Hello to all on this, the fifth anniversary of Carolyn's passing. Time gradually heals and the memories only grow sweeter. I'm also periodically reminded of the seriousness of this paradoxically playful and joyful woman, the causes she supported, and the rigour of her thought. I'm grateful for how many of you came into my life as friends mainly through Carolyn. Should we cross paths again -- and we should -- I look forward to sharing my less serious, but always sincere, banter.
1965 – 2019
Carolyn Mary Bassett was born on January 7, 1965, at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Toronto, Ontario, to Norma Mary Bassett (nee Logan) and David George Bassett.
Surrounded by immediate family and having had many visits from dear friends, she died on April 2, 2019, at Hospice House Fredericton, New Brunswick, only eight days after moving to the facility. She had bravely waged a three-year battle with cancer. She leaves her mother, Norma, and her husband, Andrew Goodman. A great many dear friends and colleagues around the world have been saddened by the news.
Childhood
Carolyn’s childhood was a happy one. Whether with “six girls in a cranberry tree” in the backyard of the home on Sedgebrook Cres., or stays at the summer lodge on Lake Kashawigamog, Carolyn smuggled untold depth beneath a mane of blonde hair, big, blinking blue eyes, and a 1,000-watt smile.
Like many of us, Carolyn grew up in the ‘burbs, sprawling on the fringes of the city, in geometric order, an insulated border, in between the bright lights and the far unlit unknown. She longed to spread her wings after high school, and spread them she did.
Undergraduate and Master’s Degrees
Carolyn was the quintessential Trent University alumna. Not a “Type A” overachiever when she arrived at the small, beautiful liberal arts university in Peterborough, Ontario – “Oxford on the Otonabee.” She found a level of focus in a balanced, lower-pressure environment, as have many later-blooming Trent graduates. That place has class.
Carolyn chose Carleton for her Master’s degree. She worked under the inspiring mentorship of Linda Freeman, with whom she maintained lifelong ties. The research focused on the use of Canadian aid to support structural adjustment in Africa.
Early work and advocacy
In between degrees, Carolyn was already finding interesting work in areas like environmental policy and women’s rights.
In Toronto, she would become deeply involved with several advocacy groups. Examples included Latin America Working Group (and a publication called Americas Update – she served as Editor for a time) and Toronto Environmental Alliance. While finishing her doctorate, she took a full-time role as Executive Director of the Canadian Peace Alliance, an umbrella group of peace organizations. Mundane back-office tasks combined with tricky coalition-building and media work. Peace groups took heat in some circles (and mainstream media) for their opposition to the Gulf War. The criticism later died down, but the debate raged throughout the 1990’s. Finally in 1999 a consensus emerged that Iraq possessed no meaningful mass destruction capability.
Ph.D.
Carolyn’s focus in Ph.D. studies at York University, Toronto, was international political economy, international development studies, and comparative politics. York University is rich in scholars with international specializations. Carolyn chose to pursue research on fiscal policy priorities in post-apartheid South Africa. Her doctoral supervisor was John S. Saul, a celebrated scholar focusing on African post-colonial independence struggles.
Carolyn’s dissertation work and work related to it shone new light – specific to South Africa – on a theme that unites political economists and progressive policy scientists: namely, the question of how much wiggle room do political parties have to make sweeping, progressive changes in the name of equality, improved living conditions, and social justice? To what extent are national governments sovereign, especially in situations where they must encourage foreign investment and answer to global bodies like the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund? Can governments truly consult the stakeholders that brought them into office? Do emerging demands for more democratic policy consultations or “national bargaining approaches” inevitably spawn sham processes, in light of the turn towards executive power that has been observed when countries must answer to global bond raters and mainstream economic templates in order to avoid (eg.) a debt crisis?
Such questions begged for answers in the South African case, especially when viewed through the eyes of the ANC government under Nelson Mandela as it swept to power in 1994 following the end of apartheid. Those who studied this case closely – and many South Africans – will know the players and the acronyms better than you or I: NEDLAC, NEF, COSATU; union leaders, government ministers, etc. The ANC committed to provide COSATU (the national labour union) with an official voice in policy consultations in the early days of government priority-setting. Considerable investment and innovation would need to be directed towards housing, developing labor markets, health care, and education. So much to do, all at once. Which forces would prevail in priority-setting?
NEDLAC is the National Economic Development and Labour Council. Its website states that the “roots of South Africa’s commitment to social dialogue lie in the struggle against apartheid, unilateral government decision-making and in the calls for decisions to be taken in a more open and transparent manner.”
“Dialogue” is such a fundamental concept in democracy and modernity, and yet time and again, policy processes do not seem to truly allow for or account for it. Since 1970, progressive approaches to public policy and public administration (see Albo, Panitch, and Langille (eds.), A Different Kind of State? – “not more state or less state, but a different kind of state) have examined countless schemes to balance regimes of expertise and governance with citizen input. Depressingly, no clear pattern of improvement has emerged. One of two camps in the broader debate has always suspected that this is because the power of economic forces makes this uphill climb impossibly steep.
Broadly stated, one camp – the Nordlinger camp – believes that “state-centered preferences” have considerable autonomy to chart one course or another. Neo-Marxists have always believed that structural economic forces and culture so strongly constrain the policy options to decision-makers – even those steeped in and pursuing human rights – that the wiggle room is much smaller. That is to say, there are only different flavours of capitalist societies under capitalism. There is no such thing as building a different kind of society in isolation from this global system – there is no practical means to achieve such isolation. “Socialism,” lower-case-r republicanism of small producer and small business nirvana, localized attempts at protectionism, etc., are but localized and temporary anomalies, under this view. Bassett’s case study would aim to provide texture and evidence upon which a future analyst of the South Africa case could decide for themselves how doomed progressive politics there were then, or may be in future.
Husband Andrew, at the time also pursuing a Ph.D. at York, undertook a dissertation case study on a seemingly unrelated subject related to Canadian tax policy consultations, tethered to a detailed theoretical review of twentieth century democratic theory. In the sense that these works both attempted to address the emerging claims for citizen dialogue in public policy consultations – and discovered many pitfalls in practice – they were similar. These long journeys through similar themes in entirely different contexts cemented a lifetime intellectual bond between Andrew and Carolyn, although they rarely spoke of it.
The debates about “policy wiggle room” and the extent of state autonomy have played themselves out over decades, and continue to progress. Today, these debates play themselves out in paroxysms of protest against – or simply attempts to manage or even embrace the positive effects of – globalization.
Professional career
Carolyn’s first full-time teaching post was in the form of numerous recurring appointments (non-tenure-track) at York University, as a Lecturer and Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science. The intellectual community and student body at York are also varied and stimulating, and as a bonus, teaching at York offers one of the few opportunities for an academic to live and work in Canada’s largest city.
For this period she was appointed to Atkinson College, the school of part-time studies. Most of the students were employed full time and had life experience. Carolyn relished this role and enjoyed working with these students – their initiative to better themselves and not to squander their time enrolled in university were as inspiring to her as her lectures and perspectives were to them.
Tenure-track academic positions are hard to come by; especially hard in the humanities and social sciences when one is perceived to have a narrow specialty. Carolyn interviewed for a position in the Department of Political Science at the University of New Brunswick in 2008, and was successful. In 2013 she was granted tenure.
She became fast friends with a broader community of marooned “come-from-aways” seeking to navigate sometimes confusing Maritime driving habits, sayings, and unspoken intergenerational assumptions. But early on, and increasingly so over eleven years, she became more attuned to the pace and attitude of life in “Freddie Beach,” the nooks and crannies of the region, and the enjoyment of highway infrastructure suitable for ten million people, all at the disposal of a handful of New Brunswickers.
Carolyn taught courses in international relations and international development, and also showed great creativity in mapping out new course offerings in areas of emerging interest. She taught undergraduate students about the challenges of globalization and the shifting workings of global supply chains. She helped them consider the steadily changing world of work in that context. A now-legendary “beverages course” (with weeks about rum, orange juice, bottled water, wine, coffee, tea, and more) provided an accessible approach to how production and consumption worked historically and what has been different about them in contemporary times. “Nothing added, nothing taken away?” as they say in that orange juice commercial? Don’t be so sure.
