Remembrance for Professor A.M. (Max) Young: September 13
A remembrance for Professor Arthur Maxwell Young (1934-2013) will be held on Saturday, September 13 at 2:00 p.m., in the Guildhall of St John’s Anglican Church, 99 Brock Street in Peterborough.
Professor Young completed his first degree in Classics (Latin) at the University of Melbourne and attended the University of Toronto on a Commonwealth Scholarship in 1962, where he completed the Phil.M. degree. He came to Trent University in 1965, the first member of what would become the Department of Classical Studies (afterwards Ancient History & Classics). He was part of that Department for the next 29 years, teaching with enthusiasm both the classical languages (Greek & Latin), courses in ancient literature (particularly epic and drama), and ancient literary theory. Prof. Young was one of those who in 1975/6 pioneered a new first-year course, Classical Literature 100 (“Greek Drama in English Translation”), which for the next thirty years became for many Trent students their first introduction to the Greek and Roman world. He retired from teaching in 1994.
For his entire time at Trent, Prof. Young was a fellow of Peter Robinson College, serving as that College’s senior tutor in 1969 and occupying the same office in East Lodge, which many would come to regard as the archetypal professor’s office, with stacks of books and papers everywhere and notations in various languages on the chalk board.
Prof. Young was killed in a single-vehicle motor accident in Peterborough in October 2013, but public notification was delayed for several months because of the difficulty in finding and contacting next-of-kin.
It is hoped that those who worked and studied with Prof. Young will attend the informal remembrance to share memories and anecdotes. These will be punctuated with readings from the Roman poet Horace, an author whom Prof. Young taught for many years with great fondness. Following the remembrance, a stone in his memory will be dedicated in The Garden at St John’s Church. For information please contact the Department of Ancient History & Classics (705-748-1011 x7848) or by e-mail kaxcell@trentu.ca or istorey@trentu.ca.