Gar Pynn, former director of the School of Business Administration and Commerce, passed away on July 18 after a long and courageous battle with cancer.

Prof. Pynn was a graduate of Memorial’s Bachelor of Commerce program and soon after completing his MBA at the University of Western Ontario he returned to Memorial in the position of assistant professor of business. He was instrumental in the establishment of the business co-op program, the first of its kind in Canada.

He served as director of the School of Business Administration from 1974 to 1979. While in the position, he established the first centre for small business support at a Canadian university, the P.J. Gardiner Institute for Small Business Studies.

The P.J. Gardiner Institute stands as a legacy of Prof. Pynn’s contribution to the field of entrepreneurship education and development. In 2004, the Canadian Council for Small Business and Entrepreneurship recognized his accomplishments with the Lifetime Achievement Award for his leadership, advocacy and contribution to the field of entrepreneurship education and small business development. Prof Pynn remained actively involved with the P.J. Gardiner Institute until his death.

Prof. Pynn retired in 1996 at the rank of full professor after 27 years of service to the university; however he never really retired from his love of teaching and his passion for entrepreneurship and small business. He continued to teach with the Faculty of Business Administration as a part-time instructor until three weeks before his death and in 2006 he spent a semester at the Harlow campus, running Memorial’s business program in England.

Prof. Pynn brought his passion for small business and entrepreneurship to countless students and he also shared his passion and expertise with the entire province. From 1972 to 1980, he served as the director of the Newfoundland Institute for Management Advancement and Training. In 1979, he was the founding director of the International Council for Small Business (ICSB) Canada. He served as vice-president of ICSB from 1979 to 1988. In 1988, Prof. Pynn was a member and fellow of the Founding Council of the National Entrepreneurship Development Institute. Between 1988 and 1992 he was involved in a community development project in Thailand aimed at encouraging women in rural Thailand to start small businesses.

Prof. Pynn was active in the research and academic community. He served as a member of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council consultative group on Research in Canadian Business Schools to ensure that business schools in Canada received a reasonable share of SSHRC funding. He was chairman of the Association of Universities and Colleges in Canada and a member of the graduate scholarship committee.

Outside of academic life, Prof. Pynn served as the chairman on a provincial committee to study the remuneration levels of members of the House of Assembly and he was also commissioner for the Royal Commission on Hospital and Nursing Home Costs.

Prof. Pynn’s contribution to the Faculty of Business was recognized by an anonymous donation in 1997 that created the Gar Pynn Scholarship in Business, in recognition of Professor Pynn’s contribution to the Faculty of Business Administration over his 27 years of service.

Prof. Pynn will be dearly missed by his students, colleagues and friends. His influence shaped the Faculty of Business Administration into what it is today. He has been a role model and mentor to many, and his passion has helped shape small business and entrepreneurship education provincially, nationally and internationally.

Memorial University's flags will be lowered on Saturday, July 21, 2007, from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., to mark his passing. A funeral service will take place from St. Pius X Church, Smithville Crescent, Saturday, July 21, at 9:30 a.m.

There will be an academic procession as part of Prof. Pynn's funeral service. In order to accommodate faculty wishing to participate in the academic procession, the Gown Room, located in PE1007, will be open July 20, from 1-4 p.m.

Faculty taking part in this academic procession, must gather at the back of the church at St. Pius X, Smithville Crescent by 9:10 a.m. tomorrow. The procession will begin at 9:20 a.m.  Individuals arriving after this time will be seated as space is available.