Carolyn also served as the Director of an interdisciplinary program in International Development Studies.
Carolyn worked steadily on a wide array of interesting research projects, course developments and lectures, conference presentations, and publications. She has two projects – along with others she had in the queue, including a textbook – which are forthcoming publications. One of these publications is a chapter in a collective book honouring Linda Freeman’s academic career following her recent retirement from lecturing. Carolyn’s chapter undertook a comparative analysis of hegemonic theory, full with a discourse analysis to critically assess the ANC’s hegemonic presence in the South African political landscape in the post-apartheid era under Mandela, Mbeki, Zuma, and Ramaphosa.
The second forthcoming publication is a co-written book chapter in a collective entitled Mobilizing Canadian Knowledge on Natural Resource-Based Development in Africa. The chapter is rooted in political economy and undertakes an analysis of domestic capital formation within the Zambian copper extraction and supply chain sector compared to other industry in Zambia which have deeper local supply chain linkages to critically assess the impact of current economic policies (both national and international) regarding mineral extraction. These projects are examples of longtime collaboration with other scholars, many of whom were cherished friends.
Exercise
Carolyn was outdoorsy for a city girl. An excellent swimmer, she would lose track of time in the ocean on any Caribbean vacation. Her preferred time chasing fish around while snorkeling: twice as long as anyone else on the tour.
Her secret double life as a hip-hop dancer was honed slowly but steadily through hip-hop dance classes at GoodLife Fitness, reaching a high level of step complexity. This explained her uncanny references to contemporary music, and her mysterious practice of leaving the satellite car radio dialed into “SXM Fly.”
Another favorite class was fitness boxing. Demonstrating impeccable form for anyone who would watch it, she would fill the air with “Jab! Jab! Uppercut!” Instead of the air, Andrew’s shoulder might sometimes absorb these blows. To deflect attention from his wounded shoulder, Andrew declared the skinny arms “punching sticks” – before nursing the bruises for the better part of a week.
Carolyn was most at home when hiking, especially on beautiful trails in their adopted home of Atlantic Canada: Fundy Trail, Fundy National Park, Mount Carleton, and Cape Breton Highlands, to name a few. After a good recovery from her initial cancer diagnosis, Andrew and Carolyn enjoyed epic hikes near the Amalfi Coast, Italy, to say nothing of a side trip to Capri complete with an extended dive into the warm waters of a “grotto” – swimming again!
Travel
Carolyn’s life was rich with experiences. Some travel was on her own or with friends when she was younger (Europe, especially struck by the Nordic countries; Mexico); some was for research; and much of it was on holiday adventures with Andrew (most often to the Caribbean, but also to Italy twice, etc.).
The most eye-opening days of her life were undoubtedly on research trips to Johannesburg, South Africa. She also traveled to other parts of South Africa and other African countries.
Carolyn must have liked Andrew, and didn’t get the memo about playing hard to get being the cleverest way to navigate a relationship, because after a short stint of dating (following a longer period of friendship), she abruptly asked Andrew to go to Greece with her. This would surely make or break the relationship. Penniless, Andrew began to think hard about his credit card limit. These worries melted away when the intrinsic benefits of being in Greece together became obvious. Like many young people, they traveled on the cheap. On a ferry from the port of Piraeus in Athens, they somehow found a class of ticket that was below third class. Probably correctly, they assumed they had to just sleep out on the deck. The waters were significantly colder than expected and hypothermia was looming. They found some utility towels in a bin to use as blankets. Shivering, they arrived in the early morning at port in Herakleon, Crete, to sweltering temperatures in the high 20’s. They wandered towards the bus station. The mercury quickly climbed to 35. They longed for, and soon found, a happy medium. They, and the relationship, survived and thrived.
Nature
Carolyn loved both dogs and cats. In 2000, she managed to convince Andrew that his allergies were a thing of the past, and they adopted young Walter, a tuxedo shorthair. A constant fixture in their lives, Walter lived at four addresses and visited several cottages. In recent years, Carolyn enjoyed stints of summer work with her laptop in the backyard lawn. Loyal Walter would camp out at her feet. In 2018, bereft of dear departed Walter, Andrew and Carolyn adopted Marty and Maya, two CARMA rescue cats, aged five months. Given Carolyn’s susceptibility to the Facebook pictures of local cats for adoption, it was just a matter of time. Marty and Maya’s persuasive powers at their foster home at Global Pet Foods sealed the deal.
Carolyn showered Andrew with symbols of his purported love of crows, a love which developed after consuming a Nature of Things documentary on the uncanny intelligence of the ubiquitous corvids. A collection of art and books about crows began to build up. Carolyn also noticed that Andrew would say “hey buddy” as he passed crows foraging along the side of the highway. Carolyn’s voice impression of Andrew’s attempt at “crow language” would evoke a belly laugh from anyone who would listen.
In 2017, Andrew and Carolyn acquired a piece of waterfront land on the Bay of Fundy at Bocabec, NB (near Saint Andrews), after a fruitless search for just the right cottage property. The day of their very first visit prior to the purchase, a bald eagle soared above them. A loon floated past towards the mouth of the Bocabec river, and called. Sometimes the animals speak to us.
They later learned that the largely rocky terrain hosts chanterelle mushrooms and, of course, blueberries.
Handy
As an only child, Carolyn was the beneficiary of regular gifts of tools from her father George; she herself took a keen interest in high-quality tools. This toolkit, and Carolyn’s improvisation, could seemingly handle any home repair task. Andrew, deficient in home repair ability, was relied on only for brute force. He was called in to drill holes for their new mailbox on the side of the Toronto townhouse, the one with the ugly but all-too-real stone exterior. The drill bit was rated for balsa wood. Two hours later, the mailbox was in place.
Carolyn also summoned her own brute force skills when Andrew was away on business. Wielding a sledgehammer (or heavy mallet, at least), she convincingly demolished the improvised curved drywall entertainment unit she’d been hating. It was six months, though, before step 2 in the plan became clear. The rubble pile served as notice to all concerned: this woman means business.
Later, home renovations were undertaken with the help of architects, leading to a quantum leap in planning. Carolyn’s passion for architecture and design – especially midcentury modern – had grown by this time.
For Phase 2 of their home renovation in Fredericton, Andrew and Carolyn hired modern architects ACRE (Monica Adair and Stephen Kopp) of Saint John. Some of the ideas had been inspired by a visit to Miller House in Columbus, Indiana, an unlikely mecca of modern architecture a half an hour outside of Indianapolis. The “conversation pit” (sunken sofa area by the fireplace with a view of outdoors) competed with her spacious home office for “favourite place at home.”
Mom
Carolyn’s bond with Norma was constant and life-affirming for both. Norma knitted meticulous custom blankets and sweaters, created needlepoint wall art, and provided a steady supply of family treasures as well as newer kitchen items. A contractor recently remarked, about the tool collection in the home, that “it’s a pretty good hardware store you have in the basement.” Similarly, Andrew recently told anyone who would listen, including Carolyn, that no matter what recipe he’d try to make over the years, even the most obscure kitchen tool, and even hard-to-find spices, were never absent from the abundant “kitchen supply store.” Being surrounded by family artifacts and wooly things was a constant source of affirmation for Carolyn.
Recently, even in declining health, Carolyn used home decor and room layout software (a passion of hers) to help her mother plan the layout of her new apartment, to which she was moving as part of downsizing. The plan worked like a charm! Carolyn would have done just about anything for Norma, and vice-versa.
Cindy Lou Who
Throughout her life, despite not being a naïve person, Carolyn maintained an innocence and freshness about her. She refused to be jaded. When others’ moods turned dark or cynical, Carolyn would maintain her own outlook, refusing to be infected.
Those big, blinking blue eyes looked to be the picture of childlike innocence, but in fact – even as a young child – they were always dispassionately observant, taking everything in rather than being taken in. Her father came to know those eyes when they sat one foot from his tools when working on household repairs.
