The Department of Classics is pleased to announce a generous legacy gift from alumna Mary McBride (BA 1968, Victoria College), whose lifelong dedication to classical languages and teaching traces back to her undergraduate years at the University of Toronto. “The knowledge I gained from my time at U of T has found its way into my teaching nearly every year since graduation,” says McBride, an award-winning educator with nearly six decades in the classroom.
Mary taught Latin, Ancient Greek and French at Banting Memorial High School in Alliston, Ontario for more than 40 years, earning the 2004 Prime Minister's Award for Teaching. In retirement, she became an instructor with the University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies, where her courses in Latin and Ancient Greek continue to draw enthusiastic reviews from students of all ages. Mary's legacy gift will support the Department of Classics in the area of greatest need as determined by the chair, ensuring the department can direct resources where they will have the greatest impact for future students and scholars. Mary is also donating her personal collection of more than 500 titles on classical languages and culture to the department's Woodbury Library. “I want the books to have another life with some future scholars,” Mary says. Her gift reflects her deep and enduring connection to the university, and a belief that classical studies remain as vital today as ever.
Please join us in thanking Mary for this remarkable contribution to the Department of Classics!
Mary McBride is the subject of this A&S Alum. Profile.
To learn more about legacy giving, please contact Courtney Boost, Senior Development Officer, at c.boost@utoronto.ca.