JOHNSTON, ANGUS MUNROE – Halifax, Nova Scotia, died peacefully at home on Sunday, April 9th, 2017. Angus is survived by his wife Sandra Haycock, his daughters, Harriet and Phoebe, his sister, Margibel (Wilson) Jones and numerous nieces, nephews and members of the extended family. He is also survived by his beloved Asher, the family border collie. Although Angus was born in Montreal, Quebec, the Cape Breton blood that he received from his parents, Munroe and Sarah (MacDonald), and his beloved Unc defined his character.
Angus received his primary and secondary education in Dartmouth where his mother taught mathematics at Dartmouth High School. Angus’ post-secondary education began at Mount Allison where he received his BA (Honours Philosophy) in 1970. In order to further develop his interest in Continental Philosophy, he went to Heidelberg University, where he audited German language classes and attended lectures on Kant and Heidegger in 1970-71. As a result of his study, Angus determined that he must go back to the Greeks. During the summer of 1972, in a rundown farm house in Lunenburg County, which he bought with a friend, Dennis House, Angus rapidly advanced in his knowledge of the Greek language and in the fall began his graduate studies in the MA program in the Dalhousie Classics Department. Having completed his MA in 1974, he continued on to receive his PhD in the fall of 1985.
His thirty-two year association with the University of King’s College began in September 1977 Angus was appointed Junior Fellow in the Foundation Year Programme (FYP). Angus was promoted to Associate Director of FYP in 1981 and continued in this role until he became Director (1984 – 88). In 1988 President Marion Fry appointed Angus Vice-President. His term as Vice-President lasted 12 years, one of the longest, if not the longest, vice presidential terms in King’s history. His final term appointment, made by President Colin Starnes, was from 1995-2000. In 2003, Angus began teaching in the History of Science and Technology (HOST) and, in the following year, was appointed Adjunct Professor of Graduate Studies in the Dalhousie Classics Department. During this time he served two terms on the Board of the Atlantic School of Theology. Angus continued on teaching in the Foundation Year Programme year after year until his retirement in 2009. But before he retired, he once again took on the challenge of being Director of FYP (2005-09). Angus stands out as one of the most influential and devoted people to the outstanding success of the Foundation Year Programme.
During Colin Starnes’ presidency, Angus worked closely with his dear friend, architect Roy Willwerth, on the design and construction of the New Academic Building. The project was for Angus a labour of love, whether it was fund raising or down to the most detailed consideration of the colour of paint for each room.
On April 3, 2009, Angus gave the Final FYP lecture. A lecture on Bob Dylan, which turned out to be much more than a lecture. “Oh, the glory of an Angus lecture,” a student commented. It became an event, a celebration of students and faculty for a man who embodied the best in the life and spirit of King’s College.
Angus was instrumental in taking the FYP to the outside world. In October 2005, with the cooperation of the city’s universities, the Halifax North Memorial Library and the Saint George’s Friends of Clemente Society led by organizer Rev. Gary Thorne, Angus helped launch an eight-month pilot project called Halifax Humanities 101. Since then 110 students have graduated from the course, which is similar in content to the King’s Foundation Year Programme and many continue on in the seminar programme. Humanities 101 is offered to Haligonians living on low incomes. Angus was passionate about his involvement in this programme, both in teaching and administration from its inception until his death.
The list of topics that Angus taught or published on runs from the ancient world to the contemporary with all the steps in between. His interests encompassed the whole history of philosophy, poetry, art and architecture. The teachers who influenced him most profoundly were Professors Cyril Welch, James Doull and Robert Crouse. He was Doull’s true successor both in the breadth of his knowledge and in its depth and originality.
Angus, as a collector of paintings and sculptures, might reasonably be thought of as out of control. All manner of art from the ancient to the contemporary from the primitive to the most refined found its way into his house. He would fly off to New York to sit through 16 hours of Wagner’s Ring Cycle and with equal passion go to an Amelia Curran concert. When the World Cup was in Berlin, Angus was there and when the Blue Jays were in the World Series he was watching. He could see the sun poking through the clouds where others only saw the clouds. Where Plato viewed our earthly domain as a falling away from the pure forms of beauty and truth, Angus, like his friend Aristotle, saw this world positively as the displaying and showing forth of the realm of eternal verities and beauty. Angus had the finest mind of his generation and the kindest of hearts but above all he was a compass pointing ever to the good in all things.
Angus and Sandra’s 40th wedding anniversary, would have taken place this coming June. Angus used to say that ‘to the good, the good will come.’ If that statement is tested by their experience, it is proven true. Harriet came and then Phoebe and again their beloved collies demand a mention, George, Lady, Queen, and now Asher. He always said he was the happiest person he knew, and we believe this to be true.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Halifax Humanities 101 (www.halifaxhumanities101). A funeral service will be held at the King’s Chapel on Monday, April 17th at 1pm, followed by a reception. Online condolences may be viewed or sent to: www.cruikshankfuneralhome.com
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