One day in Toronto, a new neighbour “level-jumped” while making small talk on a simple trip together to a furniture store. A conventional-seeming chap, he started regaling his new neighbours with a tale of some unseemly goings-on that he and his wife had recently enjoyed on a trip to Amsterdam. “Oh!,” she blinked. “I went to the Van Gogh Museum!”
Carolyn’s life serves as a challenge to us all to pursue understanding, which in her case was pursued via a lifetime of research, advocacy, and dialogue. Caring and charity – while surely good things – are insufficient and frequently merely symbolic.
In lieu of flowers, readers are welcome to make a donation to Hospice House Fredericton, or the hospice of one’s choice.
A celebration of Carolyn’s life will be held in the Victoria Room at the Delta Fredericton Hotel on Saturday, May 25, 2019.
Carolyn’s immediate family is grateful for the incredible professionalism and compassion of many people in several hospitals and other aspects of the New Brunswick medical system. Our GP in Fredericton, Dr. Khaleduzzaman. In Fredericton Chalmers Hospital: ER staff and doctors; nurses on the oncology ward; Dr. Raza, oncologist, and his staff nurse, Tracey; professional staff Elaine and Julie; and hospital volunteers. At Saint John Regional Hospital, Dr. Kolyvas, neurologist; nurses and staff in the neurology ward. Extramural nurses in Fredericton, particularly Melissa; occupational therapists; other extramural staff. Palliative doctor Dr. Goodyear. Norma of Hands On Home Support Services. At Hospice House Fredericton: particularly all the nursing staff who cared directly for Carolyn and who found many moments to care about family and friends; other professional staff, doctors, volunteers, and donors. Many caring and well-trained people here go the extra mile with sometimes limited resources.
Celebration of Life
A celebration of Carolyn’s life will be held in the Victoria Room at the Delta Fredericton Hotel on Saturday, May 25, 2019.
The details are as follows (minor changes are possible but date, time, and location are set):
- Reception is open from 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. (please note time change)
- Spoken tributes: 3:00 p.m.
- Light refreshments and drinks will be served.
- For those who wish to, you’re welcome to join others who may be meeting and gathering nearby beforehand or afterward.
- If visiting from farther afield, consider booking flights and accommodations in advance to avoid disappointment.
- Consider staying at the Delta if there is availability. Other nearby hotels include The Crowne Plaza and the Hilton Garden Inn.
Hike for Hospice
Join Andrew for the 11th annual Hike for Hospice at Killarney Lake, Fredericton, on Sunday, May 5, 2019. To be added as a member of the hiking team (the hike shouldn’t be too long!), please contact Andrew directly. To pledge a donation amount to the hospice, the team is accepting cheques made out to Hospice Fredericton — please deliver or mail to Andrew and Carolyn’s home in Fredericton or donate online. Tax receipts can be issued for amounts of $20 or more.
Guestbook
72 entries.
Sad, finding this. I spent a day with Carolyn in London, summer of 1985. She was homesick, and we enacted many SCTV routines together. She was delightful, charming, and very funny. We rode the tubes out to a marketplace where there were people busking. We met at a youth hostel, our times overlapped for only a day. We decided to spend it together. She was an undergrad, I was taking a break from college. There were some really significant conversations with white South Africans. I wish I could remember more. It was an amazing day.
How often lives intersect and connect, and only for a moment. I am grateful I had for the moment I had with Carolyn… and I am amazed by her remarkable life. Perhaps Dr Bassett and Reverend Kopp will share a joke on the other side. I may be in a long line.
Rob Kopp
How often lives intersect and connect, and only for a moment. I am grateful I had for the moment I had with Carolyn… and I am amazed by her remarkable life. Perhaps Dr Bassett and Reverend Kopp will share a joke on the other side. I may be in a long line.
Rob Kopp
My deepest sympathy goes out to Dr. Bassett's family. I am saddened by the news that Dr. Bassett is no longer with us.
I first met Dr. Bassett in 2007 while enrolled in her Work and Employment course at York University. I found an old email correspondence between myself and Dr. Bassett from 2008 where she informed me that I had been nominated for an essay prize at York University. That email led me to a search for Dr. Bassett that landed here. Instead of writing a "how are you" message , I am crying and in disbelieve. I am sad to have learned that someone who inspired and encouraged me is no longer here. Her class was one that I looked forward to. Like Kali, I too intended to take additional classes with Dr. Bassett, but she moved to UNB in 2008. She will forever be missed. With Love, Annique
I first met Dr. Bassett in 2007 while enrolled in her Work and Employment course at York University. I found an old email correspondence between myself and Dr. Bassett from 2008 where she informed me that I had been nominated for an essay prize at York University. That email led me to a search for Dr. Bassett that landed here. Instead of writing a "how are you" message , I am crying and in disbelieve. I am sad to have learned that someone who inspired and encouraged me is no longer here. Her class was one that I looked forward to. Like Kali, I too intended to take additional classes with Dr. Bassett, but she moved to UNB in 2008. She will forever be missed. With Love, Annique
I am deeply saddened to learn of Dr. Bassetts passing. I first met her when I was 18 and coming out of high school. I was struggling to make sense of academia and of who I was becoming. Dr. Bassett was always there to listen when life was overwhelming. She never stopped listening, pushing and caring for her students even after we had moved on. I took every course I could with her both because the material she presented was so engaging (due in large part to how passionate she was about it all) but also because her personality always made for the best lectures. She was always open to chatting about life and future academic pursuits and never made me feel anything but worthwhile. She was crazy busy, but always made time for her students. My heart goes out to her family as they grieve her loss, she was a light in this world and a force to be reckoned with.
I am shocked and saddened to hear of Carolyn's illness and death, and moved by the many tributes. I recall meeting her in Toronto in the 1990's when she was involved with TCLSAC, again at York as fellow students of John Saul, and regularly in the years since at various academic conferences. Her quirky humour and spark were hers uniquely, with so many of the other qualities so lovingly testified to here. Thank you, everyone, for sharing. My deepest sympathies to Andrew and all grieving this terrible loss.
Craig and I and our children are deeply saddened by Caroline's passing. The Bassett's have been like family to us since moving next to them on Abinger Crescent back in 1997.
My first and lasting impression of Caroline was that of a strong, independent woman who was destined to make her mark. And make her mark she did - in many ways. Through her research, her inspiration and guidance as a teacher, her role as a loving and compassionate daughter, and her remarkable resolve, strength and positive outlook over these past few years during her battle with cancer.
Please know that you are surrounded by many that love you and are here to support you during this difficult time. Our thoughts and prayers are with Andrew, Norma and the family today and always.
With love,
Gail Taylor
My first and lasting impression of Caroline was that of a strong, independent woman who was destined to make her mark. And make her mark she did - in many ways. Through her research, her inspiration and guidance as a teacher, her role as a loving and compassionate daughter, and her remarkable resolve, strength and positive outlook over these past few years during her battle with cancer.
Please know that you are surrounded by many that love you and are here to support you during this difficult time. Our thoughts and prayers are with Andrew, Norma and the family today and always.
With love,
Gail Taylor
Hello everyone, Andrew here. A warm thanks for your guestbook reflections.
It's only been just over six weeks since Carolyn left us. I have time to reflect daily, and this is healthy. The tears don't come all at once. They come along when you don't always expect it.
But life always moves a little too fast (we're advised to live life as if our time here is limited -- so true!) to allow for the full vita contemplativa to take over. That too is healthy.
For those who will be attending the ceremony on Saturday, I look forward to seeing you. (I understand that this isn't feasible for all but a few close friends and family. Carolyn would certainly understand.)
It will be a fitting, uplifting, and community-building program. Along with remembrance, love and hope will be in the air. Rain or shine, we will stroll outside afterwards and contemplate life and its mysteries as the Saint John River flows mightily towards the ocean 110 km away. The only poem I ever wrote to Carolyn (I write very few poems) was called "A River Brought Us Here." Indeed. Although not really. We had those noisy little Air Canada flights to thank for that, and a moving van.
Fortunately for the planet, many of the expected guests this Saturday are in the business of *de*mystifying life's mysteries, as Carolyn was. We don't always succeed, but we keep trying.
