Honouring John “Jack” G. Keith

Jack and Yvonne Keith

The Saint Mary’s University community is saddened to learn of the passing of John “Jack” G. Keith CM, DComm’98 and joins with his family, friends and members of the larger Nova Scotian community in honouring his memory and his contributions, including the warm presence and generosity he demonstrated constantly towards the university. His favourite activity on campus was meeting the recipients of the awards that he and his wife Yvonne established and seeing firsthand how much the support meant to our students.  

Jack Keith exemplified the spirit of Saint Mary's by always giving back to the community. When Jack received the Order of Canada in 1993, he was described as a "banker with large reserves of social conscience." He received this honour for his outstanding volunteerism in education, the arts and cancer fundraising. 

Jack’s contributions to Saint Mary's were immense. He served as Chair of the Board of Governors at Saint Mary's from 1994-97 and was the founding chair of the Sobey School of Business Advisory Council, a position he held for 18 years, in addition to many other volunteer roles. Jack was presented the Honorary Gold "M" in 1997 by the Saint Mary's University Student Association which is their highest honour for a non-student in recognition of his many contributions to student affairs. Along with Yvonne, he was a loyal supporter at signature university events and was always on hand to cheer on the SMU Huskies football team.  

The university is flying flags at half-staff in recognition of Jack. His obituary can be found here John "Jack" Keith Obituary - Halifax, NS (dignitymemorial.com) and memorial donations can be made to the Jack & Yvonne Keith Entrance Bursary at John G. Keith Memorial. 

University Remembers Former President, Kenneth Ozmon OC

Dr. Kenneth Ozmon

Dr. Kenneth Ozmon Installed as President, 1979

Dr. Kenneth Ozmon Visits Bermuda, 1981

Dr. Kenneth Ozmon and Terry Donahoe During National Universities Week, 1983

Dr. Kenneth Ozmon With Astronaut Roberta Bondar, 1992

Dr. Kenneth Ozmon and Jack Keith, 1993

Dr. Kenneth Ozmon and Friends Breaking the Sod for The Tower, 1986

Breaking the Sod at Site of Future Sobey Building, ca. 1996

Saint Mary's Huskies Team Photo with Dr. Ken Ozmon, 1998

The Saint Mary’s University community honours the memory of and recalls with fondness former university president Kenneth (Ken) Ozmon OC, who passed away 23 February 2022. Born in 1931, he taught at various U.S. and Canadian universities before coming to Saint Mary’s. Kenneth Ozmon became president in 1979, serving for 21 years until 2000 and leading the university through a period of great change and progress. Dr. Ozmon was president during a time of considerable growth in enrolment and several capital campaigns; he was proud to break ground on the Sobey Building with Dr. David Sobey and then Premier John Savage in 1996 and celebrate the building opening in 1998. He is also known for his strong interest in assisting youth with disabilities and in creating more inclusive models for university participation. His advocacy made a lasting impact on Saint Mary’s University and other universities in the region, and this was recognized with him being made an Officer in the Order of Canada in 1998 for his “outstanding contribution to education.”

“Ken Ozmon’s leadership contributed directly to the growing stature of Saint Mary’s University throughout the 1980s and 90s. The international outreach that took shape under his presidency and his strong belief, which he translated to the institution, in the right for everyone to have unobstructed access to post-secondary education were key drivers of the university’s vision and mission,” says President and Vice-Chancellor Robert Summerby-Murray. “His firm stamp is evident in the Saint Mary’s we know today.” Ken remained connected to the institution and was a familiar and faithful presence at varsity games cheering on the SMU Huskies. He made a special trip to campus in October 2021 when he toured The Dauphinee Centre and the site of the new Sobeys Inspiration Hub. Ken was delighted to see the progress underway and expressed his ongoing great pride in the institution he served for so long.

The university is flying flags at half-mast in recognition of his legacy and in sympathy with his family at his passing.

Saint Mary’s mourns the passing of Dr. Alfonso Rojo

Dr. Rojo teaches a Biology class circa 1962

It is with heavy hearts that Saint Mary’s University announces the passing of Professor Emeritus Dr. Alfonso Lucio Rojo. He passed away peacefully at his home in Halifax on Tuesday, August 15, 2017, at the age of 96.

Dr. Rojo joined Saint Mary’s University and founded the Biology Department in 1961; he was also instrumental in establishing the Faculty Union (SMUFU). For twenty-seven years, Dr. Rojo worked across the hall from his wife, Dr. Enriqueta Unturbe Rojo, the first woman professor at Saint Mary’s University. When he retired in 1986, Dr. Rojo was named Professor Emeritus. He maintained an active research practice well into his 90s.

All three of his children are Saint Mary’s alumni. His daughter, Monica Rojo, taught Spanish in the Department of Modern Languages and Classics from 1995 to 2009.

Saint Mary’s mourns the passing of Dr. John Leonard McMullan

John Leonard McMullan, BA, MA, PhD, age 68, passed away on July 13, in Halifax.

McMullan was a well-loved member of the Department of Sociology & Criminology from 1985 until his retirement in 2014, after which he was named Professor Emeritus. Known for his warmth and enthusiasm—and for challenging students with lively and provocative subject matter—he was a greatly  respected academic and contributor to his field. 

The winner of a President’s Award for Excellence in Research in 2012, and the author of eight books on crime, historical criminology, law enforcement, and justice, Dr. McMullan held visiting scholar positions at Cambridge University, The London School of Economics and Political Science, Simon Fraser University, and Concordia University.

He was also a Commissioner of the Law Reform Commission of Nova Scotia and a member of the executive board of the Nova Scotia Criminal Justice Association.

It is with regret that Saint Mary’s announces his passing.

Dr. John Leonard McMullan

Saint Mary's mourns the passing of Dr. Edward McBride

Edward John McBride, 83, BS, MA, DCL (Hon.), of Halifax, Nova Scotia, passed away peacefully at his home at Parkland on the Gardens on May 31, 2017.

McBride was a popular member of the Department of Political Science from 1967 to 1994. He received the William Stewart Medal for Teaching in 1987, was named Professor Emeritus in 1990 and received an honorary Doctor of Civil Law in 2012.

Read SMU’s McBride made future leaders on the Chronicle Herald site.

Edward John McBride

Saint Mary's community mourns the passing of Archbishop James Martin Hayes

On behalf of Saint Mary's University, President Robert Summerby-Murray expresses  condolences on the passing of Archbishop Emeritus James Martin Hayes on August 2, 2016 at the age of 92.

Archbishop Hayes received a Bachelor of Arts from Saint Mary’s in 1943, in addition to honorary degrees from many universities. While serving as the ninth Archbishop of Halifax from 1967 to 1990, he also served as Chancellor of Saint Mary’s University.

The eldest child of Leonard James and Rita (Bates) Hayes, Fr. James was raised near Halifax in Herring Cove, Nova Scotia. He is remembered as a kind, well-respected leader and an effective advocate for the renewal of the whole Church. Ordained to the priesthood in 1947 at the age of 23, Archbishop Hayes was a guiding influence in the ecumenical movement. He helped create the Atlantic School of Theology in March 1971, where Catholics and Protestant denominations have studied together for more than four decades. This was the first time that three denominations united to form one educational institution in Canada. Today, Saint Mary’s University values its important relationship with the Atlantic School of Theology.

Archbishop Hayes retired as Archbishop of Halifax in 1990 and entered into full-time ministry caring for the sick and the dying, as Chaplain in Palliative Care at QEII Health Sciences Centre in Halifax until his retirement from this ministry in 2012.