George Fletcher Hawken

George Hawken was a visual artist, a master draughtsman and a printmaker specializing in intaglio techniques. Born in Owen Sound, Ontario on February 9, 1946, the first child of John and Oleiva Hawken, he was educated at the O.S.C.V.I. and graduated with honours (B.A.) from the University of Toronto in 1969. His work addressed issues of the urban body, finding inspiration in literary themes and references which he pursued in series and folios. His work has exhibited widely since 1973, and is represented in many public, corporate and private collections, both in this country and internationally. His marriage to Rosemary Kelly produced two children, Jesse and Simon.

In 1976, he began his long career as an artist-teacher and mentor at the University of Toronto and continued as a Professor in the Daniels Faculty of Architecture Landscape and Design, University of Toronto where he served as undergraduate coordinator of the Visual Studies program until his recent retirement.

George had great love for his longtime partner Colin Campbell (who passed away in 2001), as well as their friends Lori Spring, Glenn Schellenberg and Sue Ehrlich. He valued his many years of friendship with John Harrison, Richard Thompson and Carmen Arndt. He was very happy to be represented by the Wynick/Tuck gallery for many years.

George will be dearly missed by his brother John Hawken and sister-in-law Jean of Owen Sound, his sister Mary Reynolds and niece Hannah Reynolds of Toronto, and his children Simon and Jesse Hawken of Toronto, as well as his daughter-in-law Claire Pfeiffer and grandson Julian. He was a friend and mentor to scores of students over his career in teaching and will be sorely missed by Ryan Kerr, Gordon Belray, Megan Rooney, Phil Lee, Morris Lum, Howie Shia, Jean-Paul Kelly and Michael Dossov, as well as by his colleagues Lisa Steele, Kim Tomczak, Sue Lloyd, Ed Pien, John Massey and Susan Schelle.

The family wishes to thank the teams at Toronto General and Princess Margaret Hospital, particularly Dr. Xueyen (Eric) Chen of the Gastrointestinal Clinic at PMH and Dr. Ahluwalia of the Palliative Care Clinic at Mount Sinai.

In lieu of flowers, the family would ask that memorial donations be directed to the AIDS Committee of Toronto.

Private arrangements have been made.