In Memoriam

Lillian Robinson

Lillian Robinson, Principal of the Simone de Beauvoir Institute, passed away peacefully early Sept. 20. Lillian is survived by her siblings and her son, all currently living in the U.S, as well as her nephew, Greg Robinson, a professor at UQAM. A memorial service will be held in mid-November.

Acting Institute Principal Viviane Namaste said, “Lillian deeply appreciated the support that you have all extended over the past months, from phone calls to visits to cards and letters. The concern you have demonstrated — as colleagues, friends, scholars, students and activists — has been the most profound testament to the values of solidarity and compassion so central to Lillian’s life.”

Tom Waugh, had worked closely with Robinson in the interdisciplinary sexuality program over the last six years.

“Presiding over turbulent times both politically and intellectually at Concordia, Lillian’s commitment to justice and free speech in both Canada and Palestine, to the celebration of diversity — whether in terms of gender, sexuality, or culture — was unflagging, yet always resourcefully open to coalition and compromise. No one has argued and demonstrated better than Lillian the indissoluble relationship of activism and the academy,” he wrote.

“Her volubility was legendary: when we went to lunch, I would have finished coffee and dessert before she had even started her soup, and my mind would be reeling with the latest from the frontline—intellectual, personal and political. Lillian challenged Concordia to maintain our heritage as a human institution at the cutting edge of social issues and intellectual freedom, so articulately demonstrated in a video statement at the reading of Dave Bernans’s novel North of 9/11 [in which she appeared as a character] only a week before her death.”

The Lillian Robinson Scholars Program is being established by Concordia (with Lillian’s blessing) to bring distinguished feminist scholars to the Simone de Beauvoir Institute. All funds donated to Concordia for this purpose will be put in an interest-bearing account that will be used solely to support this program.

Those wishing to contribute may send cheques payable to Concordia University, noting that it is for the Lillian Robinson Scholars Program, to Concordia University, 7141 Sherbrooke St. We. Suite AD 324.00, Montreal, Quebec H4B 1R6, Attention: Jasmine Fortin, Principal Director of Development.

We offer condolences to her family, friends and colleagues.

Thomas Edward Stanley Swift

The many friends and colleagues of Tom Swift were saddened to hear of his death of brain cancer on Sept. 9. His funeral on Sept. 15 was well attended by members of the Concordia community.

Tom started working for Sir George Williams University even before he had graduated. When he became Director of Admissions in his mid-twenties, he was the youngest such administrator at any North American university.

In fact, he gave up an exciting career as a popular singer. A handsome, charismatic man with a beautiful voice not unlike that of Johnny Mathis, he had records on the hit music charts, had toured Canada, and appeared on the national TV show Like Young. He was also a fine athlete, and had been recruited by the Brooklyn Dodgers’ farm team.

However, he had a young family, and must have known that a career in higher education offered more financial security. His decision to choose what became Concordia made thousands of students over two generations the beneficiaries of his quiet, steady dedication.

When he retired, he stayed at the university for eight more years, doing international recruiting for the John Molson School of Business. He was especially proud to have forged links with Hong Kong students.

Tributes to him mention his sense of humour, modesty and empathy for animals as well as people. He asked that donations be made in his memory to the SPCA Montérégie, 178 Chemin du Vide, Sainte-Angèle-de-Monnoir, Québec, J0L 1P0, www.spcamonteregie.com/.

We offer our sincere condolences to his loving family, particularly Mary Margaret Hume, his wife of 41 years, and his sons, Todd and Jordan.

Judith Kalman

Judith Mendes de Sola Kalman, wife of physics professor Calvin Kalman, died on June 29. She taught English and business communication from 1986 to 2006.

She had always wanted to do something meaningful with her life. When she was 18, she wrote that it would be terrible to reach 55 and not have something meaningful to do. She eventually achieved that with her Holocaust literature course at Dawson College, which touched so many lives. The course was the subject of feature articles in The Gazette, The Canadian Jewish News, The Suburban and The Westmount Examiner.

She was the direct descendent of the first rabbi in Canada, Abraham de Sola. Abraham de Sola was also professor of Hebrew and Oriental literature at McGill University around 1840. The de Solas trace themselves back to the 10th century, and have a coat of arms, because they were the physicians to the kings of Spain.

Her Hanukkah/Christmas parties were legendary, as were the annual stories that she wrote that accompanied them. She had a wonderful sense of humour and is sadly missed by her husband, two sons Samuel and Benjamin (both Concordia graduates), daughter-in-law Brenda, grandson Joshua, extended family and many friends.

We are indebted to Calvin Kalman for this obituary, and offer our sincere condolences to him and the family.