I thought it would be a shame if I stayed completely silent on the thread. So I wanted you to know I've been thinking about many of you as I reflected on the high (and occasionally lower) points of our journeys together. It might be unfair to single anyone out lest somehow that would make it seem like I didn't think of the others, but that's not how I intend this, so here goes with a not-so-random sample (confined only to people who wrote in this guest book).
Linda Freeman, it was moving and powerful to hear from you. We never met, or possibly only in passing at one conference, but Carolyn spoke of you often.
Franz, I've often thought of you when I thought of Jack Layton, but also, as you probably know, the first time I ever danced in close proximity to (some might say "with") Carolyn was at your New Year's Eve party. So there you have it: Franz and Karen, you are partly responsible for the "power couple" that would eventually emerge (or was it the "truth to power deadly duo?").
Steve and Judy Hellman, thank you for the interesting reflections about details from those days. I think about that phase of our lives and how important folks like you were in our development and in creating such a rich atmosphere of scholarship but also friendship and neighbourliness at York / the Annex / etc.
And there really is no replacing the Trent crew: "Gar," Laurie, and Jamie. Often our undergraduate alma maters are where our most cherished memories live, and it's nice that we were all able to stay in touch in varying degrees.
James Charles Barkley Lawson of Lady Eaton College, it is noted in the program for the Convocation for the Conferring of Degrees, Trent University, 3:00 p.m. [year redacted], that both you and Carolyn Mary Bassett were on the Dean's Honours List. Not that anyone would doubt it! As you know, I fell in love with Trent when I had the opportunity to teach there part-time for two years. Carolyn had a similar opportunity.
I think, Jamie, you may have missed your calling as a "Leacock-esque" humorist if we're talking about full-body critiques of Hegel. You've outdone yourself with that one. As for the narcolepsy, I don't know anyone who went to university that didn't suffer from it. Especially in warm classrooms with the old hot water radiators.
Humor is the only reason I somehow managed to get inside Carolyn's head myself, the way she often told it. One time, we were riding the subway together. We were barely dating or not yet dating. But definitely friends working on the same type of degree together. We were probably on the way back from something academic or to something political, or maybe a movie. Or maybe all three. As one does on the subway, we ran out of stuff to say. Things were quiet for over a minute. I looked over at her as if thinking of something to say, and out came "ribbit." If you're scoring at home, that's the noise frogs make. She squealed with laughter and never forgot it. If any of you less-funny fellas are looking for lessons, well, you probably can't afford my rates.
And a composite sketch has emerged from no one person (but rather all of you, ha!) that Carolyn liked to poke fun, pull no punches, pull a face, make no bones about..., etc. Certainly I would not have been above (if only subconsciously) weaponizing my 5'2.5" wife in social situations -- to stir the pot instead of keeping things to bland small talk. Fun indeed! Less fun to be on the receiving end, but usually that was fun too. One of her favorite pictures of all time seems to be at my parents' cottage where, finally, I was convinced to don the tissue paper crown from the Christmas (might have been Thanksgiving) "cracker" -- and for some reason, I look sillier in those things than anyone else does. Carolyn is seen clapping her hands together like a three-year-old who just received the world's best Christmas present, grinning from ear to ear as I look back in sheepish hat shame. Being the butt of a mild joke here and there would be a tiny price to pay to witness that kind of pure joy. Of course we had plenty of joy in more consequential things, but I'll save those stories for when I see you next.
I have told folks that I will not be one of those providing a spoken tribute at Carolyn's ceremony. I have enough to say about our life together that it will be in private conversations over days, weeks, months, and years. I wouldn't do well with the Coles Notes version. I will enjoy seeing and greeting everyone, and to hearing others' tributes, and some fitting music.
Finally, I'd like to thank everyone who has been so supportive in this difficult time. Words cannot express the depth and sincerity of the support that has gone far beyond mere words. If I name names here, I'll again risk missing one, so in this case you truly do know who you are.
Thanks for writing. Thanks for reading.
It's only been just over six weeks since Carolyn left us. I have time to reflect daily, and this is healthy. The tears don't come all at once. They come along when you don't always expect it.
But life always moves a little too fast (we're advised to live life as if our time here is limited -- so true!) to allow for the full vita contemplativa to take over. That too is healthy.
For those who will be attending the ceremony on Saturday, I look forward to seeing you. (I understand that this isn't feasible for all but a few close friends and family. Carolyn would certainly understand.)
It will be a fitting, uplifting, and community-building program. Along with remembrance, love and hope will be in the air. Rain or shine, we will stroll outside afterwards and contemplate life and its mysteries as the Saint John River flows mightily towards the ocean 110 km away. The only poem I ever wrote to Carolyn (I write very few poems) was called "A River Brought Us Here." Indeed. Although not really. We had those noisy little Air Canada flights to thank for that, and a moving van.
Fortunately for the planet, many of the expected guests this Saturday are in the business of *de*mystifying life's mysteries, as Carolyn was. We don't always succeed, but we keep trying.
I thought it would be a shame if I stayed completely silent on the thread. So I wanted you to know I've been thinking about many of you as I reflected on the high (and occasionally lower) points of our journeys together. It might be unfair to single anyone out lest somehow that would make it seem like I didn't think of the others, but that's not how I intend this, so here goes with a not-so-random sample (confined only to people who wrote in this guest book).
Linda Freeman, it was moving and powerful to hear from you. We never met, or possibly only in passing at one conference, but Carolyn spoke of you often.
Franz, I've often thought of you when I thought of Jack Layton, but also, as you probably know, the first time I ever danced in close proximity to (some might say "with") Carolyn was at your New Year's Eve party. So there you have it: Franz and Karen, you are partly responsible for the "power couple" that would eventually emerge (or was it the "truth to power deadly duo?").
Steve and Judy Hellman, thank you for the interesting reflections about details from those days. I think about that phase of our lives and how important folks like you were in our development and in creating such a rich atmosphere of scholarship but also friendship and neighbourliness at York / the Annex / etc.
And there really is no replacing the Trent crew: "Gar," Laurie, and Jamie. Often our undergraduate alma maters are where our most cherished memories live, and it's nice that we were all able to stay in touch in varying degrees.
James Charles Barkley Lawson of Lady Eaton College, it is noted in the program for the Convocation for the Conferring of Degrees, Trent University, 3:00 p.m. [year redacted], that both you and Carolyn Mary Bassett were on the Dean's Honours List. Not that anyone would doubt it! As you know, I fell in love with Trent when I had the opportunity to teach there part-time for two years. Carolyn had a similar opportunity.
I think, Jamie, you may have missed your calling as a "Leacock-esque" humorist if we're talking about full-body critiques of Hegel. You've outdone yourself with that one. As for the narcolepsy, I don't know anyone who went to university that didn't suffer from it. Especially in warm classrooms with the old hot water radiators.
Humor is the only reason I somehow managed to get inside Carolyn's head myself, the way she often told it. One time, we were riding the subway together. We were barely dating or not yet dating. But definitely friends working on the same type of degree together. We were probably on the way back from something academic or to something political, or maybe a movie. Or maybe all three. As one does on the subway, we ran out of stuff to say. Things were quiet for over a minute. I looked over at her as if thinking of something to say, and out came "ribbit." If you're scoring at home, that's the noise frogs make. She squealed with laughter and never forgot it. If any of you less-funny fellas are looking for lessons, well, you probably can't afford my rates.
And a composite sketch has emerged from no one person (but rather all of you, ha!) that Carolyn liked to poke fun, pull no punches, pull a face, make no bones about..., etc. Certainly I would not have been above (if only subconsciously) weaponizing my 5'2.5" wife in social situations -- to stir the pot instead of keeping things to bland small talk. Fun indeed! Less fun to be on the receiving end, but usually that was fun too. One of her favorite pictures of all time seems to be at my parents' cottage where, finally, I was convinced to don the tissue paper crown from the Christmas (might have been Thanksgiving) "cracker" -- and for some reason, I look sillier in those things than anyone else does. Carolyn is seen clapping her hands together like a three-year-old who just received the world's best Christmas present, grinning from ear to ear as I look back in sheepish hat shame. Being the butt of a mild joke here and there would be a tiny price to pay to witness that kind of pure joy. Of course we had plenty of joy in more consequential things, but I'll save those stories for when I see you next.
