Ralph Scane Q.C.
Some readers of Slaw will be saddened to hear that Ralph Scane has died. His death notice is in today’s Globe & Mail.
I was a colleague of Ralph for some 20 years at U of T and I remember his kindness, integrity and wide and eclectic legal knowledge. He came to the Faculty from practice and brought with him a refreshing, real-world point of view. At the same time, he was a meticulous scholar and teacher. He was, I think, the first Associate Dean we had and clearly demonstrated his strong administrative abilities; he did much to make the Faculty the happy place it was when I was there. He was the person who asked me to teach Contracts in 1972!
When Ralph first came to the Faculty, we had offices across a hall in the upper reaches of Flavelle House and we would carry on conversations without leaving our chairs.
I have many fond memories of Ralph and of his wife, Joyce, who predeceased him by several years.
I knew Ralph only as a student and ex-student; I thought he was very good. His practice experience added to his ability, but he had a gift as a teacher. I remember him welcoming my first year class, not long after the disputatious 60s, saying that as law students, we had chosen to work within the system. I guess we had, which did not mean accepting it as it was: means, not ends. So far as I know, no one occupied his office (except him). Sorry to hear of his passing.
Ralph will be loved and remembered forever.
-John
He made a school a happier place.
Now there’s just no higher compliment than that!
-John