June 24, 2022

Reflections on Dr. David Taras (June 7, 1950 – June 9, 2022)

Department Memories of David Taras
waving Canadian flag

David Taras was professor of Communication Studies and held the Ralph Klein Chair in Media Studies at Mount Royal University. Previously, he was the Ernest C. Manning Chair in Canadian Studies at the University of Calgary.

 

 

Taras Headshot

On behalf of the Department of Political Science

We were all saddened to hear of the passing of David Taras, a long-time friend of the Department. Trained in our discipline, David was appointed to the former Faculty of General Studies for several years and collaborated often with members of our Department. After retiring, he joined the faculty of Mount Royal University and continued his research and teaching until his recent illness.

Dr. Ian Brodie

 

 

 

 

 

Memories of Dr. David Taras

Dr. Keith Archer, Professor Emeritus, Dept. of Political Science, UCalgary

David Taras was one of the first people I met when I arrived in Calgary in the summer of 1984 to take up my appointment as Assistant Professor. From the outset, and continuing over the following decades, David was a wonderful colleague and friend. Three things stand out for me as I reflect on my interactions with David. First and foremost, he was a truly delightful human being. David was ready to smile, and his easy demeanour and welcoming personality would light up the space around him. It was, quite simply, a pleasure to spend time with him. And he seemed always willing and able to make the time, to connect and to share ideas about family, friends, politics, whatever. Second, he was deeply committed to the University of Calgary during his years at U of C, and I understand he carried that approach to Mount Royal University as well. We were Associate Deans at the same time, he in General Studies and me in Social Sciences, and David was always a voice of wisdom and reason around the administrative tables. Universities rely on, and benefit from, the commitment from people like David. And third, of course, David was an outstanding scholar and communicator. He was a prolific writer and took great joy as a popular political commentator. He could always be relied upon to come up with the perfect quip that was able to reduce a complex matter to its essential core. In doing so, he contributed to a broader understanding of social and political issues and the personalities behind them. I was fortunate to know David, and grateful for the lessons he provided in a life well lived.

Dr. Brooks DeCillia, Post-Doctoral Fellow, Dept. of Political Science, UCalgary

David Taras is the model for how to be a great scholar and good person. He was so generous with his spirit, time, and sharp intellect. He was, of course, a brilliant academic—but he was also a tremendous human, a person with enormous integrity and honour. He was the kindest person, always giving and never asking for anything in return. I first met him as a journalist, working for CBC News. I was always so happy when he agreed to my interview requests because he consistently offered such brilliant and sharp political analysis. David was also an inspiring teacher and mentor. His legacy lives on in the many contributions he made to political science, the students he taught, and the many scholars he mentored.

 

Dr. Maureen Hiebert

Dr. Maureen Hiebert, Associate Professor, Dept. of Political Science, UCalgary

When I was newly hired into the Law and Society Program at the Faculty of Communication and Culture, David Taras was one of the first faculty members to welcome me aboard. Our offices weren’t close together and we were in different programs, but he made it a point to stop by, introduce himself, and as with so many others in his professional and personal life, ask if there was anything he could do to help me. After we parted, I thought, “Wow, what a nice guy!”

David left for MRU not that long after that, but I was fortunate to serve with him on the University of Calgary Press Academic Board for a few years after that. I always looked forward to seeing him, even though we didn’t know each other that well. He was unfailingly supportive of the press and all of us. At every meeting he attended I was always left thinking “Wow, still such a nice guy!” Many academics are more than a little self-absorbed, but David was not one of them. He was always in the moment when he spoke to you, really listening, really interested no matter how well he did—or didn’t—know you. The many loving and lovely tributes to him tell the story of a man who lived a truly ethical life, where the mitzvah of helping others was of the highest order. He was a real mensch.

May his memory be a blessing.