I have told folks that I will not be one of those providing a spoken tribute at Carolyn's ceremony. I have enough to say about our life together that it will be in private conversations over days, weeks, months, and years. I wouldn't do well with the Coles Notes version. I will enjoy seeing and greeting everyone, and to hearing others' tributes, and some fitting music.
Finally, I'd like to thank everyone who has been so supportive in this difficult time. Words cannot express the depth and sincerity of the support that has gone far beyond mere words. If I name names here, I'll again risk missing one, so in this case you truly do know who you are.
Thanks for writing. Thanks for reading.
Dear Andrew, Norma, friends and family of Carolyn,
I just heard the news of Carolyn's passing today and I am so very sorry for your tragic loss. I was fortunate to meet Carolyn once. It was a dinner with you, Andrew and Dean at an Ethiopian restaurant in Toronto. I think it was Carolyn's choice, IIRC and it was an honour to meet the amazing woman behind my fearless leader. What a wonderful, kind person she was in my brief encounter that night. She seemed to be like that irreplaceable hockey player on a team, that brought out the best in everyone.
My sincerest condolences, to you, Andrew, Norma and all who Carolyn's life touched in a profound way. I'm very, very sad for your loss. May all the happy memories you have of her, sustain you all.
Peace and comfort to you.
Sincerely, Scott (& Kim)
I just heard the news of Carolyn's passing today and I am so very sorry for your tragic loss. I was fortunate to meet Carolyn once. It was a dinner with you, Andrew and Dean at an Ethiopian restaurant in Toronto. I think it was Carolyn's choice, IIRC and it was an honour to meet the amazing woman behind my fearless leader. What a wonderful, kind person she was in my brief encounter that night. She seemed to be like that irreplaceable hockey player on a team, that brought out the best in everyone.
My sincerest condolences, to you, Andrew, Norma and all who Carolyn's life touched in a profound way. I'm very, very sad for your loss. May all the happy memories you have of her, sustain you all.
Peace and comfort to you.
Sincerely, Scott (& Kim)
Dear Norma and Andrew,
I am so sorry to hear of Carolyn's passing. My first memories of her were from her teenage years in crazy 1980's clothes at an ECI disco. She then became one of my most tolerant babysitters. She was always patient and kind with me and, knowing you, Norma, it is obvious that you gave her those gifts.
I am truly sorry for your loss and wish you both strength going forward.
Laura Birkinshaw
I am so sorry to hear of Carolyn's passing. My first memories of her were from her teenage years in crazy 1980's clothes at an ECI disco. She then became one of my most tolerant babysitters. She was always patient and kind with me and, knowing you, Norma, it is obvious that you gave her those gifts.
I am truly sorry for your loss and wish you both strength going forward.
Laura Birkinshaw
Dear Andrew;
I was truly shocked and sadden to hear of Carolyn’s passing, my sincere condolences to you and the family. While I never had the opportunity to meet Carolyn it is pretty evident that she made a large impact on you and all the people around her. I hope you continue to cherish the moments you had together.
Truly sorry for your loss,
Mark
I was truly shocked and sadden to hear of Carolyn’s passing, my sincere condolences to you and the family. While I never had the opportunity to meet Carolyn it is pretty evident that she made a large impact on you and all the people around her. I hope you continue to cherish the moments you had together.
Truly sorry for your loss,
Mark
Dear Andrew and family,
I was deeply saddened to hear the news of Carolyn’s passing, and have been thinking back this past week over all of the years of panels, events and after-work dancing and catching up with her, from when I first arrived at York in 2002 until our last panel together in Ottawa last year. Carolyn’s reputation preceded my coming to Toronto, and she lived up to it in spades: feisty, challenging, fresh thinking and curious, hard-working and determined; all of it wrapped up in a genuine caring and concern for her work, and her colleagues and comrades. Once in Canada I personally discovered her fantastic, zingy and wicked sense of humour. And as a Maritimer from NB, I was delighted when she said she was moving to Fredericton. I knew that she would be embraced by – and embrace – life out east, and it is clear from the lovely words written in tribute by those from her adopted east coast home that she was, and she did.
I am so sorry for your loss. Carolyn was one of a kind, with the capacity for unique and clear critique that forced one to think, and think again. Her valuable contributions to a number of overlapping research and activist communities in Canada and Southern Africa will be sorely missed. But most importantly, she was a solid friend and a true force of nature.
I wish strength, comfort and peace to you Andrew, and to Carolyn’s other family and friends at this very sad time.
Richard Saunders
I was deeply saddened to hear the news of Carolyn’s passing, and have been thinking back this past week over all of the years of panels, events and after-work dancing and catching up with her, from when I first arrived at York in 2002 until our last panel together in Ottawa last year. Carolyn’s reputation preceded my coming to Toronto, and she lived up to it in spades: feisty, challenging, fresh thinking and curious, hard-working and determined; all of it wrapped up in a genuine caring and concern for her work, and her colleagues and comrades. Once in Canada I personally discovered her fantastic, zingy and wicked sense of humour. And as a Maritimer from NB, I was delighted when she said she was moving to Fredericton. I knew that she would be embraced by – and embrace – life out east, and it is clear from the lovely words written in tribute by those from her adopted east coast home that she was, and she did.
I am so sorry for your loss. Carolyn was one of a kind, with the capacity for unique and clear critique that forced one to think, and think again. Her valuable contributions to a number of overlapping research and activist communities in Canada and Southern Africa will be sorely missed. But most importantly, she was a solid friend and a true force of nature.
I wish strength, comfort and peace to you Andrew, and to Carolyn’s other family and friends at this very sad time.
Richard Saunders
Dear Andrew and other friends and family.
My deepest condolences. What a terrible loss for all of you and for the rest of us who knew Carolyn.
As Andrew hopefullyremembers, Carolyn and I spent many, many hours together during our PhD days volunteering for the Toronto Environmental Alliance (TEA) and learning how to navigate and integrate the quite different worlds of activism and academia.
Carolyn helped found TEA's Sustainable Community Economic Development (SCED) Caucus and was instrumental in infusing the pursuit of social and economic justice into TEA's DNA.
Carolyn was a blast to work with; she always found a way to find the joy in even mundane tasks and she had a way of winding her wisdom into everything we did together.
I also fondly remember dinners with Carolyn, Andrew and Karen (my partner) in the early 1990s. Having witnessed their courting, Andrew and Carolyn quickly transformed into a couple that we very much enjoyed spending time with.
As is too often the case with people from my PhD days, we lost touch. And now I very much regret not having had the chance to let Carolyn know how much I appreciated all she did for TEA and the rest of us over the years.
Thank you Carolyn. May you rest in peace.
Take care of each other.
With much sadness,
Franz Hartmann
My deepest condolences. What a terrible loss for all of you and for the rest of us who knew Carolyn.
As Andrew hopefullyremembers, Carolyn and I spent many, many hours together during our PhD days volunteering for the Toronto Environmental Alliance (TEA) and learning how to navigate and integrate the quite different worlds of activism and academia.
Carolyn helped found TEA's Sustainable Community Economic Development (SCED) Caucus and was instrumental in infusing the pursuit of social and economic justice into TEA's DNA.
Carolyn was a blast to work with; she always found a way to find the joy in even mundane tasks and she had a way of winding her wisdom into everything we did together.
I also fondly remember dinners with Carolyn, Andrew and Karen (my partner) in the early 1990s. Having witnessed their courting, Andrew and Carolyn quickly transformed into a couple that we very much enjoyed spending time with.
As is too often the case with people from my PhD days, we lost touch. And now I very much regret not having had the chance to let Carolyn know how much I appreciated all she did for TEA and the rest of us over the years.
Thank you Carolyn. May you rest in peace.
Take care of each other.
