Michael Hornyansky

HORNYANSKY, Michael Sands Michael Hornyansky has died in Tofield, Alberta, on May 14, 2008 after a short illness. He was 80 years old. He was the son of Nicholas Hornyansky, artist, and Joyce Sands, cellist. He was predeceased by his sister, Barbara Serson. His memory will be cherished by his wife, Monica; his daughter Vivien (Denis Patterson) and son Mark (Eva Jansen); his grandchildren Amy (Brad Kudrowich), Blake Patterson, Jenn (Justin Lindsey), Laura Patterson, Lucas Hornyansky and Nicklas Hornyansky; his great-granddaughter Reese Kudrowich; and from the teaching he loved, by many generations of students across the country. Michael graduated with first class honours from all the educational institutions he attended: Oakwood Collegiate Institute, University College, Toronto and Merton College, Oxford where he was a Rhodes Scholar and won the Newdigate Prize for Poetry in 1951. He taught English Language and Literature at Carleton University, Ottawa for 10 years, and moved to Niagara in 1964 as the founding chairman of the English Department at Brock University. He taught there until his retirement in 1993. He wrote The Golden Phoenix, a retelling of French Canadian folk tales, and published papers on children's literature and the discriminating use of the English language; he reviewed Poetry in Canada for 10 years for the University of Toronto Quarterly. A family gathering to celebrate his life will be held at a later date. Donations in his memory may be made to Brock University, Office of University Advancement, St. Catharines, ON, L2S 3A1, for the annual Michael Hornyansky Prize in Creative Writing. From far, from eve and morning And yon twelve-winded sky, The stuff of life to knit me Blew hither: here am I. Now -- for a breath I tarry Nor yet disperse apart -- Take my hand quick and tell me, What have you in your heart. Speak now, and I will answer; How shall I help you, say; Ere to the wind's twelve quarters I take my endless way. A.E. Housman