York University’s Schulich School of Business lost one of its most esteemed faculty members on March 23, with the death of Gordon S. Roberts, professor emeritus of finance.
Prof. Roberts was a longtime member of Schulich, serving as faculty since 1994 when he was appointed the CIBC Professor of Financial Services. During his time with Schulich, he also served as the Director of the Financial Services Program from 1994 until 1998 and was the Finance Area Coordinator from 1999 through to 2005.
“To his students, Professor Roberts was an inspirational teacher both inside and outside the classroom. He was a dedicated supporter of student initiatives and career endeavours,” said Schulich Dean Dezsö J. Horváth.
Roberts was nominated many times by his students for the masters-level Seymour Schulich Award in Teaching Excellence, and he was awarded first prize in 2007 and placed second overall in 2002 and 2011. He was also named the Kellogg-Schulich Executive MBA Professor of the Year in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008.
“Professor Roberts was a leading researcher and active in his academic and professional communities,” said Horváth. “He had widely published in the field of corporate finance, with a focus on syndicate loan structuring and loan pricing.”
His research also explored the pricing impact of fixed income securities and studied the implications of corporate governance and CSR within a financial context. He continued to focus on his academic research even in retirement, completing a paper co-authored with his colleague, Professor Kee-Hong Bae, earlier this month.
A service in remembrance of Roberts was held on Sunday, March 26, and York University lowered the flags on the Main Keele campus and Glendon flagpoles and those at Passey residences to half-mast from sunrise on Sunday, March 26 until 1pm Monday, March 27.
“Gordon will be remembered as one of our school’s most prominent faculty members. On behalf of the many friends he had within the Schulich community, I offer our deepest sympathies to Gordon’s wife, Sonita, his family, and his friends,” said Horváth.