Remembering Professor Marion Bogo: Trusted mentor, beloved educator, devoted community leader, world-renowned expert

Members of the FIFSW community were invited to share their personal reflections and memories of Professor Marion Bogo, who has had a tremendous impact on the Faculty and the field of social work at large. This page presents an online archive of testimonials that speak to her personal and professional contributions .

Those who would like to add to the tributes below are welcome to email their contributions to Dale Duncan at dale.duncan@utoronto.ca.

May 10 memorial event

On May 10, members of the FIFSW community gathered to pay tribute to Professor Marion Bogo. View the video above to listen to thoughts and reflections from:

Charmaine C. Williams, PhD
Professor & Interim Dean at the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work 

Geoffrey Bogo 
On behalf of Marion Bogo’s Family 

Cheryl Regehr, PhD
Vice-President & Provost, Former Dean, Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work 

Heather Munroe-Blum, OC, OQ, PhD, FRSC,
Former Dean, Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work; Former Principal & Vice-Chancellor, McGill University; Chairperson, Board of Directors, CPPIB 

Clara Ho, MSW
Former Student, Manager, Client & Family Centered Care and Partnerships, Holland
Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital 

Karen Sewell, PhD, MSW
Former Student, Assistant Professor, Carleton University, School of Social Work

Faye Mishna, PhD
Former Dean, Professor, Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work 

Reflections and memories from the FIFSW community

Working with Marion Bogo was a highlight of my career. As a Social Work Director at CAMH, I reached out to her to consult regarding clinical supervision models. Little did I know then what a long and fruitful partnership that would be! In classic Marion style, she was excited, helpful and incredibly supportive. We embarked on a number of research projects and wrote a number of papers together on the topic. It was a great academic partnership, but an even better personal one!

Working with Marion was completely joyous! We got to know each other very well and I so appreciated her unwavering support of me and all of her very wise insights. I also had the opportunity to travel to different locations with Marion to present our work and whenever we presented, they needed to put extra chairs in the room. That never happened to me at other conferences where I presented, clearly Marion was the draw! One time when we were together in Montreal, I commented over dinner that Montreal was such a nice city, she leaned across the table, in a conspiratorial way, and whispered: you know Jane, there’s a lot of yuck here!! She always had me laughing and I feel so privileged to have known this incredible woman. I miss her all the time, but what a gift she was!

— Jane Paterson

Marion was a respected and cherished colleague for many years. In the fifty years that have passed since I was the Faculty’s Practicum Coordinator, probably no colleague made a more significant contribution to education for practice, locally and worldwide than Marion. Personally, I had much to learn about how to think systematically about teaching for practice and assessment of practice and Marion was my valued teacher and leader. I am pleased to know that the Faculty will be recognizing Marion’s legacy.

— Ben Zion Shapiro, Professor Emeritus

I had the distinct pleasure of having Professor Bogo in several courses while a student in the 1990s and ​early 2000s. She stood out as one of the warmest, kindest people I have ever met and an instructor of amazing skill, dedication, commitment with a deep interest in her students. She embodied all that social work stands for. She lived her values and was an absolute credit to the profession. She always greeted you with humour, a beautiful smile, openness and genuine care for you, your studies, your family, and your unique take on things. She was true lifelong learner. She delighted in the perspectives of her students and colleagues alike. Despite her renown and her immeasurable contributions to the profession, especially to field education, she remained humble and approachable in the extreme. We all have professors who we dearly want to emulate and who serve as role models and shining examples of what it means to be a social worker, and for me Professor Marion Bogo was all those things and so much more. When she died the profession lost a truly special person and the world lost a beautiful soul. She was one of a kind.

— Eunice Gorman

I took Marion’s course for PhD students about how to teach social work practice and coming into the course I experienced some reticence and imposture syndrome (as I had never taught before). At our first check in, Marion asked the students to check in with their teaching experiences and hopes for teaching in the future. I explained I had a lot of clinical experience, but none in teaching. I shared that I felt anxious to start teaching and that while I wanted to teach social work courses, the thought of it elicited nervousness. Marion responded with a validating wave of her hand saying: “we all feel that way”. She then proceeded to share how she would feel anxious every fall for the start of term, no matter how many years she had been teaching. This moment was incredibly validating and humanizing to me. If Marion Bogo, the preeminent social work instructor, and world-renowned pedagogy researcher, also felt anxiety, my anxiety was also okay.

Throughout her course, she proceeded to treat us like colleagues and was incredibly encouraging. She even asked me for support in referrals for one of her MSW student who needed mental health support. It is Marion who first made me feel that teaching was a realistic goal for me and that I would have a lot to offer as an instructor. It has been three years since I took Marion’s course and I have now supported and taught many classes at the faculty, mostly thanks to her initial support and encouragement.

— Rachael Pascoe

My name is Lorie Shekter-Wolfson and I have been a long time supporter and field instructor at the faculty of Social Work. I first met Marion a few years after I graduated from the Faculty, when I was working at the Toronto General Hospital. Marion ran a group for field supervisors, and I always looked forward to our meetings and get togethers. Her knowledge was amazing but more importantly, her personality was so engaging and we had fun. Later, a few of us co-wrote articles on supervision and field work and it was a great experience being part of that.

