Letters from Readers
ALUMNI NEWS MAGAZINE | Summer 2024
In a recent publication of the Alumni News, I noticed an article on a UNB family. I am bringing to your attention another UNB family and the remarkable lady who played the most significant role in her family’s UNB achievements.
Florence E. (Currie) Hawkins was my wife. She began her education in a one-room schoolhouse with eight grades and only one teacher. Despite many obstacles, she managed to attend high school in Fredericton, where she graduated from the commercial program in 1956. She soon began working at UNB in the Registrar’s Office, before joining Dr. John Meagher in UNB’s newly created physical education department (now the faculty of kinesiology), working as his secretary with many added administration duties.
In 1966, with Florence’s support and assistance, I was able to attend UNB and graduated in 1968 with a bachelor of business administration degree. In the early 1970s, Florence decided to continue her education and become a teacher. This aspiration became possible with the help of UNB officials and through an intensive study program involving summer school sessions and regular university classes. She proudly graduated with a bachelor of education degree in 1976. Upon graduating, she began her teaching career at Oromocto High School. She taught there until her retirement in 1995.
In 1982, our eldest daughter graduated from UNB with a bachelor of business administration degree and began working toward a UNB law degree, while our youngest daughter worked toward a UNB education degree. During this time, Florence decided to advance her teaching skills and knowledge. Earning a bachelor of arts degree, in which she excelled in English and history. At the 1985 spring Encaenia, she proudly graduated with her two daughters.
In her retirement, Florence devoted much of her time to her seven grandchildren. Motivating and supporting them in their lives and education. All of them attended UNB. Six graduated with one or more degrees. The seventh finished at St. Thomas University.
When our grandchildren were young, Florence set up and regularly contributed to scholarship funds for her grandchildren, as well as encouraging them to attend UNB. She spent many evenings proofreading their essays, guiding them through their writing and providing valuable feedback.
During her lifetime, Florence influenced the achievements of 17 UNB degrees by family members. With an additional four UNB degrees from two of our granddaughters’ spouses. One granddaughter completed a dual-degree master’s through UNB’s TransFOR-M program. Another granddaughter dedicated her master’s report to Florence and has applied to the UNB interdisciplinary studies PhD program to do a study inspired by Florence.
Florence’s journey at UNB has gone from working as a secretary with numerous administration duties for a new faculty to a two-time alumna with distinction, to the matriarch of a large UNB family. Her life journey from a one-room schoolhouse to her many achievements is remarkable. I am proud to have been her partner through these journeys. My family experienced a profound loss with her passing, but her legacy continues.
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