Seneca is mourning the loss of former Board of Governors member John Honderich, who died suddenly on Saturday (Feb 5).
Former publisher of the Toronto Star, champion of an independent media, a huge Toronto booster and a deep believer in the power of education, John was a Seneca board member from 2013 to 2019. We were fortunate to have him because John never did anything in half-measures.
A positive and generous force of nature, he added value to every conversation at the governors' table. His network was vast, and his contributions were invariably insightful and incisive.
John was no pushover. Honed by his years as a reporter, he had a healthy skepticism and would ask tough, penetrating questions. But his goal was always to make something better. He was a progressive, forward thinker with an unshakeable sense of fairness.
I was fortunate to call John a friend. Getting together for lunch or dinner with him was a guarantee of a great conversation about people, politics and power. And with a twinkle in his eye and that huge grin of his, John also loved to share a little gossip, always at the expense of the self-important.
John's passing leaves a huge hole in the heart of Toronto. He cared deeply about his city, Canada and journalism, and fortunately for us, education too. He will be sorely missed.
