‘An intelligent and compassionate leader’
Thomas H.B. Symons, founding president of Trent University, remembered as a pioneer in Canadian education
Thomas H.B. Symons, founding president of Trent University, has died. As a well-known Canadian scholar, Prof. Symons was approached by a group from Peterborough in 1961 and asked to develop a university for the growing city.
His efforts led to what would become Trent University.
“His vision for Trent as a fullyformed, collegiate university brought the institution to life and has sustained it for over 55 years,” states an In Memoriam on the university’s website. “While many dubbed Trent ‘Oxford on the Otonabee,’ Professor Symons would later remark that it was England’s Durham University that provided much of the inspiration for the new university’s federation of small, interdisciplinary colleges within a larger degree-granting university.”
Prof. Symons died New Year’s Day. In lieu of flowers, his family has asked that donations be made to the T.H.B. Symons Trust for Canadian Studies.
“It was a privilege to know president Symons,” stated Leo Groarke, Trent president and vice-chancellor.
“Tom was an elder statesman in the best sense — an intelligent, witty and compassionate leader who was generous with his time, his knowledge and his hospitality.”
Jeff Leal, the former city councillor and later Ontario Agriculture Minister and MPP for Peterborough-Kawartha, was friends with Prof. Symons.
In an interview Sunday, Leal recalled having been invited occasionally to afternoon tea with Tom and his wife of 57 years,
Christine, at their home on Park Street.
“Tom knew my great interest in history. As we would be chatting away and the hours would go by, Tom would often grab a book from a shelf — on a wide variety of historic topics — inscribe the front page and give it to me. That was a very special thing that he would do.”
Leal was a graduate of Trent University, with an honours degree in economics and politics.
“He (Symons) took great pride when local sons and daughters of modest means got an opportunity to pursue higher education in their hometown,” Leal said. “I think that was really important for Tom Symons.”
Prof. Symons and Christine lived at Marchbanks, the home once occupied by writer Robertson Davies, in Pete rb orough, and raised three children there.
He was born to Dorothy Bull, daughter of financier and historian William Perkins Bull, and First World War flying ace Harry Lutz Symons in Toronto in 1929.
He studied at the University of Toronto Schools, the University of Toronto and Oriel College, Oxford before taking on a tutoring role at the University of Toronto’s Trinity College before becoming dean of Devonshire House.
He also taught ancient and Canadian history.
“His curiosity for the world around him was only surpassed by his compassion for others,” states the In Memoriam.
“He particularly enjoyed conversations with young scholars and took great interest both in their studies and their post-university careers. His own career took him across Canada and around the world, but he has always considered Peterborough home.”
Prof. Symons was also pivotal in the founding of Fleming College, and his work to found Peterborough’s Sacred Heart College resulted in a knighthood from the Vatican in the Order of Saint Sylvester in 2012.
He remained an active member of the university community in retirement, and served on the boards of numerous community organizations, including the Canadian Canoe Museum, Fleming College, the Mayor’s Committee on Economic Prospects, the Greater Peterborough Economic Council, the Red Cross, the Otonabee Region Conservation Foundation and the police services board, which he chaired from 2005 to 2010.
He served on numerous provincial and national government commissions and boards, and as a director on several corporate boards.
The university has set up a tribute website at trentu.ca/professorsymons.