Dear King’s community,
I’m writing to share the news that a cherished alum, scholar, leader, and trailblazer in our community has passed away. Inglis Professor Dr. Marion Fry was King’s 20th President and Vice-Chancellor from 1987 to 1993. She was the first woman to become president of the university.
Dr. Fry dedicated her career to advancing post-secondary education at King’s and across Canada. She is remembered for her leadership, scholarship, and for encouraging young women in their pursuit of higher education.
Marion first came to King’s as a student, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in 1953, and then a Master of Arts from Dalhousie in 1955. She then studied at Oxford, graduating with a Bachelor of Letters in 1958.
Between 1958 and 1964, Marion was Assistant Professor of Philosophy and Assistant Dean of Women at Bishop’s University in Quebec. From there, she was recruited to help shape the creation of Trent University as one of its founding professors and first Dean of Women (a role later renamed Principal) at Catharine Parr Traill College. At Trent, Marion served as Acting President in 1968, Occasional Vice-President from 1975 to 1979, and received the prestigious Symons Award for Excellence in Teaching for the 1986-87 academic year. In 1989, Trent awarded her an Honorary Doctor of Letters for her contributions to academic life and administration.
In 1985, King’s conferred upon Marion an Honorary Doctor of Civil Law for her dedication and contributions to post-secondary education. The citation praised her remarkable ability to balance the work of a scholar and administrator, stating that one “need not tell Miss Fry that a unity of theory and practice was the moving end of all ancient culture; she could explain that better than most…”
Marion returned to King’s as President and Vice-Chancellor in 1987, a role she held until 1993. During her tenure, she oversaw the university’s bicentennial celebrations, which included the creation of the award-winning Library building designed by Roy Willwerth that opened in 1991. She was also Adjunct Professor of Philosophy at Dalhousie. In the 1988 Record, she recalled highlights of her first year as president, including presiding at the Awards Banquet while wearing the silver K she received for Athletics in ’52, and hosting student parties in the President’s Lodge that everyone enjoyed, including her beloved cat Miscellany.
In the 1989–90 Yearbook, Marion mused on the strong sense of belonging cultivated at King’s: “All those curricular joys and sorrows, shared in the common, create such lasting bonds,” she wrote.
On behalf of the King’s community, we offer our condolences to her friends and family.
Here, you’ll find her obituary and details about the visitation and service in Peterborough on November 11. We’ve also created a photo album from Marion’s time at King’s.
Today, the flags in the Quad were lowered to half-mast to honour the passing of the Most Rev. Arthur Peters, who served on King’s Board of Governors during Marion’s tenure. Flags will remain at half-mast this week to honour Dr. Fry.
Sincerely,
Dr. Tim Vine
President and Vice-Chancellor
