July 2, 2025 by
Jack Chambers
Ron Wardhaugh led the Department of Linguistics at the University of Toronto through its transition from a small graduate research institute to a thriving department. He was a no-nonsense administrator, willing to challenge senior officials when he felt students and faculty were being overlooked and underfunded. He was proud of his Tyneside upbringing and credited it with his ambition and accomplishments. A great traveler, he was cosmopolitan in his tastes and good company in any setting. Condolences to Chau and Bruce in this sad time.
Many of us will probably recognize this book of his:
An introduction to sociolinguistics by Ronald Wardhaugh