Remembering THB Symons, Chapter 8: A Man of Convivial Friendships

Throughout the summer, Trent University Alumni Engagement and Services will be presenting Remembering THB Symons, a nine-part video honouring the life and times of founding Trent president Professor Thomas Henry Bull Symons (1929-2021). Compiling stories and memories from friends, family, and colleagues, the video explores the history of this noteworthy Canadian and the university that he helped shape.

Episodes will be released each Friday throughout the summer.

As much as he was known for his roles in scholarship, teaching, and leading, those who knew Professor Symons best recognized him as a warm, gracious, ever-curious, self-effacing, and kind. He held friendships as sacred and nurtured them over decades. His sense of conviviality helped shape many of Trent’s earliest traditions and made him an always respected host and lifelong friend. Chapter 8: A Man of Convivial Friendships explores the social side of Prof. Symons.

With reflections and memories by Mary Symons, daughter of Professor Symons; Trent President Dr. Leo Groarke; Dr. Michael Eamon, principal of Catharine Parr Traill College; Harvey McCue, co-founder of Native Studies at Trent, class of 1966; Dr. Barbara Finlayson-Pitts, class of 1966; Dr. Ralph Heintzman, editor of Tom Symons: A Canadian Life, Honorary LLD from Trent University; The Honorable Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario.

Tune in each week for subsequent chapters.