Henry Bruce Macleod Best, PhD, who was heavily involved with York in its early days, died on Friday, April 9, in Sudbury, Ontario. The Globe and Mail announced that a funeral service was held on Wednesday, April 14. A memorial service is scheduled to take place in Toronto on Thursday, April 29 at 10am, at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, 75 Simcoe Street, Toronto.
Dr. Best joined York in 1964, says an obituary in the April 12 Globe and Mail. Until 1969, he was a lecturer in Canadian history, research associate to the University’s first president, Murray G. Ross, and author of a report on “The Establishment of Professional Faculties and Schools at York University”.
From 1969 to 1977, Dr. Best was associate dean of Atkinson College, professor of history and coordinator of the then-new interdisciplinary program in Canadian studies. As well, he was member and Chair of the Governing Council of the Ontario College of Art from 1972 to 1974.
In 1977, Dr. Best left York to become president of Laurentian University in Sudbury, a position he held until 1984. During those years, he was a professor of history and taught courses in French and English, and initiated the Falconbridge Public Lecture Series at the university. In 1984, he was awarded the Knight of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Italy; from 1984 to 2004, he was a Membre du Conseil du Centre Franco-Ontarien de Folklore de la Fondation Germain Lemieux; and from 1989 to 1999, he was a Membre du Conseil du Théatre du Nouvel Ontario.
Dr. Best’s father, Charles, was the co-discoverer of insulin.
Those wishing to make donations may send them to Dr. Henry B.M. Best Memorial Fund, Laurentian University, Ramsey Lake Road, Sudbury, Ontario, P3E 2C6.
Click here for the full Globe and Mail obituary.