Alumnus celebrates his family legacy with an estate gift to Hart House

Aug 13, 2024

Engineering grad and green energy advocate John Ambrose discusses his decision to donate to Hart House via estate planning as a way of acknowledging his father and the deep connection, across generations, with U of T.

John Ambrose (BASc 1970), second-generation University of Toronto alumnus and third-generation engineer, wanted to give back to his alma mater. He sought to do this in a way that honoured his father, Howard George Ambrose, and his values; their shared U of T journey and the impact it had on their lives; as well as his deep relationship with U of T as a volunteer over many years.

He saw Hart House as an excellent place for this gift. And as a result, his generosity will help Hart House serve many more generations of U of T students and inspire other multi-generational U of T families to consider a planned gift in their estate planning.

“It has been an honour to work with John on this estate gift,” says Peter Wambera, Associate Director, Advancement. “He has been so thoughtful in his approach, and so generous of spirit. This gift has deep personal resonance for him. Through this gift, he is connecting to family, friends, places and personal values that have shaped his life. This is a sterling example of using an estate gift to elevate the U of T of tomorrow, while paying tribute to the great impact it had in the past.

“John’s gift will have a tremendous and long-lasting impact on Hart House,” Peter emphasizes. “When the House and its supporters rally together, we can achieve amazing things – advancing a tradition that extends back a century and helping lay the groundwork for future generations of well-rounded, resilient and engaged citizens just like John Ambrose.”

Appreciation of Hart House grew over time

As an undergrad, John only went to Hart House to study, read, listen to music or attend dances, which he maintains were the very best because they had four bands with different styles. (Fun fact: Back then, the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering staged dances called “the Cannonball.”)

John also recalls “the best chocolate milk shakes in Toronto” being served in The Arbor Room, which has recently been modernized to become more accessible (sadly, milkshakes are no longer on the menu). Additionally, he participated in the Hart House Camera Club, picking up his father’s love of photography.

But he says the importance of Hart House and U of T in his life has grown over time.

John comes from a long line of engineers – his father, who also attended U of T, and grandfather. “Professional engineering at U of T was an inherited experience,” he sums up. More than this, “U of T was an inherited experience, my home base.”

The University’s Latin motto “Velut arbor ævo,” meaning “May it grow as a tree through the ages,” deeply resonates with John. He sees the trunk as his grandfather, John Robert William Ambrose; and the branch as his father, Howard George Ambrose, who graduated from University of Toronto Schools (an affiliated high school running from Grades 7 to 12) in 1937. Five years later, after earning his degree in engineering, his father volunteered in World War II as Lieutenant in the Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.

Returning to the U of T tree-based motto, John completes the analogy: “I was the Twig. I followed in the footsteps of my father by graduating from University of Toronto Schools in 1966, then engineering in 1970.”

The inspiration to give back

U of T had a profound effect on John and his way of thinking, “My career decisions often relied on lessons learned from my father and at the University of Toronto,” he says.

“I wanted to say thank you, from my father and from me, for a life of learning from the University. I also wanted to acknowledge the Soldiers’ Tower, which recognizes my father’s priceless contribution to ending WWII and helping children from Holland find safety and new homes in Canada.”

On the Governing Council at U of T, John was inspired by his friend Donald Burwash who bequeathed the largest donation to Hart House since the Massey Foundation gifted the House itself to the University in 1919. “Don also became a Trustee of the Banting Research Foundation, when I was Chair,” John elaborates. Referring to Donald’s generous donation to Hart House, he says, “I understood his choice to give to Hart House. My gift was for all students to enjoy. A place to expand, relax, nourish and contemplate.”

Philosophy of caring for society

John has a deeply held belief in the value of philanthropy. “Attending U of T is a privilege. Graduates have an obligation to use their education to help others. I inherited the philosophy of caring for society from my father and grandfather.”

Does John have any advice for students? Interestingly, he sidesteps the advice, by instead posing a few insightful questions: “I would ask ‘What is the most important lesson you learned at U of T?’ then ‘How will you help others (or the world) with this lesson?’”

A green energy advocate “for the greater good”

After U of T, John earned a Master of Aerospace and Mechanical Sciences from Princeton University and a Master of Business Administration from Western University. He has served on boards and at schools to help the next generation: Chair of the Banting Research Foundation, as mentioned; Chair of Princeton’s Alumni Schools Committee in Canada; and, as noted, member of the Governing Council of U of T.

His career has focused on helping cities fight climate change. John’s work as a green energy advocate aligns with U of T’s aspiration to create high-impact clean energy solutions and a sustainable future for all.

Once again, he underscores giving back: “My work in net-zero energy uses the education I am privileged to have to serve the greater good. Only with age have I understood the obligation to help others.”

By Megan Wykes