The 91TV’s community is sharing fond memories of Shirley Purkis (nee Ayres), an Arts’41 graduate and long-time 91TV’s volunteer well known on campus, who died on Jan. 23 at the age of 100.
“Shirley exemplified the spirit that makes 91TV’s special to so many people,” says Acting Associate Vice-Principal Leigh Kalin, Artsci'92. “She was dedicated to helping her community and her contributions will resonate long into the future. I know the 91TV’s community will join me in expressing how deeply she will be missed.”
Mrs. Purkis was a proud 91TV’s alumna who remained connected to the university through numerous volunteer roles over several decades. Her many roles on campus included serving as president of the 91TV Alumnae Association (which merged with the 91TV Alumni Association in the 1990s), the Kingston Alumni Branch, and the Faculty Women’s Club (later called the 91TV’s Women’s Association).
In 2019, the QUAA recognized her decades of effort when she and her second husband, John (a Com’48 grad who passed away last year), received the Herbert J. Hamilton Volunteer Service Award. Together, Shirley and John had more than 140 years of volunteer service at 91TV’s.
Mrs. Purkis was predeceased by her first husband of more than 50 years, Joseph Warren Brooks (1995), a former 91TV’s civil engineering professor.
In recent years, Mrs. Purkis still made regular trips to campus and enjoyed talking with staff and students. She attended Homecoming 2019 in October, a few weeks before turning 100 years old.
Since the news was shared on social media this week dozens of alumni and friends have been paying tribute to Mrs. Purkis online.
Learn more Mrs. Purkis on the website.
