence, rather than impose his own perspectives. As one of his former students said: “I felt such huge appreciation for the ways he helped me find my voice, and trust my own questions.” Another former student, now herself a professor, wrote: “his generosity of time and friendship taught us important lessons for how to be human with students.”
Evelyn Wilson, Staff Member
April 18, 2021
We have just received the sad news that our wonderful colleague Evelyn Wilson passed away peacefully at home on Sunday April 18, 2021. As a member of the OISE Continuing and Professional Learning (CPL) team, Evelyn’s commitment to education inspired many to pursue an education path as their chosen profession. She took great pride in the efforts of CPL to serve the field of education, and brought energy, enthusiasm and pragmatism to her work. CPL Director Elisabeth Rees-Johnstone, shared that “over the years, Evelyn and I traveled great distances and spoke at length of family, faith, and friendship…she was our great cheerleader, taking pride in our team and our work. She is dearly missed.”
While an obituary is not yet available, Evelyn’s family has asked that a donation can be made to a charity in Evelyn’s name in lieu of flowers.
Please take a moment today to remember our dear colleague Evelyn Wilson.
Anne Tough, Retired Jackman ICS Teacher
February 28, 2021
We heard last week of the passing of Anne Tough on February 28, 2021 – a beloved teacher at the Dr. Eric Jackman Institute of Child Study Laboratory School who retired in 1996. Anne was acknowledged in 2010 with the University of Toronto Arbor Award. She remained a valued member of the JICS community, serving as co-chair of the school's Alumni Association, which was established in 2000 in preparation for the Institute's 75th anniversary celebration in 2001. Anne also served as co-editor for the first seven years of the ICS Lab School's Alumni ECHO annual spring newsletter.
Please take a moment to remember Anne and also see further details in the Globe and Mail Obituary.
I am sharing one photo of Anne from the Arbor Award ceremony where she is pictured with former UofT President David Naylor and Former Ontario Premier David Peterson.
Ruth Marks, Staff Member
February 27, 2021
We have recently heard that Ruth Marks passed away on February 27, 2021. Ruth was a permanent status librarian at OISE in the 1960s and retired in 1998. To all those who remember Ruth, please take a moment to access the Globe and Mail obituary with additional details from the family.
Valerie Mah, Alumnus, BEd, MEd
February 7, 2021
Toronto has lost one of its most energetic and dedicated community builders with the death of Valerie Mah. A long-time west-end resident, Mah died suddenly Sunday — her 83rd birthday. Principal Mah, as she was affectionately known, lived her life for the betterment of others. A long-time educator, she was the Toronto District School Board’s first female Asian vice-principal and taught at Withrow Avenue Junior Public School and Bruce Public School until her retirement about 20 years ago. Please read more about Valerie, an OISE alum, in this Toronto Star article on her life.
John Hazen McConnell, Alumnus, BEd '74
December 30, 2020
John Hazen McConnell died peacefully in his sleep on December 30, 2020, with his beloved partner Kevin Hewitt at his side. John was 70 years old.
Born March 18, 1950, in Montreal to Mary Priscilla Hazen and John Edward McConnell, John grew up in Toronto and earned his B.Sc. at the University of Toronto.
After moving to San Diego in 1978, John attended California School of Professional Psychology. He completed his Marriage and Family Therapist License in 1986, and his PhD in 1988. John served as executive director of the San Diego LGBT Community Center in 1986, opening his private practice that same year in Hillcrest, an historically gay area in San Diego. Through his work, both paid and pro bono, he expressed deep commitment to sexual/gender freedom and self-expression, and to the LGBTQ community. When he retired in October 2020, John wrote eloquently on his professional website about his lifelong commitment and sense of calling. Visit www.johnmcconnellphd.com to read of his life work in his own words.
In addition to his partner Kevin Hewitt, John is survived by his brother Malcolm Hazen McConnell, sister-in-law Dawn, and nieces Meaghan (and her husband Andre and daughter Madelein), Chelsea (and her husband Tom and their children Molly and Hazen) and Chloe (and her husband Lars). John was preceded in death by both parents and by his sister Mary Creaghan McConnell.
Donations honoring John and his life can be made to Leather Archives and Museum, Tom of Finland Foundation or the San Diego LGBT Community Center. An in-person memorial is tentatively planned for late spring or early summer in San Diego. If you wish to be notified about the memorial, please email your request to Kevin Hewitt at Kevin.Hewitt.bb@gmail.com.
