Canadian Classical Bulletin/Bulletin Canadien des Etudes Anciennes

13.12.3      2007 09 04      ISSN 1198-9149

Editors/Rédacteurs: J. W. Geyssen (University of New Brunswick):  bulletin@unb.ca

Michael P. Fronda (McGill University): michael.fronda@cac-scec.ca

Renaud Gagné (McGill University): renaud.gagne@cac-scec.ca

webpage: http://cac-scec.ca/

Published by e-mail by the Classical Association of Canada/

Publié par courrier électronique par la société canadienne des études classiques

webpage: http://www.usask.ca/classics/cac/index.html

President: James Murray (University of New Brunswick, Fredericton)   jsm@unb.ca

Secretary/ Secrétaire: Patrick Baker (Université Laval)   Patrick.Baker@hst.ulaval.ca

Treasurer/ Trésorier: Annabel Robinson (University of Regina)   annabel.robinson@uregina.ca

Contents:
[1] Obituary

[1] Obituary


From: Michele George georgem@mcmaster.ca

It is with great sadness that the Department of Classics at McMaster University announces the death of Professor Sandy McKay, who passed away in Hamilton, Ontario on August 31, 2007.

Alexander Gordon McKay was born on Christmas Eve in 1924 in Toronto, where he first attended Upper Canada College, then Trinity College at the University of Toronto. After graduating with a Classics degree, Sandy earned an M.A. from Yale and then an A.M. and PhD from Princeton, where he was a Woodrow Wilson Fellow. After holding teaching positions at Wells College, the University of Pennsylvania, Mount Allison, Waterloo, Western, and Manitoba, Sandy joined the McMaster Classics department in 1957 and became full professor in 1963. He was Chair of the department 1962-1968 and 1976-1979, and he was founding Dean of the Faculty of Humanities 1968-1973. After retiring from Mac, Sandy missed the classroom so much that he subsequently taught at York and Concordia. His many academic honours include membership at the Institute for Advanced Studies at Princeton, at the Fondation Hardt in Geneva, and at Trinity College, Cambridge and honorary doctorates from the University of Manitoba, Brock, Queens, and McMaster. Sandy’s academic publications include 15 books, more than 80 articles, and over 100 reviews, in addition to numerous editorial projects on behalf of the Royal Society of Canada. In 1965 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, and was President of the Classical Association of Canada (1978-1980), the Vergilian Society of America (1973-1974), and CAMWS (1972-1973), and in 1988 he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada.

His students will remember with fondness his passion for Vergil and for Italy, especially Campania; his unique talent for mellifluous, articulate expression that left us spellbound in seminars; congenial dinners with him and Jean in their handsome home on Turner Avenue with the twin grand pianos; and above all, his graciousness and civility that was always mingled with a twinkle in the eye and a throaty chuckle.

Sandy is survived by his wife Jean and two stepdaughters, Danae Fraser and Julie Brott, and 4 grandchildren. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, September 5, 2007 at Christ Church Cathedral, 252 James Street North, Hamilton, Ontario. In lieu of flowers, Sandy’s family has asked that donations can be sent toward a scholarship in his honour to the Department of Classics, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4M2; or click on ‘In Memory and In Tribute’ at this website and specify ‘Sandy McKay’ fund as the goal of your donation:

http://www.mcmaster.ca/ua/alumni/giving/ways_to_give.cfm.

A memorial service will be held at McMaster University at a date to be announced.

Next regular issue    2007 09 15

Send submissions to bulletin@unb.ca