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Derek ALLEN Obituary

DEREK PEARSON HENDERSON ALLEN Professor Emeritus of Philosophy and Honorary Fellow Trinity College, University of Toronto Sadly, after an unexpected illness, Derek died on Thursday, April 27, 2023, at Toronto Grace Health Centre. Beloved husband of Margaret Allen; brother-in-law of Frances Woollard, Kathleen and Harry Howie, and Elinor and Keith Joyce; and cousin to Cecille, Jonathan, and Deborah Bunford, and Marilyn Thornton, Doug Allen, Louise Sinclair and their families. The family will receive friends at the Humphrey Funeral Home A.W. Miles – Newbigging Chapel, 1403 Bayview Avenue (south of Davisville) on Thursday, May 4, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. A funeral service will be held on May 5, at 11:00 a.m., at Trinity College Chapel, Trinity College, University of Toronto, 6 Hoskin Avenue. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a Charity of Your Choice. Condolences may be forwarded through www.humphreymiles.com.
Published by The Globe and Mail from Apr. 29 to May 5, 2023.

Memories and Condolences
for Derek ALLEN

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15 Entries

Montieth Illingworth

February 3, 2025

Derek was just an amazing professor and mentor who knew what his students needed and gave his support selflessly.

William Deck

January 4, 2024

Professor Allen was the best teacher I have ever had. His care for his students was unmatched. Rest in peace, Professor Allen.

Mark Battersbyt

June 15, 2023

A wonderful person, a great colleague. So sad. Sorely missed

Steven Wang

June 5, 2023

Professor Allen was an incredible human being and one of the most influential teachers I have had. As an undergraduate at Trinity College, I often knocked on his door to ask for his advice or just to chat and he was always so patient, gentle and compassionate, no matter how silly the question. He was a man of the highest integrity and gave me the courage to take risks, enabling me to believe in my own potential. Professor Allen has nurtured and inspired generations of students who will continue to carry on his legacy and spirit and I will think of him often in the road ahead.

Margaret MacMillan

May 12, 2023

Derek leaves a very large gap indeed for his beloved and loving family and all of us who knew and liked him so much. He stood out for his integrity, his decency, and his kindness. And he had a lovely and occasionally wicked sense of humour.

I had known him for many years--as a classmate of one of my brothers and then as a fellow student at Trinity--but I really came to appreciate his sterling qualities when I became Provost at Trinity in 2001. It was my great good fortune that he was Dean. We worked together for five years and I came to rely on his judgment and wisdom. Derek was committed to scholarship and learning at Trinity and in the wider university and I watched with admiration how he navigated university politics and bureaucracy to promote those ends. He played a key role in creating the centres of learning at the College and the highly successful Trinity One programmes.
We will all miss him. My sincerest condolences and deepest sympathy to his family.

Wendy M. Cecil

May 5, 2023

In the many years I knew Derek through UofT, I found that he was consistently quiet and kind, wise and capable - a true gentleman with a warm smile and a sweet nature. As a pillar of Trinity and UofT, he will be sorely missed by all who knew him.

Kafayat Scott

May 5, 2023

I will never forget how warm and kind Derek was every time he interacted with the staff of the Dean's Office at the Faculty of Arts & Science. I was sad to hear of his passing, as I know he will be missed dearly-my condolences to his family and friends.

Jean Coléno

May 4, 2023

In all my interactions with Derek Allen I was struck by his extraordinary kindness, generosity, and moral integrity. Thank you, Derek, for setting such a wonderful example. You'll remain in the hearts of the endless people you touched.

Rob Prichard

May 4, 2023

Derek was a prince of a man, remarkable in his dedication to and service of Trinity and the University of Toronto. I treasured his wise counsel and friendship and am saddened by his passing. Derek ranked with the very best of the University.