Edward (Ted) Harold Humphreys, Original Faculty Member
Posted: December 10, 2020
We recently heard of the passing of Ted Humphreys, one of the original faculty hired to the newly formed Ontario Institute for Studies in Education back in the late 1960s where he conducted research and supported graduate students in the Education Planning and Educational Administrative units.
He was widely known at OISE in the 1970s and 80s and was affectionately remembered for effectively negotiating faculty and staff contracts with OISE's Board of Governors, resulting in favourable salary and benefit conditions. Dean Glen A. Jones had the pleasure of taking his graduate course on collective bargaining. Take a moment to review more details of Ted’s life through the following Globe and Mail obituary.
Donald Michael Sinclair, Alumnus
Posted: August 15, 2020
We are very sorry to share that Donald Michael Sinclair, our longstanding volunteer, passed away November 30, 2019. He will be deeply missed by the entire OISE Alumni Association community.
Michael passed away at St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, from complications with cancer. Survived by his twin brother David, cousins and their families, friend Margaret Brennan, many other friends. Michael and David graduated from John Oliver High School, Vancouver, Class of 1957. Both were active with school activities. Michael was the school's first president of the United Nations Club. During 1955 Michael competed in and won a speech contest group position with the United Nations Pilgrimage for Youth annual trip to the United Nations in New York City, with students from B.C., Washington and Oregon.
Michael's post secondary education from 1957: UBC, 1957 to 1964, Bachelor of Arts. During summers and several years in between Michael drove a Coca-Cola truck to finance his education. University of Pittsburgh, Masters Degree. Then to Toronto where Michael established his residence. University of Toronto, PhD 1979.
Michael's education in educational planning resulted in many contract positions with foreign countries, including the Commonwealth Secretariat in London, England. Michael was an active participant and a contributor to the Ontario Institute for Studies and Education (OISE). During 2018 Michael received an Arbor Award from OISE. Read his obituary.
Carol Kelley, Alumna, Instructor
August 6, 2020
Carol Kelley sadly passed away on August 6, 2020. Carol was a teacher for many years in the Toronto District School Board and a well-loved instructor in the BEd program in the Department of Curriculum, Teaching and Learning at OISE. Please read the full obituary here.
Beulah Worrell, Staff Member
Posted: August 14, 2020
Beulah Worrell worked at OISE for over 40 years and served as Secretary of the OISE Psychology Clinic for many of these years. She will be remembered for her kindness, magnetic smile and commitment. She always welcomed students, faculty and clients in the Clinic with warmth.
For those who knew Beulah, you may wish to read her obituary.
Joey Lee, Graduate Student
August 9, 2020
Joey Lee passed away on August 9, 2020. An MEd student in the Department of Social Justice Education at OISE, Joey is fondly remembered by her peers and friends for being a kind, caring and advocacy oriented individual.
Normand Frenette, Retired Professor
July 30, 2020
Normand Frenette passed away on July 30, 2020. Some will recall that Normand was a former head of the Centre de recherches en éducation franco-ontarienne (CREFO) at OISE and a voice for Franco-Ontario access to post-secondary education. Please take a moment to read Dr. Frenette's obituary.
Gordon Wells, Professor Emeritus
July 12, 2020
It is with great sadness we inform you of the death of Dr. Gordon Wells in a bicycle accident in Pennsylvania on July 12, 2020. We were privileged to have Gordon as an illustrious member of OISE's faculty. He was a great man and distinguished scholar with an international reputation. To date his publications have been cited over 30,000 times in scholarly journals in many countries and languages.
Gordon spent his early life and career in England where he gained his BA from the University of Cambridge and his PhD from the University of Bristol. Prior to coming to the United States, he served on the faculty of the University of Bristol and the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education.
Please read Dr. Wells' obituary for details of his remarkable life.
Mr. Egwuonwu U. Kalu, Alumnus
February 28, 2020
OISE alum Mr. Egwuonwu U. Kalu, P. Eng passed away at the young age of 74 on February 28.
Mr. Egwuonwu U. Kalu was very passionate about the engineering profession from his youth all the way to his retirement years spanning 50 years engaged in the field. He always wanted to give back through his education and opted to study at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, and, as such, spent time learning how to teach to apply his passion.
The Institute was said to be a place that supported his career and gave him a platform to give his dream a chance of success. With our sincerest sympathies to his son Ukoha Kalu and family.
