What is your first memory of Anne-Marie? Share a favorite memory you have of Anne-Marie. Tell us about a special moment you shared with Anne-Marie. Describe a time when Anne-Marie made you laugh or smile. What is something you will always remember about Anne-Marie? Talk about a shared experience you had with Anne-Marie. What is something you did together that you enjoyed? Describe a place or activity that reminds you of Anne-Marie. Tell us about a personal story or anecdote involving Anne-Marie. What is something you learned from Anne-Marie?

Add a Memory

Send Flowers

Make a Donation

Share Obituary

Obituary

Guest Book

Anne-Marie GASTON Obituary

Published by Ottawa Citizen on Apr. 14, 2018.

GASTON, Dr. Anne-Marie (née Groves) July 6, 1941 April 5, 2018 Dancer, choreographer, writer, photographer, lecturer, teacher, traveller. Beloved wife and sister. Anne-Marie Gaston (Groves) was born, raised, educated (at Lisgar Collegiate, where she was head girl) and died in Ottawa. She did her first degree at Queen's University and subsequently earned two post-graduate degrees (M.Litt., D.Phil) at Oxford University, UK. During her life, she spent many years in India and UK, as well as traveling throughout the world observing and studying local cultures and languages. She was the first native-born Canadian to perform Classical East Indian Dance professionally and over the years she performed for tens of thousands throughout Canada, US, Europe and India, including Prime Ministers Pierre Elliot Trudeau and Indira Gandhi. Fearless and indomitably cheerful, she continued her research on Indian classical dances to within two weeks of her death. She passed away peacefully, at home in New Edinburgh, surrounded by family and friends. She will be enormously missed by husband Tony, sister Joan and family, and cousins John and Jake Fowell and Scott McDiarmid. In memoriam donations to Myeloma Canada would be highly appreciated.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Sign Anne-Marie GASTON's Guest Book

Not sure what to say?

Recent Activity

March 2, 2019

Mekhala Natavar posted to the memorial.

November 19, 2018

Someone posted to the memorial.

November 17, 2018

Dominik Wujastyk posted to the memorial.

13 Entries

Mekhala Natavar

March 2, 2019

dear friend and creative spirit, anne-marie shared her love of life and dance with one and all. she will be greatly missed.

November 19, 2018

Dear Tony, very sorry to hear this. She was a lovely person. Nick (Allen)

Dominik Wujastyk

November 17, 2018

I am so sad to learn of Anne-Marie's death. She and I were students together at Oxford, back in the 70s. We learned Sanskrit together from Gombrich and Sanderson, and I learned about Indian dance from Anne-Marie. She was tremendous fun, and very hard-working. The world will be poorer now that her incredible positivity and dynamic presence has passed away.

Tracey Vibert

June 25, 2018

She was a force who added such colour to our world. She will be missed.

How you can show support

Send flowers

Consider sending flowers.

Add photos

Share their life with photo memories.

Plant trees

Honor them by planting trees in their memory.

Follow this page

Get email updates whenever changes are made.

Donate in Memory

Make a donation in memory of your loved one.

Share this page

Invite other friends and family to visit the page.

Rosemary Antze

April 29, 2018

Dear Tony,
So very sad to hear of Anne-Marie's passing. I first saw her dance Bharata Natyam at Ottawa's Classical Ballet Studio when she was just back from her CUSO service. She was always so open, enthusiastic and helpful, whenever we met in Canada and in India. Her contributions to the understanding of Indian dance, in performance and in scholarship,are enormous, her legacy so rich. My thoughts go to you and family at this very sad time. Rosemary Jeanes Antze

mamata niyogi-nakra

April 21, 2018

Deeply saddened to learn Anjali (Anne - Marie Gaston), an Indian dance exponent, based in Canada has passed away . Her pursuit of the different Indian CLassical dance forms has been remarkable and her contribution to dance scholarship noteworthy indeed. It is a great loss to the Indian dance scene, particularly that of Canada . Anjali will be sorely missed by many.
Anjali' s unique contribution to the art of dance was also born out of an artistic partnership between her and her life partner, Tony whose special talent in capturing her art visually enabled this gifted couple to enrich the art of dance through images and visual representations.
My heartfelt condolence to Tony Gaston on his tragic loss.
May Anjali's soul rest in peace. Om shanti, shanti,shanti Hari Om

mamata niyogi nakra

April 20, 2018

Deeply saddened to learn Anjali (Anne - Marie Gaston), the Indian dance exponent, based in Canada has passed away . Her pursuit of the art of different Indian Classical dance forms has been remarkable and her outstanding contribution to dance scholarship noteworthy indeed. It is a great loss for the Indian dance scene, particularly in Canada and she will be sorely missed by many.
Anjali's unique contribution to the art of dance was also born out of an artistic partnership between her and her life partner, Tony whose special talent in capturing her art visually enabled this gifted couple to enrich the art of dance through images and visual representations.
My heartfelt condolences to Tony on his tragic loss.
May Anjali's soul rest in peace. Om shanti, shanti,shanti Hari Om

Lata Pada

April 17, 2018

Dear Tony,
I am so saddened to learn of Anne-Marie's passing. I used to look forward to connecting at the dance conferences in Chennai and catching up with news of her latest productions and research. Anne-Marie had immeasurable intellectual curiosity and followed her artistic work and scholarly pursuits with passion and rigour. She has indeed left a valuable legacy of work and writing. We will miss her.

Madeleine Pouliot

April 16, 2018

Dear Tony, So sorry for your loss. Sending a big hug...

Jai Govinda

April 15, 2018

I first met Anjali when she came to perform at Musee des Beaux Arts in Montreal. At the time, as a young student of bharata natyam myself, I was very impressed as how she presented 3 different Indian classical dance styles. Her presentation was very polished with slides, and a slick commentary that allowed the audience into her presentation. I was delighted. The last time I met Anjali was in the mid 90's over "chana batura" at the Bengali market in New Delhi. She was writing a new book, and wanted to ask me a few questions. I never saw her again..... Her contribution to the Indian classical dance styles is tremendous, very specially with the legacy of books she left behind. Thank you Anjali. Rest in peace. Jai Govinda

Dr. Sydney Price Sparling MD

April 15, 2018

The classical Indian dance community is stunned. Anne-Marie's energy and pita seemed inexhaustible and her passion for dance inextinguishable. Her scholarly contributions have been internationally recognized. May she rest peacefully now. Sincere condolences to Tony, whose support and artistic contributions were woven in the gift of her life.

April 14, 2018

Everyone who knew and danced with Anjali is STUNNED and MOURNING her loss. One of her great later dance-pieces was a work called "Mother Forest", in which she delineated the threats to world forests in general and to India's great canopy forest in particular. A very fitting tribute to all who bewail her loss is to plant a tree. These can be obtained for free from the city. Heartfelt sympathy to her best friend and widower, Tony Gaston.
Brenna Manders

April 14, 2018

I am terribly sorry and shocked to hear of the passing of Anne-Marie whom I have known and admired for years. As founding editor of the Canadian India Times, I remember publishing a number of stories about her. My heart-felt condolences. May her soul rest in peace.

Showing 1 - 13 of 13 results