It is with great sadness that we must announce the passing of Joseph W. Goering, a valued member of our community.
Professor Goering (1947-2023) was a world-renowned historian of medieval Europe and intellectual history. He obtained his PhD at the University of Toronto in 1977 with a dissertation on “The Popularization of Scholastic Ideas in Thirteenth-Century England and an Anonymous Speculum iuniorum,” supervised by L. Boyle. Professor Goering was also an incredible instructor, the winner of the Medieval Academy of America's CARA Award for Excellence in Teaching (2015), and among the best representatives of the so-called "Toronto school” with his distinctive mix of first-hand approaches to medieval sources and interdisciplinarity. Most notably, since 1988 and until his retirement, Professor Goering continued to educate generations of CMS students and alumni.
Only a few years ago, this cohort dedicated to him the volume: From Learning to Love: Schools, Law, and Pastoral Care in the Middle Ages. Essays in Honour of Joseph W. Goering (edited by Tristan Sharp with Isabelle Cochelin, Greti Dinkova-Bruun, Abigail Firey, and Giulio Silano. Toronto: Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies Press, 2017). No title could have been more appropriate as Professor Goering was known for his passion for the subject. He is remembered for his dedication to his students, his warm personality and sense of humour, and will be deeply missed by all who knew him.
His family has created a memorial blog to honour his memory, where you can find a touching tribute by Prof. Cochelin, as well as information about services and a ceremony in his honour on February 16. Please visit https://memorialsource.com/memorial/joseph-butch-goering for more details.
We offer our sincerest condolences to Professor Goering's family and friends during this difficult time.