Mark Holmes, Professor Emeritus
February 26, 2020
Professor Emeritus Mark Holmes passed away on Thursday, February 20. Mark was a member of the former Department of Educational Administration and contributed significantly to the OISE community in the 70s and 80s, retiring in the 90s. Colleague and Professor Emeritus Richard Townsend shared the following reflection:
Beginning in Britain, Mark followed his father's chosen path of school administration. Immigrating to Canada and after a stint teaching geography in a middle school. Mark served as a Nova Scotia principal, then earning a doctorate at University of Chicago. Before long, he became Director-General of the Protestant School Board in Laval, Quebec outside Montreal. A chance to be Head of Field Service at OISE brought him to 252 Bloor with a cross-appointment to the Department of Ed Admin (his special field).
Before long, in the Bernard Shapiro years, Mark became a vigorous Associate Director for OISE Administration. Next he was a full-time prof in Ed. Admin, taking principled and well-known stands against what he called "the liberal establishment" of Ontario education.
In retirement, he was a regular referee for a Texas-based education journal, the author of a philosophical memoir, A Skeptic's Christianity, and an op-ed columnist for a weekly in Coburg. For much of his last year, Mark resided in an assisted-living facility where he was (in his wife Nora's words), "very well treated by staff." Rightly Mark and Nora were proud of their four kids' decency, enterprise, and independence.”
Please read the obituary of Mark Holmes. With our sincerest sympathies to Mark’s family and friends.
Dr. Bonnie Burstow, Professor
January 4, 2020
OISE is extremely sorry to inform our community that Professor Bonnie Burstow passed away on January 4. She was 74.
Bonnie was an exceptional scholar, author and activist. She completed her Ph.D. in Adult Education at OISE in 1982, and was a director of My Brother’s Place, a half-way house, from 1984-1987. She taught at a number of other universities before returning to OISE in 1995. While she was renowned for her work on anti-psychiatry, her scholarship pushed boundaries in a range of fields.
She was a wonderful colleague, teacher and mentor to many members of the OISE community. She obtained the David E. Hunt Award for Excellence in Graduate Teaching in 2011. Bonnie was caring, devoted to her students and colleagues, spirited and highly original. Bonnie was also extremely devoted to OISE – she played a range of leadership roles in our Adult Education and Community Development program and recently created a series of new scholarships to provide financial support to graduate students.
Bonnie was a very special member of our community. She will be missed. Read more about Bonnie's remarkable life in OISE News.
Dr. Henderson (J. Glenn) Scott, Professor, Alumnus
We share the very sad news of former OISE Professor Glenn Scott's recent passing. Some at OISE may recall that he was one of the original members of the institute when it was founded in 1965. Some of his former colleagues, in the first years of OISE, will remember there were only a few faculty in the whole place. Glenn was one of a small group who started from nothing to really build something unique. Glenn was an inspired alum and well respected colleague whose contributions to the education community will continue to be realized.
Please take a moment to read our donor story, outling an example of the immense impact he had at OISE. Read his obituary here.
John Davis, Professor Emeritus
May 22, 2019
With heavy hearts, OISE shares the news of Professor Emeritus John Davis' passing on Wednesday, May 22. As many will recall, John had an open-door presence in the former departments of Educational Administration and then Theory and Policy Studies. He is remembered very fondly by colleagues and friends as a welcoming, fun, and gentle soul who always had time for fellow faculty, staff, and students. We remember him as a man of sincerity and kindness who was devoted to his students, and to those faculty and staff who had the pleasure of working with him.
John’s family has placed an obituary in the Globe and Mail. For those who knew John well, a Golden Bird Whistle “toast” may be an appropriate tribute, if an occasion allows. Please take a moment to remember our colleague and friend, Professor Emeritus John Davis.
Eric Miller, Alumnus
March 30, 2019
Eric Miller moved to Toronto in 1956. He had a stellar career in the advertising world, primarily with MacLaren and then with the firm that he and two colleagues started, Miller Myers Bruce. From 1973 to 1977 he took his family to Ottawa where he was Deputy Director General for Information Canada before moving back to Toronto. In 2001, he earned his Doctorate of Education from OISE at the age of 71, an accomplishment of which he was very proud. Read about the details of Eric Miller's life in his obituary.
Dawn Christine Tanner, Alumna
March 10, 2019
With great sadness we share the passing of OISE alum Dawn Christine Tanner – a beloved secondary school teacher and mother of two sons. Dawn is remembered as an extraordinary and selfless person who had a “beautiful laugh”. Her passing is deeply felt across the school board.
Read about Dawn's impact and life at CBC News.