John Duncan

May 4, 2023

It would take hours to list the contributions Derek Allen made to Trinity College, the University of Toronto, and the wider community. A colleague once told me that a mere fraction of the list would make many feel like under-achievers, but such a comparison would displease Derek, for not only was he an incredible achiever, he was an incredibly kind-hearted person-fundamentally gracious and supportive of all those around him.

I worked closely with Derek at Trinity for fifteen years, and in that time I came to appreciate him a great deal, as a mentor, as a colleague, and as a friend. As I reflect on our shared experience, I am moved to follow his example-that is, to rationally identify the features that describe him best. Five key features come to mind, providing a glimpse of the person behind the long list of accomplishments.

First, Derek had a deep and abiding love for the academic mission. Trinity was his academic home for more than 6 decades. From his undergraduate years to a 16-year term as Dean of Arts and Vice-Provost, his love for the college, its people, and its programs of study was always evident. He believed in higher education, and he worked tirelessly to make it the best it could be at Trinity.

Second, Derek was an incredibly sharp and clear thinker, writer, and speaker. I cannot recall ever having been confused by what he wrote or said.

Third, Derek was a master of organisation. Without exception, he was the most prepared person at every meeting.

Fourth, Derek was a tireless and generous over-achiever. I never worried when we worked on a project together because Derek always had praise for his collaborators, whom he invariably out-worked.

Fifth, and most importantly, Derek was a fundamentally gracious and kind human being. In some ways, he was unassuming, and yet his presence was always felt because he was genuinely supportive of others as well as organised, sharp, clear, and productive.

Derek both cared about people, and was incredibly capable, and because he was an academic he made a huge difference in the lives of students, staff and faculty over the many decades of his career.

He cared for each of us, and we are better because of him. He was and is widely loved and respected, and he will be sorely missed.

Judy Anderson

May 3, 2023

I feel very sad. A few years older than I am, Derek was a contemporary of mine at Trinity College in the late 60s, early 70s. His easy, wide smile is what I see right now. He was, at all times, a kind and encouraging person. I´ve only seen him a few times since those long ago days, but his big personality and smile and his warm, cheerful voice are embedded in my memory. Dear Derek, may flights of angels sing thee to thy rest. (I know he´s smiling at me!)

Warda Shazadi Meighen

May 3, 2023

Though you may no longer be with us in the physical world, your memory lives on in the hearts and minds of those who knew you. You were an example of what it means to be a true mensch and a gentleman - intellectual yet warm, welcoming, and kind-hearted.

Your influence on those around you was profound, and your legacy will continue. Personally, I owe a great deal to you and the impact you had on my life.

You will be sorely missed by so many.

Gordon Johnston

May 2, 2023

When we were undergraduates together in Philosophy English at Trinity, he talked me through Hegel. I can't think of a higher commendation, and gratitude.

Mark Lautens

May 2, 2023

I met Derek on a selection committee for a Dean of Arts and Science @UofT some 20 years ago. He later nominated me to become a Fellow of Trinity College. Derek was a kind and warm person, who always made me feel welcome, whether we met on campus or at the college. A thoughtful leader, a quality scholar, a dedicated teacher. In all ways he was someone to admire. RIP Derek.

Robert Bothwell

April 30, 2023

Derek was a thoroughly decent, thoughtful person. His long service as dean of arts at Trinity College preserved Trinity´s good traditions, whole sidelining those that were, perhaps, not so good. Students throughout his career benefited from his wise counselling. The university and the college are the poorer for his passing.

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Memorial Events
for Derek ALLEN

May

4

Visitation

6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Humphrey Funeral Home A.W. Miles – Newbigging Chapel

1403 Bayview Avenue, ON

May

5

Funeral service

11:00 a.m.

Trinity College Chapel, Trinity College, University of Toronto

6 Hoskin Avenue, ON

Funeral services provided by:

Humphrey Funeral Home A.W. Miles - Newbigging Chapel Limited

1403 Bayview Avenue, Toronto, ON M4G 3A8