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Robert Brown Obituary
At Sunnybrook Hospital on September 22, 2016 of complications following successful surgery to replace the aortic valve. He was 80. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Gail; his children Bradley Bower Brown (Donna), Brenda Berkeley Katz (Avi), Brian Blair Brown (Allison); grandchildren Greta Brown, Noam Katz and Clara and Fiona Brown and his sister Barbara Smith. He was a proud and loved husband, father and grandfather.
Craig was Professor Emeritus in the Department of History at the University of Toronto. His research was in Post Confederation Canada, Canada and WWI and Canadian American Relations. He had been Chair of the Department, a Dean at both the Faculties of Graduate Studies and Arts and Science, President of the Canadian Historical Association, President of the Academy of Humanities and Social Science of the Royal Society of Canada, editor of the Canadian Historical Review, general editor for the Champlain Society, a Killam Fellow.
Best known for his biography of Prime Minister Robert Laird Borden and as editor of the popular "Illustrated History of Canada", he also wrote "Canada's National Policy 1883-1900", "Arts and Science at Toronto – A History 1827-1990", "A Generation of Excellence, A History of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research", (now known as CIFAR, the early development with which he was involved).
The family wishes especially to thank the many amazing doctors and staff at Sunnybrook who have cared for us for decades.
A Funeral Service will be held at EGLINTON ST. GEORGE'S UNITED CHURCH (35 Lytton Blvd., 1 block west of Yonge St.) on Thursday, September 29, 2016 at 1:30 p.m. A Memorial Service at the University is being planned for later this fall. In lieu of flowers, a contribution to the Craig Brown Travelling Fellowship for History Graduate Students Fund would be appreciated (Attn: Kathy Mile, Faculty of Arts and Science, 100 St. George St., Suite 2032, Toronto, ON M5S 3G3).
Online condolences may be made at www.trullfuneralsyonge.com
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Memories and Condolences
for Robert Brown
13 Entries
Jim Till
October 10, 2016
In the early 1980s, Craig and I were Associate Deans in the School of Graduate Studies at the University of Toronto. He was Associate Dean for the Humanities, while I was Associate Dean for the Life Sciences. We spent quite a lot of time in conversations, and these were eye-opening experiences for me. Our discussions became one of my fondest memories from the time that I spent in the School of Graduate Studies. Condolences to Gail and family.
October 3, 2016
To Gail and Family,
Please accept our condolences concerning Craig's death. He was our colleague for many years and left us with many memories. We will certainly support the travelling fund for graduate students set up in his memory.
Carl Berger and Laurel Sefton MacDowell
John Carland
October 2, 2016
After my wife and I arrived in Canada in September 1970, Craig Brown became key to our getting acquainted with and adjusting to life in the True North Strong and Free.
Within a week of meeting him as a student in his Post-Confederation grad course, he invited Maria and me to day-trip with the Browns to the McMichael Gallery. There we saw for the first time paintings of Tom Thomson and the Group of Seven, and, more importantly, began to establish a friendship that was important to us then and later. This generosity of Craig and Gail to these two wayfaring Americans was as heart-warming as it was unexpected. However, as I soon learned, it was also typical.
At the time I had just come from a not very happy grad school experience at the City College of New York and wasn't sure what to expect at Toronto. Craig quickly demonstrated what my City College profs had nothe cared for students and was accessible to them. An example: Early on in his course I was having difficulty getting a grip on the history of Canadian railway policy and how this played out in terms of nationalism and the economy. To remedy my deficit, Craig one afternoon spent, if memory serves, three or four hours going over the history and formation and historiography of railway policy, the importance of said policy to nation-building, and other related topics. To use an over-used word, I was awed at his knowledge and understanding of the topic and amazed that he would while away an afternoon in this way with a student. Needless to say, I came away much less ignorant than I had been.
Maria and I are glad to have known him and grateful to have been able to call him friend. We shall miss him. We send our condolences to Gail and family.
Michael Behiels
September 30, 2016
Dear Gail & Family,
Sincere condolences for the passing of Craig.
He and Ramsay Cook helped me obtain a two year sessional appointment in the History Department at U of T in 1973. Their assistance launched my career as a Canadian Historian. He was the ballast of U of T's graduate history program. May he Rest In Peace.
Michael Behiels
Emeritus Professor, Department of History, University of Ottawa
David Bercuson
September 29, 2016
Dear Gail and family:
Craig was a wonderful teacher. I still think of him as my mentor after all these years. I'm very sorry about his passing
September 29, 2016
Dear Gail and family. Linda and I were sorry to hear the sad news. We have such wonderful memories of Craig and his thoughtful and engaging care for all the people he knew. We wish you the very best
Rick Clippingdale, Ottawa Ontario
Sheila Kappele
September 29, 2016
Dear Gail,
Please accept our sympathies to you and your family. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Sheila Kappele
September 28, 2016
Dear Brad,
So sorry to hear about your father. Our thoughts are with you and your family during this difficult time. Hugs to all of you.
Sean and Sylvia Perry
Thomas Robinson
September 28, 2016
Craig was a fine person, whom I knew in the 80s, when he served as associate dean in the School of Graduate Studies at the University of Toronto. He was a warm and companionable colleague, who served his university with poise and distinction, and will be greatly missed.
Irene Birrell
September 27, 2016
I worked with Craig at the U of T School of Graduate Studies many years ago when he was Associate Dean. He was an intelligent, articulate, thoughtful and charming colleague who made me laugh every day when he came into the office. Working with him is one of my fondest memories of my time at SGS. My deepest condolences and very best wishes to his family.
Irene Birrell
David Auster
September 27, 2016
Dear Brenda and family:
I am so sorry for your loss. Its been many years since I've been in touch with any of you, but I wanted to reach out. I hope you rest easy during this difficult time.
With very best,
Dave Auster
[email protected]
Saad Saidullah
September 27, 2016
3:45 PM, Tuesday, 27th September 2016;
15:45 Hours,27.09.2016, Toronto, Canada;
Condolence(s).
Condolence(s)s on the death/ "passing away" of (the late) R. Craig Brown to his family (-members), kith & kin, relations/ relatives, friends and admirers, including those at the Varsity/ the University of Toronto.
Truly,
Saad
Sa'ad A. Saidullah; Advocate, High Court of Her Imperial Majesty (H.I.M.)
Queen Victoria at Allahabad,U.P.,India
3:50 PM, Tuesday, 27th September 2016;
15:50 Hours,27.09.2016,Toronto, Canada.
September 27, 2016
Dear Gail and family
We are deeply saddened by the news of Craig's sudden passing.We will miss his friendly greeting and warm smile .at church each Sunday. Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time.
Nancy and Walter Pridham
Showing 1 - 13 of 13 results
Memorial Events
for Robert Brown
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