David Hunt, Professor Emeritus
March 21, 2019
We share the very sad news that Professor Emeritus David Hunt passed away on Thursday, March 21, 2019 at Toronto General Hospital at the age of 93. Professor Hunt had a stellar and lengthy career at OISE marked by exceptional teaching and scholarship.
He was a remarkable friend to so many of us during his long career at OISE. The David E. Hunt Award for Excellence in Graduate Education was established as a testimony to his 50 years of remarkable graduate student mentorship.
He was a colleagues’ colleague who was a tireless supporter of the work of others. Professor Hunt was a genuine lifelong learner who reached early prominence with his more quantitative work on matching learning models in the late 1960’s. At OISE, he turned to his more qualitative work on the importance of reflective practice that has contributed so much to improved educational practice. Read about Professor Hunt's remarkable life at OISE News.
Bob Knuckle, Alumnus
March 3, 2019
OISE alumnus Bob Knuckle was an unique individual who was a contributor in both the sports and literary worlds. His longtime friend Ron Foxcroft attributes the breadth of accomplishments to Knuckle's drive in life and a head full of ideas.
Knuckle — who died suddenly at age 84 on March 3 — was a winning high school football and basketball coach in the Catholic and public school boards, and was the original convener in 1972 of the Silver Fox basketball tournament (the championship trophy now bears his name). Read Bob Knuckle's obituary in the Hamilton Spectator.
Jack Quarter, Professor
February 6, 2019
With very heavy hearts, the OISE community shares the news of the passing of Professor Jack Quarter of the Department of Leadership, Higher and Adult Education. Dr. Quarter was a dear colleague and friend to many and the loving partner of OISE Professor Dale Willows.
Dr. Quarter has been a pillar of the OISE community for more than 47 years, having joined as an Assistant Professor in 1971 in the Department of Applied Psychology. During what can only be described as a stellar career, his excellence in research, teaching, scholarship and service were unique and unparalleled. He was recognized with numerous awards, honours and recognitions, and it is certain that his work will continue to have an impact on the field of education into the future.
In honour of his memory and impact, we remember our dear colleague and friend Jack Quarter. Read more.
David Booth, Professor Emeritus
The OISE community mourns the loss of Professor David Booth who passed away on December 22, 2018. He was Professor Emeritus in the Department of Curriculum, Teaching and Learning.
Professor Booth was involved in education for over sixty years, as a classroom teacher, consultant, professor, researcher, speaker and author. He authored many teacher reference books and textbooks in all areas of curriculum development: the arts, drama, literacy and media. As an internationally respected authority on education, he addressed educators and parents in every province of Canada, throughout the United States, and in many other countries around the globe. He won several awards for his classroom teaching, for his contributions to the teaching of reading and the arts in education, and for his books for young people, and was awarded honorary lifetime memberships in educational drama organizations in Canada, the United States and England.
"David was a very special member of our community. He was an outstanding colleague, friend, teacher and mentor, and we will all remember his wonderful smile and his very special sense of humour. This is a very sad loss for our community," said OISE Dean Glen Jones.
Read about Professor Booth's remarkable life.
Cindy Halewood, Alumna, BEd '00 & Jackman ICS Teacher
November 8, 2018
With great sadness we share the news of Cindy Halewood's passing on November 8, 2018. Cindy was a former Lab School Teacher at the Dr. Eric Jackman Institute of Child Study since 2000. She taught Grade 2 and previously was the Junior Kindergarten Teacher. Cindy's work at the Institute began in 1995 as an Early Childhood Education Specialist in the licensed daycare prior to receiving her BEd degree at OISE in 2000.
Cindy will be remembered for many things including her loving rapport with children and her innovative curriculum, e.g. the study of birds, salmon restoration at Duffens Creek, the “cardboard arcade”, and her innovative approach to introducing Shakespearean comedies to 7-year old children.
Cindy was fiercely committed to creating an inclusive learning environment, environmental education, and worked hard to make connections with local indigenous educators and from Aroland First Nation to incorporate indigenous knowledge and perspectives into her work. Her professional development experiences were included in both editions of “Natural Curiosity: A resource for Educators” and serve as an inspiration for public school teachers.
Cindy understood the mission of the Lab School and was dedicated to mentoring teacher-candidates from the MA-CSE program and passionately presenting in their academic classes. She was deeply involved in research – Cindy was an early collaborator in the Knowledge Building / Knowledge Forum research of Dr. Marlene Scardamalia and Dr. Carl Bereiter and this work with the very young children has been published and presented at numerous conferences. Cindy welcomed local and international professional visitors into her class on a weekly basis.
