Maryla, as she was known from childhood, lived her life from beginning to end with passion, energy and endless curiosity. She was a vibrant personality, who enjoyed deep and lasting friendships with her family, including her four much-loved grandchildren, and her many, many friends. A warm and outgoing person, she loved to share her lifelong interest in theatre, opera, music and literature, and also her great commitment to the arts community. She thought the world of all her friends and they of her. Her huge circle of caring friends was very evident during the months of her terminating illness.
She was born in Poland, but after the 1939-1945 War, her parents lived in England, where she studied law at the University of London, post-graduating at the University of Chicago, U.S.A. She moved to Montreal with her husband and their children in 1967, and in 1977 to Victoria. She taught at McGill University in Montreal, was a co-author of a history of Roslyn School in Westmount, and served on the board of Rogers Communications.
In Victoria, she played a major role in the aural history project of the UVIC. Faculty of Law and she was at once active as a volunteer supporting the community and the performing arts in the city. She was a leader in furthering the former Bastion Theatre and gave years of support and service to Pacific Opera Victoria, and its associated Foundation. She was a chair of the Victoria United Way, a chair of the Victoria Foundation, and a Vice-President of Pacific Opera Victoria. In January 2017, she was awarded the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers for her contribution to the arts.
She is survived by her husband, Donovan, to whom she was married for 57 years, their children Catherine (Christopher), Anne-Marie (James), and Alastair, and their grandchildren, Alexander, Claire, Jonah and Benjamin.
The family would like to thank the staff of the Douglas Care nursing facility in Victoria for the concern, care and attention they gave to Maryla.
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com
18 Responses
To Donovan and family,
My heart is broken to learn of the loss of Maryla. I held deep respect and admiration for her from the moment we met through the 60th Jubilee celebration of the Victoria Foundation, to our time together on the Opera Foundation. I used to call her a Wagner “groupie”. She was a gracious and lovely person, and a wonderful role model. What a great loss for the family and our community. Please accept my deepest sympathies.
Bonnie Ellen Campbell
Maryla’s passing has left a void, but she will be fondly remembered by many people. She was truly a “people person”. Our condolences to Donovan, Catherine, Anne-Marie, and Alastair.
To the family of Maryla Waters I send my deepest condolences. Her presence at any Pacific Opera event always filled me with joy. Her laughter, smile and recognition of one made me feel so special. Sometimes in life we meet special people and Maryla was one of those. Thank you Maryla for sharing and being a part of my life.
Dear Donovan,
Please accept my condolences on your recent loss. I had the privilege of meeting Maryla when we worked together on Brian Smith’s Oak Bay-Gordon Head constituency board. I held her in much esteem and admiration.
We worked together again on the former Bastion Theatre Board. Both these organizations included a deal of socializing so we saw each other at ‘work and play’. Although our paths have not crossed that often in recent years, when they did we greeted each other with joy and delight.
In Maryla’s memory, I have made a donation to the Canadian Club of Victoria’s Bursary Fund, administered by the Camosun College Foundation.
With deepest sympathy to you and your family.
Tricia Horne
Dear Donovan and Family,
My sincere condolences on the passing of Maryla, who I know was a shining light in your lives and a force for good. My thoughts are with you all.
Lionel
Donovan and family: So sorry for your loss. Maryla was a force that I came to know first in the old Bastion Theatre days and then at Law School and beyond.
A great loss to our fair city.
All the best,
Bill Murphy-Dyson
Maryla made a significant impact on me during her time in Montreal, when the Waters, Fripp and Elbourne families got together for many memorable celebrations. I will always remember her warmth, intelligence and kindness. She was in fact a role model for me as a young person. I was pleased to have seen her more recently one last time in Montreal, when she made witty and illuminating comments on opera and children and was as gracious and elegant as ever. I send my love and condolences to all of you.
I’m sad to learn of Maryla’s death. She was a friend from her Westmount years when we worked together on the history of Roslyn School which our children attended, along with hers. Clearly, her life since then has featured outstanding contributions to Victoria where her brilliant mind and willingness to work for a variety of good causes is recognized in this obituary. Sending affection to the family.