Dr. Ron Huebert

Dr. Rob Huebert, Associate Professor, Dept. of Political Science, UCalgary

The first thing you noticed when you first met David Taras is what a big man he was. If you were so lucky as to continue meeting with him—the second thing you notice was how huge his personality was. Put simply, he was one of the nicest people I had the privilege of knowing at the university. He gave a true and fulsome meaning to the expression a “gentleman and a scholar.”

While I was privileged to know David through a host of normal university activities, I really got to know him on the editorial board of the University of Calgary Press. The board requires its members to do a fair amount of work reviewing manuscripts and making decision on what to publish. Once David joined—as with everything he did—he approached the tasks with gusto and zeal. As an experienced and celebrated author himself, his advice and guidance were always outstanding. He was never just satisfied with only evaluating the scholarly content of the works submitted for review, he would always be looking for ways to help prospective authors with meaningful suggestions to improve their book. He also did this in the nicest way possible. In the instances where the prospective manuscript did not meet the Press’s standards, you could always see the pain he felt for the author when it was necessary to turn the manuscript down. Where this happened, he would always come up to me after the meeting and talk about how bad he felt about having to turn it down (he would never use the term reject as that would be too harsh). He knew and always remained committed to the highest academic and intellectual standards, but he understood the human costs in upholding these standards.

I will miss his sage and wise advice; I will miss him as a colleague; and I will miss him as a friend.

Dr. Rainer Knopff, Professor Emeritus, Dept. of Political Science, UCalgary

About fifty years ago, David and I TA’d together in Ken Bryden’s Canadian Politics course at the University of Toronto. When we both ended up at the U of C, I knew from experience what a wonderful colleague he would be. He was certainly wonderful on all the committees we shared over the years. Those included administrative committees but also (and more importantly) a great many supervisory and examination committees. David was unfailingly generous about such service. He enjoyed rigorously challenging grad students, but always did so in a kind manner, trying to bring out their best. His good-humored interest and enthusiasm were infectious.

Although he produced his pioneering work in media studies outside the U of C political science department—including most recently at Mount Royal University—David was a political scientist through and through, and always a friend and strong supporter of our department. He will be missed!

Dr. Pablo Policzer, Associate Professor, Dept. of Political Science, UCalgary

David Taras was one of the first and most friendly faces I came to know when I was hired as a junior professor at the U of C. He took a keen interest in me and my work and made me feel welcome and at home. David was a rare breed, a brilliant academic with a wonderful personal human touch. I mourn his passing.

Dr. Roberta Rice, Associate Professor, Dept. of Political Science, UCalgary

I served with David on the board of the University of Calgary Press. He was witty, insightful, and had the most wonderful deep voice. He elevated our scholarly discussions. He was always the coolest person in the room. He will be missed.

Dr. Anthony Sayers, Professor, Dept. of Political Science, UCalgary

The recent loss of David Taras will be particularly strongly felt among those of us with an interest in Alberta politics. We have lost a warm, engaged, and generous colleague whose thoughtful insights and pithy one-liners helped shape the work of a generation of academic researchers and political analysts. David’s enthusiasm for a politics that addressed the well-being of all was matched by his willingness to work with and encourage all those who came to these matters with an open mind. His distinctive energy was most clearly on display in public presentations. Few people can capture and hold the attention of an audience as did David in full flight. David’s welcoming smile, fine academic research, and personal warmth will be greatly missed.

Dr. Lisa Young

Dr. Lisa Young, Professor, Dept. of Political Science, UCalgary

David brought great wit and insight to his commentaries on Canadian and Alberta politics. When there was a “big story” brewing, he was always keen to try out his best lines with colleagues. A phrase or observation that would get a laugh in a hallway conversation would invariably appear in print or on video a few days later. His great talent for communication made him the go-to commentator in Alberta for many years. And of course this carried over into his scholarship and teaching.

 

 

Our sincere condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of Dr. David Taras

 

More information on Dr. David Taras, please visit the following sites.

• UCalgary David Taras Graduate Award

• UCalgary Faculty of Arts In Memoriam

• Calgary Herald David Taras Obituary