In 2007-2008, Cindy was seconded to Mills College Children’s School, the lab school of the renowned teacher education program at Mills College, Oakland, California due to her reputation for deep knowledge in child-centered education. Unfortunately, Cindy needed to end her work at the Lab School in August 2016 but her surprise visits to JICS community events were a highlight for the children, teachers, and parents.
Her incredible laugh and razor-sharp wit will be missed by all at Jackman ICS.
Edmund Theodore Frymire, Alumnus
September 15, 2018
Edmund Theodore Frymire, age 94, of RR1 Walton and formerly of Logan Township, Stratford and Kettle Point, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, at Huron Residential Hospice, Clinton on September 15, 2018.
Ed served with the Royal Canadian Air Force for 21 years as a Captain and Chief Radio Officer. Later, Ed got his teacher’s degree at OISE, U of T, moved to Stratford and taught Business, Accounting and Math, at Stratford Northwestern Secondary School. During his time at Northwestern he worked for The Canadian International Development Agency in Lesotho, Swaziland and Botswana, Southern Africa. Although Ed officially retired in 1987, he moved to the country and started a whole new adventure.
Ed enjoyed a fine wine and company of friends and family, especially when a game of cards was involved; specifically: ‘Wipes’! Ed served on several boards, including Citizens for Stratford, and was very active in the successful campaign to save Stratford’s City Hall. Other boards include treasurer of various sports organizations.
Ljiljana Sandic-Aylon, Alumna, BEd '86
August 21, 2018
OISE alumna Ljiljana Sandic-Aylon (BEd 1986) passed away on August 21, 2018. Lil was a teacher at Newmarket High School for many years, working most recently in special education. The Toronto Star ran a story about her last days at Southlake Regional Cancer Center where she celebrated in the marriage of her eldest daughter.
On August 29, 2018, hundreds of family, friends, colleagues, and students attended a beautiful Celebration of Life. OISE alumna and Associate Dean Michele Peterson-Badali, a close and long time family friend, spoke at the celebration of Lil's tremendous contributions as an educator, mentor, and friend.
Lil's call to the teaching profession and her training many years ago at OISE led to a career marked by excellence, service, and care for students and colleagues alike, and exemplary dedication to the profession of teaching.
Although taken far too soon, those near and dear to her agree that she lived life to the fullest and leaves a legacy of love, good humour, and incredible strength of character that will continue to inspire.
Please take a moment to read her obiturary containing an option to leave a condolence message.
Peggy Black, Alumna
August 12, 2018
With heavy hearts, we announce that Peggy Black passed away at the age of 99 on Sunday, August 12, 2018 at The Village of Winston Park. She was the beloved wife of John Sawyer (1975) for a short 29 years and the loving, devoted mother of her six children, as well as a grandmother, daughter and sister.
Peggy was proud of her teaching career. She began teaching at Copper Cliff High School, after graduating from the University of Guelph and OISE at the University of Toronto, then moved on to Peterborough Collegiate where she met her husband. Peggy ended her career, of many years, teaching at St Mary’s High School in Kitchener, Ontario.
Peggy was gracious and kind, strong and loving and family meant everything to her. We have learned well from her example.
Dr. Garnet Leo McDiarmid, Alumnus, Former Deparmental Chair
June 14, 2018
We are writing to share the sad news of the passing of Dr. Garnet Leo McDiarmid (OISE BEd) on June 14, 2018. We recently had the pleasure of hearing first hand of his teaching approach from an OISE alumni who had wonderful things to say about his work as a supervisor. Garnet had a brilliant mind and a tireless commitment to education. He retired from OISE in 1989 as the Chair of the Curriculum Department.
Please take a moment and read the full details of his life in the Globe and Mail obituary containing information about the service planned for July 15, 2018.
Walter George Pitman, Former OISE Director
June 13, 2018
Walter George Pitman was a colleague, friend and former Director of OISE (1986-1992). Walter had a remarkable passion for the arts, social justice, the environment and education. He joined OISE following his term as President of Ryerson, and he provided leadership during a challenging time. He was a thoughtful, caring contributor to our community.
Please review the details of his remarkable life by visiting the Toronto Star obituary and read the OISE News story: Remembering Walter George Pitman.
