Prof. George Michael WICKENS

WICKENS, Prof. George Michael
Born August 7, 1918, in London, England; died in Toronto during the early hours of January 26 after suffering a stroke a day earlier. Michael (as friends called him) was a prolific and distinguished humanities scholar. Although maintaining a broad, lifelong range of interests, he began to develop special expertise in Middle Eastern languages, history, literature, theology and other manifestations of culture while a top undergraduate student at Trinity College, Cambridge, during the 1930s. During the Second World War he rose to the rank of captain in the British army and served as an intelligence officer. He continued intelligence work after the war and resumed academic life in 1946, teaching at the University of London before accepting an invitation to return to Cambridge. He stayed there until 1957, when he was offered a post at the University of Toronto. He was instrumental in founding the U of T's Department of Islamic Studies (predecessor to today's Department of Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations), and establishing it within a decade as a leader in the Western world. In 1980, he was granted the title University Professor, the U of T's highest honour. In nearly 22 years of retirement, beginning in 1984, he read, wrote, engaged in translation projects and continued to work with graduate students, while adding to his repertoire of languages. Above all, Michael was principled, an original thinker and independent until his final day. He was predeceased in 1993 by wife Ruth (nee Lindop). He leaves six sons, two daughters, 13 mostly adult grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. The family wishes to thank, in particular, one trusted friend and colleague. Michael asked that there be no memorial service, but would encourage people to make donations to the charities of their choice or to the Funeral Advisory and Memorial Society of Toronto. Condolences can be sent to family members via cjsirman@sympatico.ca