Celebrating friendship and success
The women of 8T0 band together for a $50,000 donation
Almost five decades ago, 19 remarkable women studied together at U of T Dentistry. They made a mark as the most female-driven class up to that point, and are still one of the most cohesive cohorts the Faculty has ever known. They studied together, held potlucks, played intramurals — their hockey games were legendary — and supported each other until graduation in 1980.
They still keep in touch and get together regularly for lunches. (Some of the group even did a trip to Mexico together.) “It’s quite amazing that over 47 years we’ve known each other, we continue to enjoy each other’s company,” says Elizabeth MacSween.
Now, the 16 surviving female classmates of 8T0 have come together to name an operatory in the future Clinic 2 at 124 Edward St. with a donation of $50,000.
MacSween, who is the chair of the Faculty of Dentistry’s Defy Gravity campaign, came up with the idea. Last fall, at a lunch with some of the women of 8T0 in Toronto, she floated raising money in support of their alma mater as a group.
“The response was, ‘Great, let’s do it,’” says MacSween. “Supporting students with enhanced facilities so they too can enjoy what we had and serve the patients well, is all part of this.”
She returned home to Ottawa and Toronto-based alumni, particularly Lee Steinmanis, spread the word.
“Without dental school we would not be where we are. We’ve all had good lives because of it.”-Sylvia King
“It took off very quickly,” says Steinmanis. “Everyone just seemed to accept it.” The class had missed its 40th anniversary reunion, due to the pandemic, so everyone was eager to mark that milestone.
The immediate positive response was overwhelming, and within a few months, almost all the surviving female classmates had signed on. The group met their goal of $50,000 in April which will allow the donors to together name an operatory, to celebrate and honour their friendship which began at the school. "Some of the best memories of my life are from dental school. What made it so special was we were such a tight group," says Sylvia King of her motivation for giving.
Meanwhile, Alice Kazmierowski sees the gift as being about relationships. “The motivation was to leave a little tribute to our friendship,” she says, adding that pledging money as soon as she heard about the gift was a “no brainer.” As well, her sister and mentor graduated dentistry in 1965, but has since passed away was an additional reason for her to give.
“The Faculty is the best place to have this group remembered a little longer, as this is the place where it all began." - Lee Steinmanis
Importantly, the gift is in honour of those in the class who are not longer around. “It was motivated by having the girls remembered,” says Steinmanis. Classmates Paula Gregory and Maytak Pang died a few years after graduation, while the class lost Elaine Fishbein in 2021.
Having “The Women of the Class of 8T0” on an operatory at the Faculty feels important to the group. MacSween has given in the past, and has also named an operatory in Clinic 7, the satellite clinic at 777 Bay. “It’s a thrill to see my name there,” she says.
The class of 8T0 got together at the Ontario Dental Association conference in early May for a class reunion, where the women suggested the guys consider a gift, too. Importantly, everyone had a blast being together, catching up and remembering dental school.
“It’s a tribute to years of friendship and laughter. We always have a good time when we get together,” says Steinmanis.
Written by Diane Peters
Photo credit: Class of 8T0