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John BROWNING Obituary
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Memories and Condolences
for John BROWNING
25 Entries
Ricardo Knowles
May 7, 2022
Dr. Browning taught me Spanish for a year at McMaster. I learnt a great deal from him. My gratitude will exist for as long as I do.
Muchísimas gracias, profesor y amigo.
Gary Warner
August 20, 2021
I have known John for over five decades. We were colleagues in the Department of Romance Languages early in our careers and much later were co-instructors in the Arts & Science Program for many years. John was a delight to work with, not only because of the dedication, expertise and skill that he brought to teaching but also because of his creative mind, his wittiness and the joy that he created. He impressed students and colleagues alike with his debating skills. He was also a delightful table companion. John's legacy as an academic, colleague and friend will live on. My condolences in particular to his three children, Cathy, Simon, and Caroline, and to all his family. May he rest in peace.
Sean Fleming
June 9, 2021
I have just learned of the passing of dr browning.
I studied Spanish thru the early 80s. I too remember his second to none sense of humour. I recall hi I'm erasing the chalk board and the eraser slipped out of his hand falling to the ground.Dr Browning then quipped with his lovely accent " Good God it's alive." That had a few of us roaring.
He would ometimes talk about his sonand with great affection.
I would bump into him Sobeys or For tinos. He always made time just like he did in the 80s. He certainly sympathized with the plight of a University student.
Fair thee well mi amigo Sincere condolences to his family.
Annette Lee
April 22, 2021
I am so sorry to hear these sad news. I was a student at McMaster and graduated in 1979 with a double major in French & Spanish. Dr. Browning was the best professor I ever had. My condolences to the family.
Annette Awang-Lee
Annette Lee
April 22, 2021
He was the best professor I ever had while I was studying Spanish at McMaster. My condolences to the family. I Graduated in 1979.
Annette Awang-Lee
Annette Lee
April 22, 2021
He was the best professor I ever had while I was studying Spanish at McMaster. My condolences to the family. I had no idea he passed.
Annette Awang-Lee
Shelley Omand
March 16, 2021
I remember John’s sense of humour, diligence and his love of life.
I was privileged to hear John’s story telling at one of his evening events; an experience I truly treasure.
John certainly had a mastery of words and not just in a tacit way. He could make you laugh with every day events. I still smile when I think of John's story of his experience trekking to the Payroll office which had been relocated to the other side of campus, and in John’s wonderful way with words he had us all in stitches.
John was a Professor’s Professor, one of a kind, who loved his students and was tireless in his class preparations, enjoyment of teaching and pride in his student's growth.
We have lost one of the greats! Rest in peace John. I will miss you.
James Grice
February 9, 2021
Dr. Browning is one of those people you remember for a lifetime. He truly did love his students, and I was lucky to have been taught by him in both the Arts & Science Writing course and the Arts & Science Inquiry course. Dr. Browning was always full of wit and warmth. In a humorous and memorable way, he challenged his students to hone their craft as writers and readers. He left a lasting impression on my life and I am truly saddened to learn of his loss. My heartfelt condolences to his family and close friends.
Julia Théberge
February 8, 2021
Dr. Browning was unquestionably my favourite part of my academic undergraduate experience in McMaster's Arts & Science program. I was fortunate enough to have him for three courses: Inquiry, Writing, and Literature. A disproportionate amount of my fondest memories in class have Dr. Browning in them. He had a profound effect on how I read, write, and think, and I am truly grateful to have had him as a professor.
Ken Parsons
January 31, 2021
I hope I'm not too late with this one:
Friends we made at school and maintained the friendship are more like brothers than the friends we made in later life. He came into my life , I believe in1954. As with some others of John's friends, we grew up together, and developed a shared humour that might have baffled people who met us. Irony, wit, and the ability to laugh at the absurdities in life , were part of it. (I have framed the card he sent me from the New Yorker, where an infants' school teacher is saying "Mrs. Hammond! I'd know you anywhere from little Billy's portrait of you." And framed in the doorway comes a 5-year-old's drawing of his mother, with a face like an emoji. ) I have never met a wittier man, nor ever shall.
In our youth, we would go for long cycle rides together through the beautiful Chiltern Hills and the Berkshire/Wiltshire downs. He did express a nostalgia for rural England, but it was an England before motorways and second homes. He was a highly literate man, I believe he was professor of modern languages at McMaster, obviously in Spanish, but also literate in French and Latin. He loved music, especially the piano music of Chopin and Liszt, which he could play well ("This is the Raindrop Sonata, can you hear the raindrops?"). He was unique and extrovert, much loved, and rarely a day passes without some memory of him, although I haven't seen him for 20 years, conversations after that being by phone or email.
I must mention also his deep spirituality, admittedly unorthodox, and I'm confident we'll see each other again, this time without the ministrations of Dr Parkinson.
Deirdre Mulcahy
January 30, 2021
Dr. Browning was the reason I applied to the Arts and Science program. His presence had a sort of historical magic to it. Watching him give a presentation I wanted to learn in any place he resided.
