Louella Sturdy, who served York University's Osgoode Hall Law School as registrar from 1957-91, has died at the age of 98.
As a young student, Sturdy showed a keen ability for mathematics, a subject she hoped to pursue at university. She was instead advised to study languages – considered a more suitable field for women at the time – and went on to earn degrees in Latin and French from Victoria College at the University of Toronto.
Graduating in the late 1940s, Sturdy entered a competitive job market as thousands of male veterans returned from the Second World War. However, a family connection soon changed her path. Through her mother’s friendship with the wife of then-future Supreme Court of Canada Justice Bora Laskin, she learned of a position at the Law Society of Upper Canada at Osgoode Hall, which oversaw legal education in Ontario at the time. Sturdy was hired as general secretary to the Faculty.
In 1957, she was appointed registrar, and when Osgoode Hall Law School joined York University in 1969, Sturdy became a key part of the transition, helping navigate the complexities of the University’s new administrative systems. Her deep institutional knowledge, attention to detail and calm nature made her an indispensable figure in the Osgoode community.
Until her retirement from York in 1991, Sturdy served as a steady centre of student life, guiding generations of law students through their academic journeys with kindness and precision. Her impact was lasting – she was often invited to attend class reunions long after her retirement.
Among faculty, Sturdy was known for her unwavering professionalism, patience and support. Professor Emerita Mary Jane Mossman recalls Sturdy's quick mathematical mind – often demonstrating a keen ability to recalculate grade distributions in her head during meetings.
On the occasion of her retirement, Osgoode honoured Sturdy's contributions by establishing the Louella M. Sturdy Bursary to annually assist law students on the basis of financial need. Her impact on York was recognized further when the University awarded her an honorary doctor of laws degree – a rare distinction for a staff member.
After retiring, Sturdy remained active in her Etobicoke community. She made new friends, enjoyed gardening and crossword puzzles, and rarely missed an episode of The Young and the Restless or Jeopardy!. She was also a devoted Toronto Blue Jays fan.
Her warmth, intelligence and lifelong dedication to York and Osgoode have left an enduring legacy.