William Drummond IRVINE

1944 - 2021

WILLIAM DRUMMOND IRVINEIt is with great sadness that we announce the passing of William (Bill) Drummond Irvine on May 14, 2021. He died at home surrounded by his family after a struggle with cancer. Bill was born in 1944 in Vancouver, to Mary and William Irvine and was raised primarily in Trail, British Columbia. Bill loved to tell stories about summer jobs at the lead-zinc smelter there. In 1963, he attended the University of British Columbia, where he earned his Honours BA in 1965. At UBC, he met Marion Lane whom he married in 1971. He attended Princeton University on a full scholarship, obtained his PHD in 1971, and began teaching History at York University that same year. He initially taught at the Glendon Campus of the university, then moved to the main campus where he stayed until his retirement in 2011. Throughout his years at York, he taught both graduate and undergraduate courses, often beyond his speciality in Modern French history. It was Bill who directed and was the primary lecturer in the modern world history course taken by hundreds of students each year. He was a popular and engaging teacher, who introduced generations of students to what modern history was all about. His wit, bombastic sense of humour and lack of pretension made his lectures totally memorable. His research interests focused on French conservatism and the French Right, subjects which he analyzed in three books, and countless articles and reviews. He was an iconoclast who took on the big issues of French history. He was a valued mentor to his graduate students, so readily available and prompt in his comments that they became long-term friends. In addition to his teaching and research, he took on multiple administrative responsibilities. Bill was an enthusiastic outdoorsman, with a passion for canoeing, hiking and fishing (occasionally, with success). He pursued many expeditions on the Dumoine River in Quebec, in the mountains around Cody Wyoming (including Rampart Pass) and the West Coast Trail in British Columbia for his 65th birthday. He was a notorious fitness buff, particularly at the West End YMCA, and an avid runner. He was proud of the multiple marathons he ran, including two under three hours. Bill was an accomplished chef who aspired to cook a new recipe every day and loved reading cookbooks. He often entertained friends and family with lavish and delicious meals. He was also a world-traveller, having travelled at various times in his life through Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle-East and Latin America. In addition to his beloved wife, Bill is survived by his sons, Carl and Benjamin, daughters-in-law Sara and Alinah, grandchildren Harrison and Elliott, and siblings Sandra (Justus) and Fred (Shirley), and many in-laws, nieces and nephews. He will be greatly missed by a vast array of friends and colleagues. Due to the current COVID19-related restrictions, a celebration of his life will be held at a later time. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the YMCA of Greater Toronto Area or The Princess Margaret Hospital Prostate Program Fund.