In Memoriam: Mary A. (McIlwraith) Brian

Professor Mary Brian died suddenly after a long and valiant battle with multiple sclerosis. She was Director of the Centre for Mature Students from 1988 to 1997, and taught in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics from 1961 to 1997.

Her colleague at the Centre, Brigeen Badour, told the Journal that many people owe their academic success to Mary’s guidance. Because math is an entry requirement for most programs, she helped design a math placement test to help students whose math skills were rusty.

“Thousands of Concordia students were able to achieve their academic goals because of Mary,” Badour said. “Many of the mature students who arrived at university afraid of failure went on to successful careers and/or graduate studies.”

Mary’s husband, retired English professor Michael Brian, gave a touchingly humorous eulogy at her memorial service on May 23. He said, “What man would not be intrigued by a woman who was not only a professor of mathematics, but was also a member of the anti-digit dialing league and the schwa society and gave a magnificent recitation of The Green Eye of the Little Yellow God?”

Donations are being made in Mary’s name to the World Wildlife Fund (www.wwf.ca). We extend our deepest sympathy to Michael, their three daughters who were at her side when she died, and the rest of the family.