Helen Goggin passes away; Knox College expresses condolences
Knox College is sad to announce that the Rev. Dr. Helen Goggin, minister of The Presbyterian Church in Canada and Professor Emeritus of Knox College, passed away on Friday, February 12, 2021. “Helen Goggin was a wonderful colleague and mentor,” said Stuart Macdonald, Vice Principal and Academic Dean at Knox College. “I had the honour of team-teaching with her in the ‘Introduction to Ministry’ course when I first came to Knox. I learned so much about teaching from Helen, and each term I am grateful for her wisdom. She was a dedicated teacher and supporter of students. I am deeply saddened by this news.”
Helen Goggin at a 2012 Ewart Tea at Knox College, unveiling a plaque that commemorates the Ewart College legacy.
Dr. Goggin was born on 21 May 1933 in Toronto, and was raised in Port Credit, Ontario. Dr. Goggin worked as a legal secretary for six years before attending the University of Toronto, where she received her BA in 1962, and her BD from Knox College in 1965. In 1965, Dr. Goggin was hired as the Director of Christian Education at Knox Presbyterian Church, Oakville, Ontario. In 1970 she obtained her MA in Christian Education from the Presbyterian School of Christian Education in Richmond, Virginia. Dr. Goggin was ordained at Knox Presbyterian Church, Oakville, in 1974 and inducted as the Associate Minister in 1976. She left Knox Presbyterian Church, Oakville, in 1984 to take up the position of Associate Professor of Christian Education at Ewart College, Toronto.
While teaching full-time Dr. Goggin obtained her MEd from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) at the University of Toronto, and then her EdD in 1990. In 1991 Ewart College and Knox College were amalgamated and Dr. Goggin became the Ewart Professor of Christian Education at Knox College. Dr. Goggin retired from teaching in 1999. She was most recently living in Oakville and attended worship at Knox, Oakville.
An official obituary from family will follow when available.
Helen Goggin (second from right) at her 1965 Knox College Convocation. From the Toronto Public Library, Toronto Star Photo Archive, tspa_0022606f.