With much sadness,
Franz Hartmann
One of the gifts of getting to design with someone that is passionate about design, is that you get to learn about what makes them happy, what they find beautiful, and how they imagine designing their own life. With Carolyn, this privilege introduced us to the love of family, the beauty of textiles and patterns, the pleasures of health and fitness, the warmth of entertaining, the care for souvenirs and mementos, the appreciation for detail, the thoughtful consideration of the four-legged friends, crafting space for crows for Andrew and was complete with great design and life discussions over coffee at all our meetings. It was a privilege. Thank you for sharing a piece of your life and the beautiful way you saw the world. Our best to you Andrew. The whole Acre Architects team send their love.
Hello
I did not know Carolyn well but I did meet her a few times and I know people who think highly of her. I also work at UNB but in another discipline and on another campus. Sending sincere condolences to her partner, her family, her friends and her co-workers.
I did not know Carolyn well but I did meet her a few times and I know people who think highly of her. I also work at UNB but in another discipline and on another campus. Sending sincere condolences to her partner, her family, her friends and her co-workers.
I was so saddened and shocked to read of Carolyn's passing this morning. Having been away from Fredericton for nearly six years, I was not aware that Carolyn was ill. Carolyn arrived at UNB just as few years before my retirement, but I remember fondly this friendly, energetic and politically progressive addition to the Political Science department. It was always so refreshing to have a conversation with Carolyn. My sincere condolences to Andrew and her many friends and students.
Sue and I were terribly saddened to hear of Carolyn's passing. Our deepest sympathies go to Andrew and Norma, whose loss is beyond words. Carolyn was a highly respected teacher, scholar and colleague. But much more than this she was an inspiration to everyone who knew her. Her courage and selflessness in the face of illness was extraordinary.
Carolyn will be missed by her family in Ontario. We met Carolyn soon after our nephew, Andrew and Carolyn became a couple. We didn't see them as often as we would have liked as they were busy with their studies and we did not live close by. However, whenever we were together we enjoyed listening to their latest activities and plans.
Andrew, we are thinking of you. You are in our thoughts often these days. We loved you both and always looked forward to seeing you, Carolyn and Norma for our Christmas dinners. She will be missed by all of us.
Love Joan and Ken
Andrew, we are thinking of you. You are in our thoughts often these days. We loved you both and always looked forward to seeing you, Carolyn and Norma for our Christmas dinners. She will be missed by all of us.
Love Joan and Ken
Andrew and Norma,
How grateful am I to have spent time with Carolyn over the last year. One thing about kindred friends is how quickly you connect and catch up – even when you haven’t seen each other in a long time. My friendship with Carolyn is an old one, woven with the moments in our lives: from Trent, I have the shiny memories of the two of us dancing in the townhouse to Jane Siberry and the English Beat. The “night the lights went out on George Street” is another.
From Toronto (and Palmerston and the U of T gym), we caught up and went for great food (as she and Andrew always seemed to know all the delicious neighbourhood haunts). This past Christmas, she met my grown daughter in your old Bloor west neighbourhood, and as I quietly watched, Carolyn warmly made her the centre of her attention and interest.
And then again at Trent last June. Coincidentally, we arrived at the 30th anniversary of our convocation. The place had changed, but not enough to discourage us from grabbing a burger at the burger shack and making the trek downtown again, to Sadleir House, and what remains of our beloved Peter Robinson College.
We went in, a couple of more-than-middle-aged interlopers who raised some eyebrows from the staff. As we took in the memories of our younger selves, Carolyn dutifully explained who we were: former students who had spent a bit of their lives there, remarkable in that we were there together again: she the future recipient of the Robert Lightbody award and a ground-breaking academic.
Her sunny spirit, her comedic pause before she answered a question, and her bouncy energy might have tempted you to underestimate her. Her lightness belied a formidable intellect, one that she cultivated with passion, drive, and an incredible discipline. I was in awe of her work ethic and tenacity.
But of course, many of us writing in tribute know all that and more. I told her recently, after her travels west and return home, how brave she was. She, of course, was having none of it. And even in that protestation, came a certain knowledge to me.
I was and have always been very lucky to have called her my friend.
With love across the miles.
Laurie
How grateful am I to have spent time with Carolyn over the last year. One thing about kindred friends is how quickly you connect and catch up – even when you haven’t seen each other in a long time. My friendship with Carolyn is an old one, woven with the moments in our lives: from Trent, I have the shiny memories of the two of us dancing in the townhouse to Jane Siberry and the English Beat. The “night the lights went out on George Street” is another.
From Toronto (and Palmerston and the U of T gym), we caught up and went for great food (as she and Andrew always seemed to know all the delicious neighbourhood haunts). This past Christmas, she met my grown daughter in your old Bloor west neighbourhood, and as I quietly watched, Carolyn warmly made her the centre of her attention and interest.
And then again at Trent last June. Coincidentally, we arrived at the 30th anniversary of our convocation. The place had changed, but not enough to discourage us from grabbing a burger at the burger shack and making the trek downtown again, to Sadleir House, and what remains of our beloved Peter Robinson College.
We went in, a couple of more-than-middle-aged interlopers who raised some eyebrows from the staff. As we took in the memories of our younger selves, Carolyn dutifully explained who we were: former students who had spent a bit of their lives there, remarkable in that we were there together again: she the future recipient of the Robert Lightbody award and a ground-breaking academic.
Her sunny spirit, her comedic pause before she answered a question, and her bouncy energy might have tempted you to underestimate her. Her lightness belied a formidable intellect, one that she cultivated with passion, drive, and an incredible discipline. I was in awe of her work ethic and tenacity.
But of course, many of us writing in tribute know all that and more. I told her recently, after her travels west and return home, how brave she was. She, of course, was having none of it. And even in that protestation, came a certain knowledge to me.
I was and have always been very lucky to have called her my friend.
With love across the miles.
Laurie
When Lucy Luccisano wrote me to say that Carolyn was in the final hours of her remarkable life, Steve and I sat down to talk about our warm recollections of her as a student in our grad program and, in my case, in my seminar. Remembering that Carolyn had defended her dissertation in 2000, I was surprised, as I leafed through my collection of red “Roll Books” that the department used to issue to us, that I had to go back to 1992 to find Carolyn in a course titled “Social and Political Movements” where she was in the company of Lucy, Jorden Berger, Patricia Landolt, David Pottie, Marcela Rios (now back in Chile) and Michelle van Beusekom, (for a long time down in Brazil) among other very lively, insightful and dedicated students. But no one could be said to have been more lively, insightful and committed than Carolyn who, as many others recall in these tributes, inevitably lit up every room she entered. My heart goes out to you, Andrew, to her parents, and to all of Carolyn’s own students who will also miss her dearly. Steve and I both send our most heartfelt condolences.
So sad to hear the news, our thoughts are with you.
I really enjoyed those snapshots of Carolyn's life you shared with us, what a full and productive life she had!
Sincerely,
The Lloys
I really enjoyed those snapshots of Carolyn's life you shared with us, what a full and productive life she had!
Sincerely,
The Lloys
It is hard for me to fathom as to how you are coping with loss of Carolyn. You are an enormously strong fellow emotionally. Over the last couple of years we were aware of Carolyn's resilient spirit as she went through chemo; and were always struck by how she continued to pursue her passion by continuing to teach.
I remember meeting both of you for the first time at my previous Sheppard/Allen office in 2004. Carolyn struck me as engaging, energetic and a bit bubbly in a pleasant way. Over the years I noticed her deep interest in the nuances and wider impact of your ever growing business, and she supported those efforts even in the early days when success was far from assured.
Your love was visible to us through your opting to physically move to the beautiful eastern Canada.
I am glad to have known her. As you think upon memories and experiences you shared with Carolyn, please know that your friends and family admired her, loved her, and fondly reflect upon her. She will be dearly missed.
I remember meeting both of you for the first time at my previous Sheppard/Allen office in 2004. Carolyn struck me as engaging, energetic and a bit bubbly in a pleasant way. Over the years I noticed her deep interest in the nuances and wider impact of your ever growing business, and she supported those efforts even in the early days when success was far from assured.
Your love was visible to us through your opting to physically move to the beautiful eastern Canada.
I am glad to have known her. As you think upon memories and experiences you shared with Carolyn, please know that your friends and family admired her, loved her, and fondly reflect upon her. She will be dearly missed.
