Stephen Bell (left) passed away Monday, Oct. 20, after a valiant struggle to recover from his heart transplant surgery in May 2003.
Stephen Bell came to York 13 years ago, joining the Faculty of Arts in 1990 as the executive assistant to the dean of research and special projects. For seven years he supported the University’s largest Faculty, working with a number of deans and completing his own PhD in 1993.
Leaving York only briefly in 1997 to become the managing director at HEALNet at McMaster University, Stephen returned to York in 1998 to become the executive officer at Atkinson’s Faculty of Liberal & Professional Studies. He was pivotal in the restructuring and fiscal stability that the Faculty now enjoys.
True to his ambitious nature, while working full-time and raising a family, Stephen continued to pursue his academic, research and professional activities. He taught sociology courses in the Faculty of Arts and a higher education course at OISE/University of Toronto, produced numerous refereed papers, presented at conferences, authored reports and was a reviewer for a number of journals.
Stephen Bell’s contributions to the community go far beyond his professional and academic pursuits. He touched the people with whom he worked, generously sharing his talents, skills and sound advice. He presence in our lives will be deeply missed.
Visitation is at the Newediuk Funeral Home, Kipling Chapel, 2104 Kipling Ave. on Thursday, Oct. 23, from 2 to 4pm and 7 to 9pm.
The funeral is Friday, Oct. 24, at 10am at Our Lady of the Airways Church, 7407 Darcel Ave., Malton. Donations to the Multi-Organ Transplant Program, Heart Program, University Health Network would be appreciated by the family.
In addition, the Higher Education Group at OISE/University of Toronto has made arrangements for a memorial fund in Stephen's memory for the education of his three children. If you wish to make a donation, please make your cheque out to Annie Lee Baker, Business Officer, Theory and Policy Studies, OISE/University of Toronto, Room 6-285, Toronto, ON, M5S 1V6. Please note "The Stephen Bell Memorial Fund" in the bottom left hand corner of your donation.