Earlier this week Professor Anthony (Tony) Grant passed away.
To Tony’s family I send my heartfelt condolences on the loss of a truly great person. May his memory be for a blessing.
Tony was my first coaching teacher at the University of Sydney in the Coaching Psychology Masters and he supervised the student research project that I conducted in 2018-2019.
There have been so many beautiful words written as a tribute to Tony. And you can read more about his life here.
What is there that I could say about Tony that would do any sort of justice to the person he was – or add to the words above?
Although I only knew him personally since 2016 when I enrolled in the coaching psychology masters – he touched my life even before then in ways he will never know.
I will always be grateful he had the vision to establish the Coaching Psychology Unit – and I will always be grateful that I was able to enroll and complete the Masters program – and grateful for the enormous privilege of knowing and being taught by Tony.
As a research supervisor Tony went in to bat for me – over extending my enrollment – and getting ethics through. He really “saw” me – and listened to all my ideas – and then stretched my thinking in ways I hadn’t thought possible. And then let me just get on with it.
Sadly, he will never be able to help complete writing the paper on the research I conducted – or even just read the next draft.
So, in my small way, the very best eulogy and tribute I can think of for Tony is to finish writing and publish the research we had worked on together regarding “self-insight in coaching practice”. I can hear him in my mind urging me to “Carry On” – and I shall do just that.
Tony may no longer be physically present in the world, but I have no doubt his spirit will live on and that his influence in the world is stronger than ever.
So Tony, thank you for everything you have done to make the world a better place.
May we, your legacy, do you proud.
Rest In Peace
Thank you for this – it touched me deeply and I know Tony would be too. Georgie Grant
I was privileged to be a student in his Coaching Masters at USyd when he first started it up. A fantastic teacher and an amazing coach. This is sad news he was a real character. Condolences to his family.