Over my time at Page Zero, I listened to many stories of Carolyn's vacation adventures with Andrew, her fascinating work and cat-related experiences. I was lucky enough to finally meet Carolyn on one occasion. She was wonderful; remarkably friendly and bright. Even from our brief encounter, it was easy to see why she was a special person to so many.
I am deeply saddened to learn of Carolyn's passing. I met Carolyn through CASID. She helped organise the annual conference in Fredericton a few years ago. Our paths crossed several times over the past few years and it was always a pleasure to work and socialise with her. She struck me as an incredibly authentic person, powerful, passionate person with a great sense of humour. She will be missed by many. My condolences to her family, friends and colleagues.
Such sad news. Carolyn was a wonderful colleague and friend who will be deeply missed. As her neighbour in the political science hallway, I had regular opportunities to share stories with her of classroom goings-on, research struggles, funny cat antics, or whatever else was on our minds that day. She was passionate about many things and a strong voice in our department who pushed and challenged us in positive ways. I was always so impressed by Carolyn’s deep commitment to her work, both her research and her students. Even when she fell ill, she was determined not to let anyone down and pushed through the fatigue when many of us would have decided we had to take a break and hand things off to others – truly a caring and committed person who touched many lives.
I met her the first time in December 2015 at the ASA conference in San Diego, USA. We were in the same panel. She made a magisterial and articulate prersentastion on "Africa’s Next Debt Crisis?", intstantly making an impression on me as a critical scholar. In her usual friendly and convivial nature, she came up to me after the presentations to introduce herself, and then I got to know that both of us were alumni of York Political Science. She agreed to read a revised version of my paper and give comments for me to improve it for publication. Even though I never got around to revising and sending the paper to her, I was so touched by her generousity and selflessness. I got a good dose of her sense of humour during the short time I interacted with her during this conference. Her passing is a tragedy for scholarship on Africa, and it was a shock as I didn't know she was ill. My commiserations to the husband and other members of her family. Carolyn, until we meet again in heaven, rest in peace.
My deepest condolences to Andrew and your and Carolyn’s extended families. A beautiful tribute for a beautiful person and a life well lived. Peace and blessings and may her spirit and love be with you always.
The sun shone on me when Carolyn said yes to being my PhD supervisor. She intimidated me – in the best kind of way, in all the ways that all students should be challenged by their supervisors. I will hold on to our time together forever and I will never forget her brilliance and generosity. My deepest sympathies are with Andrew, her mother and friends.
I hadn't known that Carolyn had been ill, and I'm left deeply saddened by her passing. I first got to know Carolyn at York, where Andrew and I were classmates. Carolyn was always just such a delightful person, and had the capacity to instantly lift the spirits of a room: a 1000 watt smile and big wonderful eyes. Such apt and true descriptions. At the same time, what a fierce intellect, with an ability to cut through any argument to the core in a deep and penetrating fashion. Andrew, I'm so sorry for you loss. The world is a little less bright today.
Andrew, you’ve put together an incredible tribute for Carolyn. I’m so glad you included stories from her childhood, your courtship, your travels and your life. She had a beautiful life with her parents and with you. I am learning so much more about her from all these wonderful notes written by her friends, colleagues and mentors. Last week I was very saddened to learn that Carolyn was in a hospice and more so by her passing on April 2. Carolyn and I met in a graduate course at York University – we were in different graduate programs but I took a graduate course in political science. We stayed in touch during and after graduate school, and socialized in Toronto with a bunch of incredible women, most of us graduates from York University. I was always so impressed by her energy and care for teaching and for her students. In our conversations, I could also see the care and love that she had for her parents and for you. My condolences to you, her mom, and your family and friends.
Andrew, very sad to hear this news. I will always remember Carolyn as a great friend. I shared many great times with Carolyn while in Peterborough at Trent University and afterwards. She was a great friend when I needed a friend most. I will always remember Carolyn as a person of passion. She had passion for her friends, for her studies, for her work, and most of all for to make a difference.
I can still hear her say to me, "Well Michael, let me tell you..." Then Carolyn, myself, and others would burst out in laughter.
I can still hear her say to me, "Well Michael, let me tell you..." Then Carolyn, myself, and others would burst out in laughter.
I'm so sorry for your loss Andrew.
Throughout the years, I enjoyed listening to the stories you told about Carolyn. I loved how she'd try new things like kickboxing or hip hop dancing & how you'd tease her about her punching sticks or her new funky taste in music. It was funny listening to her tease you as well.
It was always heartwarming to see/hear your pride when you talked about her work & her professional accomplishments. And it was cute listening to you geek out about her research work!
For years, she's inspired me from afar and I'm a better person having been in her orbit. We've lost a beautiful soul but have all gained so much from knowing her & being connected to her wisdom, passion & positivity.
Sending love & healing vibes to you & your family.
Throughout the years, I enjoyed listening to the stories you told about Carolyn. I loved how she'd try new things like kickboxing or hip hop dancing & how you'd tease her about her punching sticks or her new funky taste in music. It was funny listening to her tease you as well.
It was always heartwarming to see/hear your pride when you talked about her work & her professional accomplishments. And it was cute listening to you geek out about her research work!
For years, she's inspired me from afar and I'm a better person having been in her orbit. We've lost a beautiful soul but have all gained so much from knowing her & being connected to her wisdom, passion & positivity.
Sending love & healing vibes to you & your family.
I am so sorry for your loss. Andrew, it was really great living across from you and Carolyn on Lavinia Ave. and I apologize for not keeping in touch more over the years. You two were always so friendly, so generous with your time, so willing to chat and debate and share a few laughs while eating burgers in a neighbourhood backyard. I was very sad to learn of Carolyn's passing. My condolences to you and your family and friends. -Pauline
I mostly knew Carolyn through her fantastic work on South Africa, particularly through her research on labour market transformations after apartheid. I probably read all of her articles while plodding away on my MA thesis in the York university library. I finally met her in 2013 at the Canadian African Studies conference in Ottawa, where she came to my presentation and then came up to me afterwards to chat. Meeting someone whose work you hold in such high esteem can often be a nerve-wracking experience, but Carolyn was kind, thoughtful and inquisitive, asking about future research plans and the situation in South Africa. I regret that I did not get to know her better, and outside of her academic life. She seemed like a remarkable and accomplished person in so many other ways. My condolences to her family, friends and comrades around the world.
Very, very sad to hear the news of Carolyn's passing. I first met her in Ottawa where she worked for a period at the Canadian Environmental Network -- full of life, enthusiasms and commitment to social justice. Of course, our paths intersected at York in the study of socialist politics and all the discussions and seminars around the liberation of South Africa. But I also worked with her around the Canadian Peace Alliance in the anti-war efforts against the Iraq War -- apart from the huge mobilization, often a very frustrating and disappointing experience, especially given where we now are. Since the move east, I would hear through academic gossip circles of some of her research and so forth, and of the turn in her health. One of the brightest lights from our York group has dimmed. My deepest condolences to Andrew, and the rest of Carolyn's family and close friends.
My condolences to Andrew, Carolyn's mother and family.
Carolyn was a caring and positive mentor to so many students, and a supportive colleague, who will be sorely missed by all who had the pleasure to know her.
Carolyn was a caring and positive mentor to so many students, and a supportive colleague, who will be sorely missed by all who had the pleasure to know her.
I first met Carolyn when she was a young grad student in Toronto and she volunteered with us at the Latin American Working Group (LAWG) and assisted us with our Central American solidarity work, producing the Americas Update. She was a vibrant, spirited bright light full of energy and intelligence. We reconnected years later when we both found ourselves teaching at universities in Fredericton. What a delight it was to renew our friendship and then to share work on a doctoral committee together.
Andrew has so beautifully captured Carolyn's spirit, talents and gifts in this tribute. I will treasure forever the conversations and moments I had with her especially in the last few months and her final day with us. Love and peace to you, Andrew and Norma, and all her family and friends.
Andrew has so beautifully captured Carolyn's spirit, talents and gifts in this tribute. I will treasure forever the conversations and moments I had with her especially in the last few months and her final day with us. Love and peace to you, Andrew and Norma, and all her family and friends.
