By Jason Winders

Richard M. Ivey, HBA '47, LLD '79, the visionary Western University graduate, philanthropist and champion who helped elevate the university and its business school to international prominence, died on December 28. He was 94.

Tributes have been flowing in since the news became public.

Western President Alan Shepard said Richard Ivey has supported Western for almost 70 years, from providing leadership at the Board of Governors table to investing to ensure the best student experience in the classroom.

"Mr. Ivey will be remembered among Western's greatest champions and one of Canada's leading philanthropists," said Shepard. "Building on his father's legacy, Dick believed passionately in the power of higher education and the impact of investing in excellence. Though the business school was a focal point, his contributions as a volunteer and a donor benefited students and researchers across our campus. He was a true gentleman whose presence and altruistic spirit was felt by so many.”

“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Richard M. Ivey, a great leader and friend of the School. His enduring support has been a huge factor in growing the Ivey Business School into Canada’s premier centre for the development of business leaders,” said Sharon Hodgson, Dean, Ivey Business School. “He was an invaluable advisor and champion of the School and a true role model for our students. He will be missed dearly.”

Born in London, Ont., Ivey attended Ridley College in St. Catharines, Ont., and then completed an HBA degree at Western’s business school in 1947.

It was in his first weeks at Western that Ivey met his beloved wife, Beryl. The couple dated on and off for three years and by the fourth year, their relationship turned serious. After graduation in 1947, they both moved to Toronto. A year later, after Beryl had completed teacher’s college, she moved back to London. Ivey drove to see her almost every weekend.

In 1949, once Richard had completed the first two years at Osgoode, he and Beryl were married.

In 1950, he was awarded a bachelor of laws from Osgoode Hall Law School at York University. He then joined the law firm of Ivey and Dowler in London, where he was a partner from 1960-88.

Ivey served as President and then Chairman of Allpak Products, a family holding company for businesses primarily in the packaging industry throughout North America, as well as in Europe. He also served on many boards including Bank of Montreal (for 25 years), EllisDon, F.W. Woolworth Co. and Union Gas Ltd.

But it’s his – and his family’s – affiliation with Western that has drawn numerous accolades.

“I think back on those four years (at Western) as probably some of the best four years of my life,” Ivey said in a 2010 interview. “It was a very enjoyable time. … The education I received at that time certainly contributed a great deal to my future life.”

Ivey was a member of Western’s Board of Governors from 1968-1978, including three years as Chair. He also served as university Chancellor from 1980-84, sat on what is now the Ivey Advisory Board from 1966-91, and served as director of the John P. Robarts Research Institute prior to its merger with Western. He helped establish Foundation Western and was a director from 1980-86, also serving as the Board’s Chair.

Western awarded Ivey an honorary Doctor of Laws in 1979.

The Ivey family’s support for Western represents one of the most significant philanthropic relationships between a family and a Canadian university. The Ivey family, both personally and through the Ivey Foundation, has donated $50 million to Western, including gifts to the business school, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Robarts Research Institute, Faculty of Arts & Humanities and Western Libraries.

In 1995, the Ivey family donated $11 million to the business school, which honoured its half-century relationship with the family by renaming the business school in 1996 after Ivey’s father, Richard G. Ivey. In 2012, the Ivey family supported the name being changed to the Ivey Business School.

Richard G. Ivey became interested in the business school when his son enrolled in the HBA program. As the new faculty was being organized, Richard G. became active in its development. He believed “education for business” was of vital importance to Canadian business and industry, as well as to the whole Canadian economy.

In 1948, he became the first Chair of the Advisory Committee.

Richard G. led the fund drive which made the original Richard Ivey building on campus possible. He financed the first Canadian MBA program, the first management training course, and the first PhD program in business. He also donated to the School’s Research Fund, as well as to the continuing Plan for Excellence which placed Western’s Business School in a leadership position in Canada.

Richard G. Ivey, LLD ’54, died in 1974.

Richard M. Ivey was proud of his family’s affiliation until the end. He continued to be active in many aspects of Western, maintaining relationships across campus. His philanthropic legacy includes several endowed chairs, numerous scholarships and the family archives available at Western Libraries. In 2002, Ivey and his children made donations to create the Beryl Ivey Garden located in the centre of campus, a place he often visited after his wife’s passing.