Evelyn Isobel Baxter
Died: August 13, 2019 | Place: London, Ontario
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Obituary
Evelyn Isobel Baxter (née DesBrisay) died in London, on August 13, 2019 after a lengthy illness.
Born in Winnipeg in 1925, Eve was a gifted pianist. She earned her Diploma in Music Performance and Teaching from the University of Manitoba and subsequently taught music in the province’s remote and agricultural communities.
Her brother introduced her to Peter, her future husband; the handsome WWII veteran impressed her because he invited her to the Royal Winnipeg Ballet. They married in 1949. While raising her young family, Eve taught music at Balmoral Hall in Winnipeg.
After the family moved to Toronto, Eve became a major force across Canada as a curator, arts administrator and advisor. Her vision has left its stamp on the Ontario urban landscape: Toronto-Dominion Centre and Metro Hall in Toronto and Constitution Square in Ottawa are among the many public art projects she administered. She helped develop major corporate collections-particularly Sun Life Assurance Company and Osler Hoskin and Harcourt. But above all, she is remembered by many visual artists across Canada for the time and support that she gave them.
Eve also believed in the power of volunteerism to build community. She sewed costumes for the Manitoba Theatre Centre, organized Art Gallery of Ontario volunteer committee exhibitions, played piano at the nursery school in her Etobicoke neighbourhood, helped organize Toronto’s Sesquicentennial and contributed leadership to the boards of the Winnipeg Art Gallery, Julia Greenshields Home in Toronto and the Tom Thomson Art Gallery in Owen Sound.
Despite the demands of a busy career, family remained Eve’s top priority; she loved fiercely, and instilled in her children and grandchildren her thirst for reading, learning and sports (she was a lifelong Blue Bombers fan).
Eve is predeceased by her parents, Charlotte Austen and Normand Rudolph DesBrisay; her sisters Ann, Charlotte Bean and Elizabeth Wilcox; brother, John; brother-and sister-in-law, Robert and Patricia; husband, Peter, and son, Andrew Peter Mackenzie.
Left to mourn and to remember her fondly are her son, John (Miranda); her daughters, Charlotte Jones (Kent); Susan; Mary (Robert Osthoff), as well as her grandchildren, Maggie Jones (Michael Nemec), Cary Jones (Nell Reis), Grace Park (Brinton), and Stephanie Baxter.
The family thanks the staff at Mount Hope for their care for Eve over the years.
Help us to celebrate Eve’s life at a reception on Saturday August 24, 2019 from 3-5 pm at the A. Millard George Funeral Home Reception Centre (located on the Southeast corner of the parking lot), 60 Ridout Street South, London. A memorial service will be held in Winnipeg at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to the acquisitions fund of a gallery of your choice or the Canadian Mental Health Association, 534 Queens Avenue, London, ON N6B 1Y6. Online condolences, memories and photographs shared at www.amgfh.com
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I have so many warm and positive memories of Eve – and her daughters – from my years at Galerie Dresdnere. She was a great lady and I continue to tell anyone who will listen about the most progressive art consultant Toronto has ever had. I am grateful to have known her. Ironically I was just reminiscing about her with a client on Friday…My sincere condolences to the Baxter family.
Eve took me under tutelage at the Mira Godard Gallery in the fall of 1973. For several hours on Saturdays she pulled out all the print drawers to educate me about printmaking and contemporary art. It was eyeopening. What an education! Little did I know it was the start of a lifelong interest and “addiction” to contemporary art. Her educating me continued at the Moos Gallery. She was always warm-hearted and generous with her time. She was an . important teacher and person in my life whom I recall fondly and with great appreciation! I always talk about her when people as me how I got so interested in contemporary art.
I’m very sorry for your loss. Eve made an impact on me during the time I knew her, as a next-door cottage neighbor to our family.
She and I went golfing a few times, years ago at the Tobermory “Tip O’ the Bruce” Golf Club when I was a student, working in the town during the summer and saving for school.
She got a real kick out of our scorecard, which seemed to document a competition of biblical proportions (Adam versus Eve).
To me, she was classy, fun and generous. I also specifically remember her teaching me what the word “unassuming” meant — through one particular conversation we had about the definition, yes, but mostly through her actions.
I will remember her spirit and her smile.
My condolences.
Adam
I have just heard of your mom’s passing. I have so many memories of your mom. She always made me feel welcome. She was an extraordinary woman, so accomplished and most importantly loved greatly. A life well lived.
As a child I remembered ‘Mrs Baxter’ as being multi talented, intelligent and generous. I admired and liked her as did my parents, who were neighbours and became close friends. My sincere condolences go out to Mary, Charlotte, Sue and John and extended family.