In the mid to late 90’s, the world of social work in health care was being challenged as Departments of Social Work in the major hospitals were being eliminated.  In 1997, I was the Director of Social Work at what was then called The Toronto Hospital (now known as UHN). At that time, it was the largest  Hospital Social Work department in Canada with almost 90 social workers. The department oversaw large numbers of Social Work students and was seen as a top choice placement. In September 1997, my position was eliminated and the department was dissolved leaving field placements up in the air.  It was a difficult time for Hospital based Social Work and health care placements. Marion was there every step of the way, supporting the needs of the many social work students. But what I remember the most was the support she gave me as I had to look at my own career.

Marion, I always think of that time, and thank you for all you did for social work and field placements.

— Lorie Shekter-Wolfson

— Video testimonial from Greg Merrill

Even when the halls and classes at the faculty refill with students, staff, and faculty following this pandemic, there will be a huge emptiness with the passing of our dear colleague, mentor, friend, and scholar. Marion has had a tremendous influence on the faculty and the social work profession, locally, nationally and internationally.  She will be missed for her genuine interest in others, her curious compassion, and selfless assistance, support, and mentoring to those around her.  I will miss our chats, her guidance, mentoring, and her unwavering support throughout the years.  I will miss her physical presence at the faculty but comforted to feel her presence, as her mark on this faculty is profound, widespread and ever present. I feel fortunate to have the privilege to be supported by Marion during my time at the faculty, first as a student in your classes and then as a colleague and friend.

— Michael Saini, Professor, Factor-Inwentash Chair in Law and Social Work

Marion was one of those professors that stand out as “a favorite”, one of the very best. In addition to her rich clinical and research knowledge base, her humanity and sincere love of teaching was always evident. I always appreciated her warm welcome and interest whenever our paths might cross, albeit intermittently, and after decades had elapsed since I was her student. I was so sad to hear of her untimely passing.

— Barbara Miller

Of all the descriptive words that swirl around Marion from those who loved, adored, and respected this special human, keenly observant, affectionate, intellectually passionate, and fiercely loyal come to mind.

Marion and I connected over many years as loyal comrades and advocates of simulation methodology. She recognized its power in experiential teaching and learning. Once she engaged in the process she never looked back, setting a new bar for international social work simulation education. I loved Marion and I miss her extraordinary presence in this world.

— Kerry Knickle, Simulation Quality & Faculty Development Advisor,  The Michener Institute of Education at UHN

I first met Marion Bogo around 1993/4 at a conference.  I was impressed! At that time I was a court mediator employed by the Ministry of the Attorney General and together with a colleague I was working on the development and implementation of a parent education program to be introduced to Family Court users in the GTA and across the Province. This was a signifiant initiative.  Feeling overwhelmed and a bit lost at times I asked Marion if she would be ok with me calling her if I had questions. She was, and I did.

Marion always took time to help and guide me.  She was cogent and sagacious, freely sharing her wisdom and experience with me. Over the years as I took on other professional roles, Marion’s books came with me together with her standing invitation for me to call her whenever I needed to — and so I did.  Marion wanted me to get it right because she was a nice person and a champion for every social worker out there.

Marion’s book co-authored with Elaine Vayda The Practice of Field Instruction in Social Work”: Theory & Process (2nd edition) became my professional bible. This seminal body of work is genius and captures the essence of what social work field education should look like. Marion got it right!

I searched and found several emails from Marion dating back years that offer a flavour of her style. Comments like:

“Of course I’ll be happy to do it”,

“I am attaching my latest paper on field. It was based on the speech I gave at the Field Summit”,

“great work”,

“call me any time”,

“of course – no problem”, 

“just let me know what you need”, 

“loved the paper”,

“congratulations…. ..”, 

“call me and we can talk about it”, 

Marion was the epitome of class and collegiality. She is missed. May her memory be for a blessing.

— Tammy Muskat Balitsky

I was so lucky to have Professor Bogo all of my first year in the MSW program. She taught me so much in our short time together. She was kind, compassionate and her dedication to her family, friends and students was obvious. She will continue to make an impact on current, past, and future social workers all across the globe. Her legacy will live on.

— Carla Danziger

When I talked with Marion, she made me feel like nothing else in the world other than our conversation was important. She always made an effort to know me as a person, not just as a colleague. I felt comfortable going to her for anything. Marion was obviously a superstar academic and teacher, and her ability to connect with people was as powerful.

— David Burnes, Associate Professor

There is only positive memories of Marion. She was instrumental in the field of social work and I will always remember her wise advice and counsel provided in the classroom and when I reached out to her for publication advice. A true gem.

— Gwendolyn Fearing

Publication

Marion Bogo, a Visionary, Innovator, and Leader: Reflecting on Her Groundbreaking Work on Simulation-Based Social Work Education

By Kenta Asakura, Karen Sewell, Mary Rawlings, Uschi Bay & Toula Kourgiantakis

Click here to read the full article, published in the Journal of Social Work Education

Slideshow

Photos of Professor Bogo’s time as a professor, a scholar, colleague and family member can be viewed in the slideshow video, above. A plaque recognizing Marion Bogo’s immense impact has been installed on the third floor of FIFSW’s building.