Guy Robertson MACLEAN

1929 - 2021

GUY ROBERTSON MACLEAN BA, MA; BA(Hons.) MA; PhD December 21, 1929 - October 29, 2021 Guy MacLean died in Halifax Friday, October 29, 2021. Born in Sydney, NS, he was the son of Whitmore and Mary MacLean whose forbears had arrived in Cape Breton from the Isles of Tiree and Skye. He attended schools in Sydney and went on to Dalhousie University where he received a BA and MA in History. While at university, he played Varsity football, rugby and hockey. In the summers he worked as a student minister in Saskatchewan (visiting his parishes on horseback) and trained in the COTC, Second Lieutenant. As a Rhodes Scholar, he attended New College, Oxford. While there, he played hockey with the Oxford University Ice Hockey team, the New College cricket and rugby teams and was President of the Peripatetic Wining and Dining Society. He also studied. From there he proceeded to Duke University where he earned a PhD. Upon graduation, he was offered a position at Duke but he returned to Dalhousie where he taught history for 23 years. He also served in several administrative positions, including Dean of Men, University of King's College; Dean of Residence, Dalhousie; Assistant Dean, Faculty of Graduate Studies; Dean, Faculty of Graduate Studies; Dean, Faculty of Arts and Sciences; Vice-President (Academic and Research). In 1980, he was appointed President and Vice-Chancellor of Mount Allison University. From 1989 to 1995 he served as Ombudsman of Nova Scotia. Among his official appointments and memberships were those to the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, Donner Canadian Foundation, Maritime Provinces Higher Education Commission, Canada Council Doctoral Fellowship Selection Committee, Rhodes Scholarship Selection Committee, Visitor to the University of New Brunswick (Dispute Mediator), Board of Governors, University College of Cape Breton. Those related to community interests included Chairman, Opera East, Branch Chairman Canadian Institute of International Affairs, President, Soccer Nova Scotia, Board of Directors Sport Nova Scotia, Board of Governors, Canada Summer Games 1985. As a student, he received the Malcolm Honour Award (Dalhousie) and the Graeme Fraser Award (Pine Hill Divinity Hall). He was also awarded the Centennial Medal, Jubilee Medal,125th Anniversary Medal and was recognized as President Emeritus, Mount Allison University. In retirement, Guy was active as President of the Northwest Arm Heritage Association for 10 years during their battle to name Deadmans Island as an historic site and save it from residential development. Guy's fondest memories were of his youthful summers in Cape Breton, his time with lifelong friends at Oxford and his days creating a garden at his home in Marlborough Woods on the Arm where he and Judy lived for 55 years. He was a bright, honourable and fine man, much loved and missed by his wife Judy, daughter Jocelyn, daughter-in-law Marilla, grandchildren Mollie, Lewis and Edie, brother Dick and wife Kirsten, sister-in-law Joanne Hunter and seven remarkable nephews. He was pre-deceased by his son Colin, sister and brother-in-law Patsy and John Dick, and brother-in-law John Hunter. Guy was extremely proud of his children and grandchildren and, in memory, he would have been pleased for any support for the Colin MacLean Memorial Bursary at the Nova Scotia Community College.