When I entered the program he did not disappoint. I thought I had been transported to some heavenly realm when on the first day of class we were instructed to playfully repeat the word "mellow". I am sure passers-by would have thought us daft, but I loved his encouragement to appreciate language and to express our love of language with each other.
More than simply language skills, he fostered within a person a reflection on how language shaped our thinking. He taught us, through storytelling nights in C105, student-professor debates and discussions after student performances, that language has the power to build community. He inspired us to bring our late-night earned best to class, and in doing so introduce our best selves to each other.
I'll forever be thankful for times getting to chat with him. I was comforted by the real sense he cared for and remembered the students he met through the program. He seemed in some moments to believe his self-deprecation and I would laugh, as his cheeks went flush, anytime he needed to be reminded people truly loved him. He effortlessly made me laugh each time I saw him. Most of the time it seemed his comedic effect was unintentional. I was in both awe and gratitude whenever he was in the room.
A truly humble humorous man who inspired and still inspires us to be better people.
Neila Bazaracai
January 27, 2021
Very sorry to hear of Dr. Browning’s passing. His Writing lectures were a true pleasure to attend. I fondly remember the night of our Arts and Science graduation in 2012 when he joined us new alumni at The Phoenix and regaled us with his words of wisdom late into the evening. He will be dearly missed.
Isabelle Dobronyi
January 27, 2021
I had the pleasure of taking Dr Browning’s “Writing” class. I hear his voice in my head nearly every time I embark on an unnecessarily complicated sentence, urging simplicity and precision. As a professor, his wry sternness thinly overlaid his warmth and enthusiasm. We shared amusement in delightfully peculiar English children’s stories. He graciously allowed me, as a nosily over-eager budding physician, to speak with him about my grandfather’s experiences with Parkinson’s. Condolences to your family, Dr Browning. You are missed.
Isabelle Dobronyi
January 27, 2021
I had the pleasure of taking Dr Browning’s “Writing” class. I hear his voice in my head nearly every time I embark on an unnecessarily complicated sentence, urging simplicity and precision. As a professor, his wry sternness thinly overlaid his warmth and enthusiasm. We shared amusement in delightfully peculiar English children’s stories. He graciously allowed me to speak with him about my grandfather’s experiences with Parkinson’s - which probably was more for my benefit than his. Condolences to your family, Dr Browning. You are missed.
Wendy Slavin
January 27, 2021
Joan and Caroline I was so sorry to hear about John
You will be in my thoughts and prayers
Ruth Silbert
January 25, 2021
I met John when I was 18 and he was the grand old age of 28. I had arrived at McMaster under difficult family circumstances and his office was a sanctuary for me - a place of kindness and culture. He always put on a pot of Earl Grey tea and read me poetry - I particularly remember his recitations of Lorca. Although he was a wonderful teacher, I still managed to fail his Spanish class. But I never felt judged by John and continued to meet with me. He even played the organ at my first wedding. I was so grateful that many years later, I was able to travel to Hamilton and see John and thank him for all that he did for me. Rest in peace, Mr. Browning from your grateful friend, RAS.
Gail Huxley
January 23, 2021
I met John 40 years ago when studying Spanish as a “mature” student. His delightful sense of humour and sarcastic witticisms captivated me. We, and indeed our families, enjoyed a firm friendship over many years. I know he will be greatly missed by his family and by all those who knew him well.
Annmarie Clark
January 23, 2021
Grief can be so hard, but our special memories help us cope. Remembering you and your loved one today and always.
Terry Morin (Ms) - was McLean then
January 23, 2021
I have fond memories of being taught Spanish by John at Mc Master in the summer of 1975, and of visiting his apartment with his then wife Rosita (?). Somewhere I think I have a photo from that time - I must see if I can find it. I live now in the UK; my friend Gail in Canada sent me his obit. I am sad to hear of his death. Terry (Ms)
David Russo
January 23, 2021
John was a good friend for 55 years. We arrived at McMaster on the same day, in September, 1965. He loved words, savoured language, and had a mirthful way of reacting to anything he thought was funny. For some of us in the history department, he was our closest connection to colleagues in the language departments. His research and writing had a historical focus. I feel his death as the loss of someone who was part of my life for all those years.
David Russo
Steve Liddycoat
January 22, 2021
My heartfelt sympathy to Joan and the whole family.
John will be so sadly missed.
During our evenings out at the pub, I enjoyed listening to him talking about The Book of Job, or reciting a poem in Old English (complete with obsolete words) or in Gaelic.
I am thankful that he lent me his copy of Kafka's "The Trial," complete with his teaching notations. While I was reading it, he asked me how it's coming along. I told him that I am really enjoying it, and that I find it quite hypnotic. He replied that one does not "enjoy" "The Trial."
May the happy memories bring you peace at this sad time.
Marvin Ross
January 22, 2021
My condolences to John's family. His intelligence and wit will be missed and I treasure our friendship over the years and the many coffees, lunches and beers that we shared. Aside from the laughter, I always came away with a little bit more knowledge of Central America, Cuba, and the world. He was loved by his students and the reason was obvious.
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Memorial Events
for John BROWNING
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