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Mairuth SARSFIELD
Mairuth SARSFIELD
Obituary
Guest Book
Mairuth SARSFIELD Obituary
A Mighty Tree has Fallen
Passed away peacefully on May 7th, 2013, at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto, following complications due to stroke. Mairuth lived an incredible life, achieving excellence as broadcaster (former host CBC, CTV, TV Ontario and Governor of the CBC board of directors), civil servant (the U.N. and Expo 67 and 70), and best-selling Author of the Canada Reads selection No Crystal Stair. She is immediately mourned by Husband Dominick Sarsfield (89), Sister Lucille Cuevas (90) Granddaughter Zinzi de Silva (28), and widely mourned by many in the global community. All are welcome to the memorial of this amazing woman on Saturday, June 1st, 2 p.m. at Christ Church Cathedral, Ottawa. Flowers can be sent to Christ Church or preferably in lieu of flowers, donations are being accepted to establish a national Mairuth Sarsfield Award. To send condolences, please contact [email protected]
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
70 Entries
Joanie Martin-Brown
July 10, 2013
I have just learned of Mairuth's passing, as we were planning to visit her this month. I am so sad. We spoke last summer, and now so many of the memories we shared surround me.
I first met Mairuth when Jimmy Carter was President of the U.S., and she came to see me at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. There was an instant connection, a special rapport and I soon found myself at UNEP in Nairobi, doing a special two day presentation for her. She was the global Director of Public Affairs. From that time forward our personal and professional lives intertwined, whether in Stratford, Ontario for the Gondoliers, or Shakespeare, or at Governors Camp in Kenya, or on the island of Lamu, or in NYC, Washington, D.C. or Delaware.... Her strength, her resiliency, her loving heart, her dignity, her grace under pressure, her generosity gifted our lives. It was Mairuth who established the UNEP's global programme, "For Every Child A Tree," and she joined forces with me, at a very difficult time in her life, to lend a hand at the Global Assembly of Women and the Environment in Miami. She so loved Dominick and Zinzi, and they filled her life in ways that only they could do. I truly loved her, and feel blessed by her true friendship.
Christine Wilmott
June 12, 2013
Mairuth,
You graced me with your healing presence.
I thank you.
xoxo...
Christine Wilmott
[email protected]
Speaker - Ottawa 01 06 13
Mikey G Ottawa
June 9, 2013
Speaker 01 06 13
Mikey G Ottawa
June 9, 2013
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Speaker - Ottawa 01 06 13
Mikey G Ottawa
June 9, 2013
Speaker - Ottawa 01 06 13
Mikey G Ottawa
June 9, 2013
After Service Mingle - Ottawa 01 06 13
Mikey G Ottawa
June 9, 2013
Christchurch Cathedral Memorial Service For Mairuth Sarsfield - 01 06 13
Mikey G Ottawa
June 9, 2013
Reading - Ottawa 01 06 13
Mikey G Ottawa
June 9, 2013
Memorial Service - Ottawa 01 06 13
Mikey G Ottawa
June 9, 2013
Christchurch Cathedral - Ottawa 01 06 13
Mikey G Ottawa
June 9, 2013
MC Paul De Silva - Ottawa 01 06 13
Mikey G Ottawa
June 9, 2013
Ms. Zinzi At The Podium - Ottawa 01 06 13
Mike Gericke
June 9, 2013
Christchurch Cathedral _ Ottawa 01 06 13
Mike Gericke
June 9, 2013
MC Paul De Silva - Ottawa 01 06 13
Mike Gericke
June 9, 2013
Zinzi At The Podium - Ottawa 01 06 13
Mike Gericke
June 9, 2013
Two Sisters - Ottawa 01 06 13
Mike Gericke
June 9, 2013
'No Crystal Stair' - A Novel by Mairuth Sarsfield - Ottawa 01 06 13
Mike Gericke
June 9, 2013
Multi-Media Mairuth Sarsfield
Mike Gericke
June 9, 2013
A Multi-Media Experience - Ms. Mairuth Sarsfield
Mike Gericke
June 9, 2013
A Multi-Media Personality - Ms. Mairuth Sarsfield
Mike Gericke
June 9, 2013
Christchurch Cathedral - Ottawa 01 06 13
Mike Gericke
June 9, 2013
Congressman's Letter To Ms. Mairuth Sarsfield
Mike Gericke
June 9, 2013
Christchurch Cathedral - Ottawa 01 06 13
Mike Gericke
June 9, 2013
Two Sisters - Ottawa 01 06 13
June 9, 2013
Christchurch Cathedral - Ottawa 01 06 13
Mike Gericke
June 7, 2013
News Clippings
Mike Gericke
June 7, 2013
Photo, Urn
Mike Gericke
June 7, 2013
To honour Ms. Mairuth Sarsfield
Mike Gericke
June 7, 2013
Attendees At Memorial Service At Christchurch Cathedral - Ottawa 01 06 13
Mike Gericke
June 7, 2013
Michael Gericke
June 4, 2013
May God Rest Your Soul, Ms. Mairuth. You inspired so many others. Thank you.
