John SAUL

1938 - 2023

John S. Saul May 4, 1938 - September 23, 2023 John S. Saul led a truly remarkable life. Jazz aficionado, mystery and thriller lover, film buff, opera goer, baseball fan, hoopster, Marxist, teacher, author, scholar, activist, revolutionary, comrade, friend, clipper of articles, teller of stories, beloved husband, devoted father, doting grampa, John died peacefully at home on September 23, 2023. John was raised in North Toronto, the eldest son of Wilford and Dorothy Saul (née Shannon), older brother to Bill Saul. He attended John Ross Robertson P.S. and Lawrence Park CI. A graduate of Victoria University, U of T (BA,1959; MA,1961), John went on to pursue graduate studies at Princeton University and the London School of Economics. He married the love of his life Pat Saul (née Chalmers) in 1962, and moved to Dar es Salaam in 1965 to pursue his doctoral research and teach at the university. There he began a career of scholar activism that would last the rest of his life. In 1972, Pat and John moved back to Toronto, where John continued his deep commitment to southern African liberation struggles. He joined the faculty of Atkinson College and the Department of Political Science at York University and played a founding role in Canada's anti-apartheid and southern African solidarity organization, TCLPAC (later TCLSAC, Toronto Committee for the Liberation of Southern Africa). He sat on the early editorial boards of This Magazine, Southern Africa Report, was a founding editor of ROAPE (Review of African Political Economy), and was proud to be the only person to publish an article in every decade of the Socialist Register's existence. A brilliant scholar and tireless academic-activist, John published 25 books on southern Africa. He taught in universities in Mozambique and South Africa, where he became ever more committed to anti-capitalist/ anti-imperialist politics, and to the genuine liberation of southern Africa. He inspired countless students and colleagues throughout his long and illustrious career. He was awarded honorary doctorates from Victoria University and the University of Johannesburg and was recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Canadian Association of African Studies. Despite being a devoted anti-monarchist, he was also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. John knew more, read more and engaged more in the world than most people could do in two lifetimes. But most of all, he adored his family. He shared a truly unique and beautiful love with his wife of 60 years, Pat, who died last September. They raised two devoted kids, Nick and Jo, and nurtured their four grandchildren, Ben, Quinn, Clare and Charlie. They were friends to their in-laws, Andrea Curtis and the late David Mills. John's caring, courage, dedication, strength and sense of humour will be greatly missed. His legacy, both professional and personal, is far reaching. Sincere gratitude to Dr. Trudell and the staff at Princess Margaret Hospital, to Wennie Frugal for her loving care and to Dr. Melissa Melnitzer and the Temmy Latner Centre for Palliative Care. A celebration of John's beautiful life will be held on November 4th, 2-5 p.m., in Alumni Hall, Victoria University, Toronto. A luta continua.