Caesar R. Blake died peacefully in Toronto on Thursday, February 23, 2023. He was born in Charlotte North Carolina on October 5, 1925. He grew up in both Charlotte and Pittsburg, Pennsylvania.

He received his BA from Johnson C. Smith University in 1945 and his Master of Arts degree and PhD in English Language and Literature from the University of Michigan. He was a member of the English Department's faculty there for many years. He joined the faculty at the University of Toronto in Ontario in 1967 and retired as Professor Emeritus in 1990. He wrote and edited several books and served as editor of The Norton Anthology and The Norton Reader.

He loved to cook and was a lifelong collector of art and antiques. He was very devoted to his family and will be remembered for his powerful intellect, exceptional memory, sense of humor, and lively wit.

He was predeceased by his companion of 46 years, Anothny Stevenson, and is survived by a number of nieces and nephews. He will be deeply missed by his family, many friends and devoted caregivers.

A small viewing is taking place at Mount Pleasant Funeral Centre on Saturday, March 4th from 4:30 - 5:30 pm.