On Sept. 26, Glendon celebrated the 30th anniversary of Living and Learning in Retirement (LLIR). At the festive luncheon, the educational organization presented two cheques worth a total of $18,500 for audiovisual equipment and bursaries.
LLIR is a self-sustaining, non-profit organization that offers courses for retired people from a variety of educational backgrounds who want to continue learning in an academic setting.
Margaret Anglin, the organization’s past president, presented a cheque to Glendon Principal Kenneth McRoberts for $15,000 (below) to refurbish audiovisual equipment in one of the two largest lecture halls at Glendon. And David Pelton, LLIR president, handed over another worth $3,500 to the Friends of Glendon, a fund which provides financial help to Glendon students in need. The organization raised the money at a fundraising musical evening in April directed by York music Professor Bill Westcott, a favourite lecturer in the LLIR program.
Margaret Anglin (right), past president of Living and Learning in Retirement, presents a $15,000 cheque to Glendon Principal Kenneth McRoberts
The LLIR has a history of donating to Glendon. Last year, on the occasion of its 25th anniversary, the group established a $25,000 service bursary for Glendon students. In the same year, it donated $5,000 for audiovisual upgrading for a classroom. In addition to special gifts, the LLIR donates approximately $18,000 each year to the Friends of Glendon during York University’s annual fundraising event.
The lunch in Glendon’s airy cafeteria was attended by 250 program participants, faculty and administration, including Louise Lewin, associate principal, student services; Marie-Thérèse Chaput, advancement director; Marshall Leslie, president of the Friends of Glendon, and historian Professor Michiel Horn. Also in attendance were several past presidents of LLIR including Mary Guardhouse (president from 1988 to 1991), now 90 years old, and vice-president Gail Horrick.
Left: Michiel Horn
Horn, who has been the program’s academic adviser for the past 27 years, was thanked by Pelton for his excellent leadership and dedication to the program. Others recognized for their efforts in working with the LLIR and in making this celebration possible included McRoberts, Chaput and Françoise Rême, coordinator of logistics and special events.
This fall, in recognition of the LLIR’s importance to Glendon and its ongoing interest in lifelong learning, two sessions of Glendon’s Homecoming lecture series, "The Glendon Meeting of Minds" on Oct. 3 and Oct. 17, have been specially designed to welcome their members.
Article submitted by Marika Kemeny, public relations and communications adviser at Glendon