Donald MacWilliam, Alumnus
February 7, 2018
Donald MacWilliam passed away peacefully at Southlake Regional Health Centre on February 7, 2018 in his 89th year. Loving husband of Lois MacWilliam for 64 years. Beloved father of Robert (Linda Hadley), Annamarie (Stephen Hill), and Donna (Brian Hollander). Proud grandfather of Caroline (Lucas Montagnese), Jennifer, James, Gregory, Timothy, Elizabeth and Samantha. Great grandfather of Cedric and Owen Montagnese. Brother of Margaret Irvine. Son of the late Gordon and Mary MacWilliam of Wallacetown, Ontario.
Donald was educated at the University of Toronto with Masters of Education and Masters of Psychology degrees. He was an elementary school principal in Welland and York Region for many years.
Beverley Evelyn Golden, Alumna
Peacefully, with the support of her friends and hospital staff as was her wish, at University Hospital London, on Monday, December 11, 2017 Beverley Evelyn Golden in her 83rd year.
Beverley's life path took her to the RCAF serving on the DEW Line radar station to her studies at Brescia College, London, the University of Toronto and Harvard University. Her teaching career continued at Banting High School and Tweedsmuir Grade School in London.
Beverley poured her gifts into her students, her precious friends, her much loved cats along with all other living creatures. She will be dearly missed by her good friend Terry O'Dacre.
Bruce McFarlane, Alumnus
December 12, 2017
A bright light left the world on December 12, 2017. Bruce Furnival McFarlane passed away peacefully in his 78th year after a long struggle with Alzheimer's.
Bruce was an incredibly positive and outgoing force. He had an unquenchable enthusiasm and great zest for life. His tremendous ability to treat everyone he met with respect and sincerity made people feel special.
Bruce had a life-long interest in education and was a graduate of economics from Wilfred Laurier University and had a masters degree in education from the University of Toronto. He parlayed his love of education into a 33 year career as a teacher, mentor and principal. Bruce was an avid sports fan. He grew up playing minor sports in Toronto as a youth. This translated into a fanatical passion for the Toronto Argonauts and his beloved Toronto Maple Leafs.
At Bruce's request, cremation has taken place. A celebration of remembrance will be held at a later date.
Honey Sherman, Alumna
December 13, 2017
We are deeply saddened by the death of Honey Sherman and her husband Bernard (Barry) Sherman—two of the University of Toronto's most prominent alumni and visionary supporters.
Honey Sherman was a graduate of New College (B.A. 1969) and OISE (B.Ed. 1970), and was recognized with an Arbor Award in 2003 for her volunteerism which has always helped make the U of T community a better place.
We extend our deepest condolences to family and friends of the Shermans at this extremely difficult time.
Paul Begley, Faculty Member
November 20, 2017
We are writing to share the sad news of the passing of Paul Begley on November 20, 2017. Paul was an OISE faculty member in the former Departments of Educational Administration and Theory and Policy Studies. For those who remember Paul, we hope you will take a moment to share some reflections with others in our community.
Fr. Mario D'Souza, Associate Professor
September 26, 2017
It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Fr. Mario D’Souza, CSB. Fr. D’Souza, former Dean of the Faculty of Theology, former President and Vice Chancellor of Assumption University, Windsor, and a world leader in the field of religious education, died peacefully at the Cardinal Flahiff Basilian Centre on Tuesday evening, Sept. 26 after a brief illness.
Fr. D'Souza began teaching at the St. Michael’s Faculty of Theology in 1991, and, other than his time at Assumption (Jan., 2005-Aug., 2006), the Faculty remained his home until his death. He held the Basilian Fathers Chair in Religion and Education, and was named a Fellow of St. Michael’s College in October of 2014. He served as Dean of the Faculty of Theology from 2009 to 2014.
He brought to the classroom a rich academic history of his own, having received degrees from Boston College, the University of St. Michael’s College, the University of Toronto, the University of Calgary, and University College, Dublin.
Loved by his colleagues, his friends, and, most importantly, his students, Fr. Mario will be deeply missed. See Fr. Mario D'Souza's obituary by St. Mike's College, U of T.
Ann M. Jaffrey, Jackman ICS Teacher
August 12, 2017
Born in 1938, died on August 12, 2017 from an aggressive lung disease. She was a great teacher, a great friend, and a great mother who will be missed enormously by her son and daughter, Eric and Nora Jaffary, their spouses Aeyliya Husain and Edward Osowski, her grandchildren, Luc, Adam, and Simon, her sister and brother-in- law, Ellen and Roger Staig, and her former husband, Karl Jaffary, among many others. Ann was predeceased by her sister, Carol Hoffman, and by her longtime partner, Leslie Tompkins.
