Magda Davey, longtime director of admissions for graduate studies, died May 20 in Toronto at 83.
Mrs. Davey joined York in 1964, when the University was still located at Glendon College, and moved to the Keele campus when it opened in 1965 as the director of graduate admissions.
An accomplished administrator, she never wavered in applying the standards she believed were needed to establish York University as a top flight graduate school, said her son Keith Davey, and yet she fought valiantly for students that she believed were worthy of admission.
Despite the rapid growth of York University, Mrs. Davey personally reviewed the file of every student who was considered for admission, counselled thousands of students and was a mentor to dozens of employees who went on to further their careers at York and elsewhere.
She was also a founding member in 1978 of the University’s Professional & Managerial Association, which later became the Confidential, Professional & Managerial Employees Association. Mrs. Davey retired in 1989 after 25 years with York.
Funeral services have taken place. The family requests that memorial donations be made to Westmount Park Church, 1483 Royal York Rd., Etobicoke, Ont., M9P 3B3.