The flag will be lowered to half-mast at sunrise today and will remain there until 1pm Thursday, Oct. 14, in commemoration of York University staff member John Adams Becker, who worked at York in various senior roles for 23 years until his retirement in 1989. Mr. Becker died of prostate cancer on Wednesday, Sept. 22. He was 78.
Mr. Becker served in executive support roles to D. McCormack Smyth, founding dean of Atkinson College at York, and in the president’s office with Henry Best, the assistant to founding president Murray Ross, from 1966 to 1969. For the next 15 years, Mr. Becker was assistant vice-president student relations. (See YFile, Oct. 7.)
A celebration of Mr. Becker’s life will be held at Trinity St. Paul’s United Church (427 Bloor St. W., Toronto) today from 3 to 6pm.