She will also be mourned by the dear friends she made in all eras of her life including during her time at the University of Toronto, her career at the Dr. Eric Jackman Institute of Child Study, and her house on Orchardview Blvd. With dear old friends, and remarkable new ones, she shared her love of ballet, literature, theatre, and music, and she extended generous hospitality in many fine meals and visits both in Toronto and at Bona Vista. In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes donations to the Palliative Care Unit at Sunnybrook Hospital.
A memorial service will be held this fall. Those interested in attending can contact Eric Jaffary for details.
Hildy Cronin, Jackman ICS Teacher
July 6, 2017
It is with great sadness to announce that Hildy (Stollery) Cronin, a long time classroom teacher at the Dr. Eric Jackman Institute of Child Study (JICS) and teacher educator, has passed away on July 6, 2017 at the age of 73.
Hildy joined OISE in 1968 as a teacher in the Institute of Child Study. In 1980 she was appointed to the rank of Tutor and taught both in the consecutive Bachelor of Education program, and in the Early Childhood Education Diploma program. She retired in 1999, and was also well known and highly regarded in the Toronto story telling community.
We extend our sincerest sympathies to Hildy’s family. See Hildy Cronin's obituary.
John Richard Harris, Alumnus
Posted: June 21, 2017
Peacefully at Parkwood Institute, John Richard Harris passed away in his 98th year. John was born and raised in Toronto. He joined the RCAF in 1941, serving as a navigator on a Halifax Bomber. The sole survivor of his aircrew, he spent two years as a prisoner of war in Germany, taking part in The Great Escape. A graduate of University of Toronto, and Carleton, John taught High School in Ottawa for 18 years, before moving to London in 1967 where he joined the administration at the newly opened Fanshawe College.
In his retirement, he wrote a wartime memoir entitled “Serving and Surviving”. On many Remembrance Days, and other occasions, he generously shared his wartime experiences with the public. After the war, he married his high school sweetheart Violet Kelly (predeceased). He will be greatly missed by his daughters, Anne and Catherine, and his grandchildren Kimberly, Suzanne, John, and Stephen. Cremation has taken place. A private celebration of his life will be held in August. Those wishing to make donations in memory of John are asked to consider the Canadian Red Cross. We wish to express our gratitude to the staff at Parkwood who provided him with wonderful care during the last year of his life.
Hugh Oliver, Staff Member, 1969-95
Posted: July 14, 2017
It is with great sadness to announce the death of Hugh Oliver, a long-time OISE staff member who was the Editor-in-Chief of OISE Press for many years, and was very much the spirit of OISE.
Hugh began at OISE Press in 1969 and served as its Editor-in-Chief from 1982 until his retirement in 1995. He was not only the editor of the Press and its journals and newsletter, News and Notes, but also the star of OISE’s social life, organizing bi-annual musical satires called CROISE, CROISIER, CROISIEST, and CROISE CUM LAUDE between 1980 and 1986, the star singer of the OISE band (subsequently named the Foolish Things), and the chief instigator of an annual cricket match at OISE. In addition, he was an accomplished songwriter and crooner, sculptor (some of his works still being at OISE), poet, and star of the award-winning documentary, The Ballad of Hugh.
His books of poetry included the Canadian Limerick Book, the American Limerick Book, and several serious volumes, including one focused on the Holocaust, A Fog of Grey Voices. He also authored Hoblyn: A Novel in 3 Parts and the book, the Art of Aluminum Foil. In a 2012 interview with NOW Magazine, Hugh made no secret about wishing to be buried next to the poet Geoffrey Chaucer in Westminster Abbey, but alas accepted a more modest fate at St. James Cemetery in Toronto.
A visitation will be held from 12 Noon to 1:30 pm on Wednesday, July 12th, 2017, at the Forest Lawn Mausoleum and Cremation Centre, 4570 Yonge St (just north of the 401). Following the visitation, a burial will take place at St James Cemetery (probably between 2 and 2:30), 635 Parliament St., North Lot 317, Section E-Ravine.
Hugh Oliver was a very special part of the OISE legacy and his passing fills us with great sorrow. We extend our sincerest sympathies to Hugh’s family and friends.
