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Thank you, Alan and Sally-Beth, for the news and remembrance.

I am shocked and saddened by this news of John Astington's sudden death.  It's hard to believe.

Suzanne is right.  He was a lively presence at the Drama Centre. I didn't study directly with John but I was a doctoral student at the Graduate Drama Centre when he was faculty and then Director. Later, as interim director, he attended my thesis defence. He was always challenging (esp. to a student from the wilds of UBC) but also courteous, fair, and engaged, with the suggestion of humour and cheerfulness underneath. When I joined REED amongst the English dept offices, it was good to see him again.  Now I feel his absence.  I will remember John Astington with much respect and warmth. 

Kathy

On 2019-12-14 11:28 p.m., Suzanne Westfall wrote:
[log in to unmask]"> Such very sad news.  John was such a vibrant presence at the Drama Centre, and I am sure will be remembered with great admiration and affection.

Best,
Suzanne


On Dec 14, 2019, at 11:02 PM, Sarah MacLean <[log in to unmask]> wrote:



With thanks to Alan Nelson for writing on behalf of many of us here:

Members of the REED family are stunned and saddened by news of the death of John Astington, a theater historian who had been a good friend to REED, and to members of the REED family, for decades. John had retired from active teaching at the University of Toronto, but remained fully engaged in his research. He was actively anticipating a visit to London in January when, at the end of October, he began to feel unwell. The discovery that he had an aggressive form of lymphoma came as a shock to him and his family. Though he remained hopeful and in good spirits, the disease took its course with incredible speed, leading to his death on December 11. John will be remembered by associates of REED for his sociability, his irrepressible good humor, his wide-ranging interests, his dedication to theater history and practice, and his distinguished record of academic research and publication.