Skule Memories

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A 2T7 Grad Reminisces
Now in his 103rd year, Dr. Charles Sankey (Chem 2T7) joked, “I ain’t what I used to was”. Dr. Sankey, who entered Skule™ at age 15, recalled one of his professors, Harold Hibbard, as a “good tyrant”. Hibbard insisted that students study from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. and file a weekly report that he “pulled to pieces”. “But, I couldn’t have learned from anyone better,” Sankey said. Sankey also remembered Professor Angus stating, in his first lecture, “If you read any Chem textbook, it will tell you that hydrocarbons are inactive. It is not only a lie, it is a G-d damned lie.”

“I ate all my meals in Hart House,” Sankey said. “It was an amazing place. For 37 cents you got a hot meal including fish or chicken, vegetables and coffee or tea.” Sankey ultimately became the Vice President of a company that provided paper to the New York Daily News and the Chicago Tribune. He was mentioned at Spring Reunion 2007, when graduates of the “7’s” were among the honoured years.

The Value of an Engineering Education
“My parents really valued education,” said Henry Bernick (Mech 4T7). His family felt lucky to immigrate to a farm in Ontario in 1939, only four weeks before WWII was declared. Bernick
recalled milking the cows at 4 a.m. by lantern light, before cleaning up and going to school. He sold the week’s production of cream for $3.65. His high school principal in Barrie arranged a
bursary for Henry, who excelled at math and science, to enable him to attend Skule™. As one of few new Canadians in his class, Henry “kept his nose to the grindstone,” studying hard
to make sure he did well. He also volunteered for military training on campus. Bernick was on the train to Petawawa for further army training, when the war’s end was announced. Starting in 1954, Bernick led several land development companies. “Engineering gives you a tremendous
background in clear thinking and planning,” he said. “Nobody can take ability away from you; it resides in your head.”

Hot Pink Lab Coats
Mike Hilson’s (Chem 6T8) favourite Skule™ memory took place in his Organic Chem lab. Egged on by fellow student Zoltan Zongor (Chem 6T8), students used their new-found knowledge of dying processes to dye their lab coats fluorescent pink. Hilson, now the owner of Atlantis Photography, also recalls that his Skule™ fees totaled $713 a year. Another indelible memory: the stampede to go play bridge when someone appeared at the door and yelled “fourth!”

Blowing Up the Dean’s Car
Science Outreach, the Faculty’s summer camp for students in grades 1 to 8, was founded in 1990 by Debbie Chachra (EngSci Physics 9T2; MASc 9T5; PhD 0T1) and Brian Sutherland, both EngSci students at the time. Here’s their favourite memory, as told by Brian.

“Dean Gary Heinke, a committed supporter of Science Outreach, heard about our problems lugging our equipment to Toronto elementary schools to do workshops. He suggested in his very formal way that we should use his car, since he wouldn’t need it during the day. We accepted, though we were a bit in awe of the Dean. “Driving his Ford Taurus wagon in Toronto traffic was nerve-wracking. But our apprehension was amplified tenfold when, one day, the Dean offered his wife’s car – an old gray Mercury Capri, instead of the Ford. Sure enough, as we started driving, the car suddenly blew up. Billows of smoke issued from under the hood. Debbie and I guessed that not only would Dean Heinke be upset since he’d be in trouble with his wife, he would be severely disappointed with Engineering students who couldn’t fix the car before returning it. Fortunately, a $16 radiator hose was all it took. As he received the carefully presented bill, Dean Heinke casually added that it was also frequently necessary to thump the starter motor with a wrench
to get the car going. We grinned – it was a defining moment.”