UPEI mourns the passing of honorary degree recipient Dr. Mary (Nicholson) Ross

UPEI was saddened to hear of the passing of Dr. Mary (Nicholson) Ross, honorary degree recipient and former head resident of Marian Hall. Ross passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, at the Dr. John Gillis Memorial Lodge, on Saturday, May 4. She was 94 years old.

Raised in Flat River on her family farm, she graduated from Prince of Wales College and began her teaching career at the age of 16. After 32 years of teaching, Ross accepted a position with UPEI where for 13 years, she became the head resident of Marian Hall, a men's dormitory. In 1995, the University paid tribute to Ross and her work by awarding her with an honorary degree.

'On behalf of the entire University community, I'd like to extend sincere condolences to Mary's family and friends,' said UPEI President and Vice-Chancellor Alaa Abd-El-Aziz. 'UPEI was fortunate enough to work and learn from this remarkable woman, and during this time, we, too, feel a tremendous loss.'

The following is a passage from her honorary degree citation which references her time as head resident and describes her selflessness, compassion, and character. 'Many of those young men-sometimes lonesome, often afraid and uncertain of direction or goal in life-owe a degree of their later success to her wise counsel and to her sympathetic ear when no one else seemed to be listening or to care. Indeed, some of these students will tell you that, without her influence in their lives, they would never have completed university at all.'

Online condolences may be expressed at www.macleanfh.com.