It was with great sadness I read yesterday evening of the passing of Carolyn Bassett. She was my friend and colleague at York University. I am still a bit in shock at the news of her death. She was a truly, genuinely wonderful person. She made the world a better place by being in it.
I'm deeply saddened by Carolyn's passing. As an academic she was a passionate force to be reckoned with and inspired contributor to workshops and research projects. I met her briefly in my first years at York but got to know her more recently through her participation in our project on natural resource-based development and visit to Windsor in 2017. Her excellent chapter with Allyson on the Zambian copper sector is forthcoming. Echoing others, her positive attitude in confronting her illness and her commitment as a scholar will stay with me for a long time. My condolences to her family
I felt Carolyn’s absence on Wednesday morning, a gentle end to her fierce struggle to live.
As a student, Carolyn was remarkable in knowing exactly what she wanted to study and who she wanted to work with. Her exuberance as a student evolved into a passionate commitment as a colleague.
That she stayed in touch was a pleasure; that she sent her students to me was an honour.
Her courage in doing research in the hornet’s nest of South African trade unions and political circles was remarkable. She said that she abandoned her ego to survive - as one must do to work there. And she brought back bounty - wonderful articles, papers, books and, of course, her thesis.
Carolyn burned to do more. She wrote prodigiously in her last years and, despite her illness, travelled to Ottawa for my festchrift conference a year ago. She conjured up new research projects as part of her desire to live.
And in the end it was that powerful will and spirit which held me in awe.
Travel well in your new world, Carolyn. You were much loved and appreciated in this one.
Linda Freeman, Emeritus Professor, Institute of African Studies, Ottawa
As a student, Carolyn was remarkable in knowing exactly what she wanted to study and who she wanted to work with. Her exuberance as a student evolved into a passionate commitment as a colleague.
That she stayed in touch was a pleasure; that she sent her students to me was an honour.
Her courage in doing research in the hornet’s nest of South African trade unions and political circles was remarkable. She said that she abandoned her ego to survive - as one must do to work there. And she brought back bounty - wonderful articles, papers, books and, of course, her thesis.
Carolyn burned to do more. She wrote prodigiously in her last years and, despite her illness, travelled to Ottawa for my festchrift conference a year ago. She conjured up new research projects as part of her desire to live.
And in the end it was that powerful will and spirit which held me in awe.
Travel well in your new world, Carolyn. You were much loved and appreciated in this one.
Linda Freeman, Emeritus Professor, Institute of African Studies, Ottawa
Carolyn and I used to meet regularly if too infrequently at African Studies conferences in Canada and the US. We both had research interests in Southern Africa, but we had much more in common than that. Our conversations ranged widely and seemed to pick up right where they had left off. I will miss her kind, generous, intelligent presence.
Carolyn authored a number of scholarly articles including in Canadian Journal of African Studies. On behalf of the whole CJAS editorial team, I send condolences to Carolyn's husband, family and friends. Please reach out if I can help in any way.
Carolyn authored a number of scholarly articles including in Canadian Journal of African Studies. On behalf of the whole CJAS editorial team, I send condolences to Carolyn's husband, family and friends. Please reach out if I can help in any way.
We knew Carolyn from York days and Jamie knew her from Trent days also. What stayed with us were the rapid passages on her face and indeed her whole bearing from withering social insight into some of the awfulness of the world to the ever-fresh wells of delight at what was funny and what was good. When Carolyn was wrestling with narcolepsy at Trent, her whole body could provide a critique of the inner workings of Hegel’s Philosophy of Right - at just the right moments - that none of the rest of us could ever muster. She dedicated her life to committed scholarship whether in universities or out, exploring and exposing the social and political trends that can mar or mend the lives of ordinary people. And her way through life and her long years of wellness embodies the principle that no one, except maybe the world’s oppressors, were “ordinary”. Andrew and her family and her friends have lost a model for which the designs have since been lost, but whose source is the quirky, brainy, enduring edges of humanity, which fortunately are very much with us. Thanks for being with us, Carolyn
My sincere condolences to the family and friends of Carolyn.
Although we never met, her scholarship, research and activism were impressive and I was thrilled when she joined the Editorial Committee of Labour, Capital and Society.
May her family gain strength in the memories of such an impressive life.
Rosalind Boyd (McGill)Founding Editor, Labour, Capital and Society
Although we never met, her scholarship, research and activism were impressive and I was thrilled when she joined the Editorial Committee of Labour, Capital and Society.
May her family gain strength in the memories of such an impressive life.
Rosalind Boyd (McGill)Founding Editor, Labour, Capital and Society
Devastated to hear of Carolyn's passing. I first met Carolyn in South Africa, more than 20 years ago, as she was conducting her research in post-apartheid labor politics, I was a freshly hired lecturer at Wits University, and both were engaged (with many other dear friends and comrades) in debating possibilities for radical change at a time when such possibilities were being fast curtailed. Carolyn's was an energetic and generous critical voice, whose intellectual contribution will be missed and long remembered. After South Africa, we often met at conferences--far too rarely, for all the power of Carolyn's insights or the vibrancy of our conversation. It was, however, always good to think that she, her comradeship, and brilliance were there. This is a huge loss. My deepest condolences--and those of my partner, Miranda, and our son, Ivan, whom Carolyn also met--go to Carolyn's family and friends.
Bev, myself and the boys are deeply saddened by Carolyn’s passing. Losses sometimes seem incalculable and words feel so futile. I could not go to campus today because I did not have the emotional stamina to pass her office door. Carolyn was a dear friend and cherished colleague. Her courageous battle with cancer did little to prepare me for the news of her passing. I draw some solace from the fact that her cheerfulness and lovely smile, her wisdom and thoughtfulness, and her inspiring political commitments will highlight my memories in the future. But today, more than anything else, we are just sad.
I was a political science grad student at UNB when Carolyn arrived. I never had the opportunity to take one of her classes. However, I still benefited from her wisdom and wit as the departmental/internal reader for my master's thesis on migrant labour in Canada.
I can attest to Carolyn's wit and friendly teasing. It was never mean-spirited (maybe because she never had older siblings? lol), and always made me smile.
I was saddened to hear the news of Carolyn's death, but she's made a scholarly and academic impact that is an important contribution to society.
Please accept my condolences during this difficult time.
I can attest to Carolyn's wit and friendly teasing. It was never mean-spirited (maybe because she never had older siblings? lol), and always made me smile.
I was saddened to hear the news of Carolyn's death, but she's made a scholarly and academic impact that is an important contribution to society.
Please accept my condolences during this difficult time.
I was deeply saddened to hear the news of Carolyn's death and grateful for this window onto her life before arriving at UNB. I remember vividly Carolyn's strength of conviction and her commitment to fighting her illness, along with her passion for teaching and research, which remained so strong even as she was struggling physically. She will be missed!
This is very sad news. Carolyn was memorable as a fellow grad student, doubtless in all else that followed. Deep sympathy to Andrew and all Carolyn's relations.
My relationship with Carolyn is something I treasured deeply. Her witty sarcasm alongside our shared interests of politics/economics/social movements, particularly in the African context, led to years of enthralling conversations, joint academic research and projects. Although we met only 11 years ago, we quickly fostered a great relationship which grew over the years. Carolyn was a mentor, close friend, role model, and sounding board. No matter the topic at hand, Carolyn and I were always able to have great conversation replete with quick-witted banter, hilarious facial expressions, and laughter. Her friendship meant the world to me, and I will miss her laughter, smile, jokes, and intellect deeply. I am truly lucky to have known Carolyn. Andrew and Norma; I am very sorry for your loss, and I am thinking of you both during this time.
This incredibly sad news was just shared with the Politics Department at York. I had not known Carolyn was ill and am just devastated. Condolences to her closest friends and family, sending love and hugs.
I am so incredibly sorry to hear of Carolyn's passing. We were going to go for a long walk last year but it was never to be. What a lovely human being she was! I will always remember her for her upbeat attitude, her lovely smile and her intelligence.
She will never be forgotten.
Anna Hamling
She will never be forgotten.
Anna Hamling