The final curtain has been drawn, and Juliana has left the stage. With heavy hearts, we announce the death of Juliana Mary Saxton (née Gianelli); professor, teacher, actor, director, orator. For decades she taught theatre and drama in education at the University of Victoria; in her final weeks, the students whose lives she’d changed came to pay their respects—and the chair beside her bed was never empty.
She appeared on stage and screen with the Straw Hat Players, the Shaw Festival, and the CBC; those lucky enough to see her know she was a wonderful actress—sometimes sparkling, sometimes grand. She produced and directed shows for the Alumnae Theatre and UVic, and adapted and produced The Women of Margaret Laurence, which toured almost a thousand schools and theatres across two continents.
Along with her writing partners Norah Morgan and Carole Miller, she published more than half a dozen books, among them Asking Better Questions, Applied Drama, and Into the Story. She was fierce and curious about her work, and continued writing until the week of her death. Her insights into the importance of drama in education and citizenship have never—never—been more urgent.
Juliana was a person of great pride and dignity. She was sharp, she was fun; her smile and laugh were like a firecracker. She was capable of immense warmth and tenderness. She could be totally infuriating. We loved and love her so much more than can be said.
She lives on in Chris, Nadine, and Alexander; in Joanna, Greg, and Sydney; in her extended family of Aileen, Bob, Allan, Jeffrey and David; of Shelagh, Michael, and Rachel; of Matthew, Leslie, and William; of Liz, and Hazeley; in her adopted Morgans and Gardner-Sonmors, and in the dear friends too numerous to list.
Juliana is dead. Her life was extraordinary; our loss is profound.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations via e-transfer to the Victoria Visual Arts Legacy Society: vvalsinfo@gmail.com.
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com
32 Responses
Rest in peace, dear Juliana.
Adored your enthusiasm Julianna! Always enjoyed when we met. Will remember you always as a dignified sparkly lady. Sending sincere condolences to the family.
Beautiful lady. Top-flight human. Glad to have seen her this summer one more time in Ontario. Love to all, Barnaby S.
I am so very sorry. Julianna was a firebrand member of the American Alliance for Theatre and Education and keen observations relating to the field lifted us all.
I saw Judy’s -as I used to call her- obituary this morning in the Globe. Bless her heart.
She was part of my life when I was much younger. She was my councillor at Tanamakoon and of course the drama teacher there. A few years later, she and her husband lived in St. Catharines where my husband and I also lived.
To me she was elegance personified. My condolences and love to all of her family. Patsi now/Minnes, then/Dawson.
Juliana was a teacher, mentor, co-author (ABQ) and a friend. Her impact on her many students over the years was—and continues to be—profound. She was generous with her time, support and critical advice for her academic offspring. She set us off into the world a little wiser and more skilled than we may have been without her influence. She was landlady extraordinaire to a few of us who temporarily wound up in her basement on our academic journeys. Her absence in the world leaves a tremendous gap, but also many memories and stories. Condolences to all those friends and family who are missing her.
We remember Juliana as teacher, mentor, and director especially from her time at Queen’s University. She was a passionate advocate for quality drama and theatre education. She has left a space in the world that will never be filled. Our condolences to her family and friends.
I am filled with sorrow at news of this loss and send my heartfelt condolences to Juliana’s family and friends. Juliana’s amazing intellect, artistry and wisdom in our shared field of theatre and education have been profoundly important. Her contributions to our work are legendary. I myself have learned so much from her and my own work has been greatly influenced by hers. She will truly be missed!
Juliana was my mentor for 25 years. We published two books together, including our Applied Theatre textbook, now out in its third edition. She was a force of nature and her impact on my work will be felt for many years to come. RIP dear Juliana.
Juliana Saxton was a magnificent force and her contributions to Drama in Eduction immense. May you find comfort in knowing that she will be remembered here at home in Canada, as well as by the international community, with great respect and admiration. My sincere condolences to you.