Condolences on the Passing of Arthur L. Irving Â
On behalf of the St. °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±Íø community, we are saddened to note the passing of Arthur L. Irving and offer our condolences to his family.
Among their support for many community causes, Arthur and Sandra Irving championed higher education. When °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±Íø bestowed an honorary degree on Sandra in 2017, she noted that what she and Arthur liked to do best was to “help students.” That was clearly evident at St. Thomas, as it was at other schools.
Last year, St. Thomas received a gift of $2 million to fund new entrance scholarships at the University. Championed by Sarah Irving at Irving Oil, and by Arthur and Sandra through the Arthur L. Irving Family Foundation, this joint gift was the largest single donation in our 114 year history. Gifted in honour of retiring President Dawn Russell, the endowment was established to fund 12 scholars annually.
Arthur L. Irving believed in the transformative value of education, and in supporting equitable learning opportunities for students. This September, the first group of Irving Scholars will begin their studies at °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±Íø, and thereafter generations of students will benefit from this legacy gift.
We are deeply appreciative of the opportunity to have known Arthur Irving, and to count he and his family as friends of St. Thomas. We mourn the passing of this great New Brunswicker.
Nauman Farooqi, PhD
President and Vice-Chancellor