Ursula Tammy Kokotkiewicz, Alumna, BEd '14
Posted: July 5, 2017
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of a former OISE student, Tammy Kokotkiewicz. According to news reports, Tammy or 'Mrs. K' – as she was affectionately referred to by her students – and her husband Jacob passed away in New Mexico in June 2017. A well-loved teacher in Dallas, Tammy graduated with an Honours BA from Woodsworth College in 2013 and with a B.Ed. from OISE in 2014. She was 32 years old.
We extend our sincerest sympathies to Tammy’s family and friends.
Richard Potwarka, Alumnus, MEd
Posted: June 5, 2017
Rich Potwarka really had no intention of becoming a teacher.
After graduating from Wilfrid Laurier University with a degree in philosophy, he might have been scrambling to come up with a practical career goal, but teaching, well that wasn't an option.
Son, Luke Potwarka, said it was a pal of his father's who convinced him, even though the term at the teachers college had started two weeks earlier. “He was coaxed in," said Luke. "He needed a little bit of a nudge.”
That nudge led Rich to a career he loved, one that mirrored his work as a baseball coach, a job where he had the deepest impact on young athletes.
Rich was born in Kitchener an only child and the son of Polish immigrants. He was raised by his mother, in the Cherry Park neighbourhood. That park was where Rich spent many happy hours playing baseball with friends. "That's where he honed his craft," said Luke.
After completing teachers college in Stratford, Rich finished a master's degree in education from the [Ontario Institute for Studies in Education of the] University of Toronto. He met Charlene, a teacher living in Michigan, while attending a wedding.
See Richard Potwarka's obituary in the Waterloo Region Record.
Dr. Carol Ann Golench, Past President, OISE Alumni Association
March 18, 2017
We are deeply saddened by the news of Carol Ann Golench's passing. Carol passed away peacefully after a brave struggle with cancer at Mount Sinai Hospital in her 70th year on March 18, 2017. She was a graduate of the University of Toronto, attaining three degrees and a Doctorate (PhD) in Theory and Policy Studies, and a past President of the OISE Alumni Association.
As a recipient of a [U of T] Arbor Award, Dr. Golench proudly served on the College of Electors and as a co-opted member of the University of Toronto's Governing Council. Carol enjoyed attending Université d'Aix-Marseille, France and spoke four languages and embraced her Finnish heritage. Following a distinguished career in education as a Principal of international languages program, she subsequently pursued her interest in politics as a member of the Ontario Liberal Party, which later led her to be elected to the position of Vice-President Policy.
As a member of the Toronto Earlscourt Rotary Club, she was introduced to the microfinance movement and was subsequently appointed President of the Toronto International Microfinance Summit, a forum to raise the public profile of microfinance in Canada and internationally. Carol was extremely hard working and had varied interests particularly in fashion and design.
A memorial service is planned in early May for her many friends and colleagues. Her interment will be at a later date at Mount Pleasant Cemetery. In Carol's memory, donations to the Canadian Cancer Society and Covenant House would be greatly appreciated. Carol will be greatly missed by her many friends and relatives.
See Carol Golench's obituary in the Toronto Star.
Dr. Thomas Mark Turay, Alumnus, MA '96, PhD '01
OISE's distinguished scholar, Dr. Thomas Mark Turay—a great teacher, peace builder, co-founder and co-director of the Center for Development and Peace (CDPeace) in rural Sierra Leone—died September 6, 2015 suddenly of heart failure brought on by a severe asthma attack, not far from his home in Sierra Leone. He will be much missed by fellow alumni, colleagues and friends.
The primary focus of Dr. Turay's work was in the areas of peacebuilding, human rights, advocacy, development education, peace education, and indigenous African knowledge systems. He worked closely with the Coady Institute’s overseas partners in Egypt, Guyana, Jamaica and Sierra Leone, and with Canadian NGOs including Canadian Friends of Sierra Leone, Partnership Africa Canada, Peacefund Canada, Peaceful Schools International, the International Centre for Conflict Resolution and Mediation, and the Tatamagouche Training Centre.
He stepped down as senior program staff at the Coady Institute and as a faculty member in the Department of Adult Education at St. Francis Xavier University in 2008. He returned to Sierra Leone to focus on his work with the Center for Development and Peace Education, an organization he directed and co-founded before coming to the Coady. Over the past year, Dr. Turay and his wife Mary, also a StFX graduate, gave much of their time and energy helping communities respond to the Ebola crisis in their country.
Prior to his work with the Coady Institute, Dr. Turay was also the Director of Caritas Makeni – an NGO which provides relief and development support for community-based organizations in the Northern Province of Sierra Leone.
