In Memoriam: Prof. Hugh Mason (1943-2023)

I am deeply saddened to inform the Classics community that Hugh Mason, emeritus Associate Professor of Classics in the Department of Classics at the University of Toronto, passed away on March 27, 2023. 

 Hugh John Mason was born in 1943. After receiving his BA (First Class) in Classics at McGill in 1965, he took his Masters (1965) and PhD (1968) in Classical Philology from Harvard University. He worked at the University of Toronto for 43 years. He was a devoted teacher of Greek literature and culture in the Department of Classics, where he was hired as an Assistant Professor in 1968 and promoted to Associate Professor in 1972; he also served as both Undergraduate Coordinator (1995-1999, 2008-2011) and Graduate Coordinator (2003-2004). In addition to his contribution to the Department, Professor Mason was Registrar of New College from 1977 to 1992 and Acting Principal of the college from 1982 to 1983. He will be remembered as a kind and generous teacher, supervisor, and colleague. 

 Professor Mason’s scholarship was wide-ranging. His earliest work was a lexicon and analysis of Greek institutional vocabulary, the topic of a book (Greek Terms for Roman Institutions: A Lexicon and Analysis., Toronto: Hakkert, 1974) and several articles. Much of his career was devoted to the study of the Ancient Novel, especially Apuleius and Longus, and to the history and culture of Lesbos. But he also had deep interests in modern Greek literature and in eighteenth-century music and culture. He was a dedicated member of the Classical Association of Canada, serving as Secretary from 1974 to 1975, and presented more than a dozen papers at the annual meetings of the association, most recently at the 2022 meeting at Western University. He also served as Associate Editor of Phoenix from 1995 to 2006 and published numerous articles and reviews in the journal. 

 I include this link to his obituary: https://www.hughmason.net. In lieu of flowers, donations in Professor Mason’s memory to either the University of Toronto, Faculty of Arts & Science Annual Fund to support student scholarships or to the Daily Bread Foodbank to fight hunger would be appreciated.

 Victoria Wohl

Department of Classics

University of Toronto