Brian Smith
June 3, 2013
I first had the honour to get to know Mairuth during Expo70 in Osaka. She was a true beacon of joy for everyone she came across. Thank you, Mairuth.
June 2, 2013
Rest in Peace, dear Mairuth. With love and admiration from Debbie Cowley.
NB2PW
June 2, 2013
The Network of Black Business & Professional Women pays tribute to this pioneer, role model, author.... and so much more. R.I.P.
de Shield Family of Toronto & Burnaby
June 1, 2013
Despite all of her amazing accomplishments, and they were many, Mairuth always had time for others. She was always there with a helping hand, always there to give advice and to give support. She was a very generous soul.
Mairuth and my father were first cousins and very close. While residing in Montreal, they spent a great deal of time together, especially when they were in their 20s. Additionally, when my mother travelled from Boston to take up residence in Montreal, Mairuth was the first person that she laid eyes upon in Canada! Aunt Annie had sent a two-person “welcoming committee” to the bus station; my dad Damon and Mairuth. Although neither of them knew my mom, when the bus doors opened there was Aunt Mairuth, radiant and beautiful, immediately taking charge of the situation and helping my mother adjust to life in a new city from day one! There was no one like Aunt Mairuth, really just no one who could come close to her confident style, her grace and her appealing joie de vivre. Automatically, one felt better being around her.
All of the de Shield family has warm memories of Mairuth whether it be at her lovely home in Wakefield, where she and Uncle Dominick led the most genteel of lifestyles, or at the gathering last summer in Burnaby B.C. where Olav, his wife Deborah and their daughter Madeline hosted a gathering with all of the relatives out west attending. Of course Mairuth did what she always was able to do; shine without seeming to dominate. Don't ask me how she did it but it was it something to see, how she would command a room in her gentle, regal way.
It is so very hard to say goodbye to Aunt Mairuth. She was such a force, such a strong and eloquent lady who lived beyond the norm; it seemed her star would never dim. Maya Angelou wisely said; “we may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated”. I believe this quote describes quite well, the essence of Mairuth Sarsfield.
Aunt Mairuth you will be greatly and sincerely missed by all of us.
The family of George Damon de Shield:
Lois, Olav (Deborah, Madeline) and Andrea
June 1, 2013
Your legacy will live on for a very long time. I will always remember the great moments we shared.
Audrey Davis
June 1, 2013
The members of the congregation of Union United Church, Montreal extend sincerest sympathy to the family at this time. May God surround you with his love and comfort.
Erene Anthony
Chair, Official Board
June 1, 2013
Sincere condolences for Lucille, Dominick and Zinzi on the passing of your dear sister, wife and grandmother from my wife Anita and me. She was remarkable for her keen intellect, imagination, creativity, drive--a sort of 'chutzpah 'with grace--, passion for excellence, thirst for knowledge, tact, persuasive ability, sensitivity, sensibility--which included an appreciation of the visual and performing arts--, and the courage with which she faced personal tragedy, a sense of adventure --in travel an business affairs---the knack of serving as catalyst for many endeavours, encouraging others as deft enabler building their self-esteem but, above all, as one who understood the primacy and love of family, whom as you know, she loved dearly.
We did many things together over the years.
The last time we spoke--at about New Year's Day 2011--- she displayed all the great attributes of mind, personality, character, and upbringing. There was much grace, finesse and solicitude for us as she called from British Columbia
We will remember the fine timbre of her smiling and cheerful voice.
Lloyd Stanford
Cat Majors
June 1, 2013
Blessings to a great spirit!
Ursula Deshield
May 31, 2013
To my dear friend and cousin Mairuth- we have spent many enjoyable hours together during those 45 years that we have known each other. You have been a great model to all those who knew you and the memory of you will continue to inspire us all.
May 30, 2013
To Mairuth
With fondest love and treasured memories of Ireland, Jamaica and Kenya John & Jacqueline Sarsfield
And, friends, dear friends, - when it shall be
That this low breath is gone from me,
And round my bier ye come to weep,
Let One, most loving of you all,
Say, 'Not a tear must o'er her fall,
He giveth His beloved, sleep.'
Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Timothy Sarsfield
May 30, 2013
Mairuth You will be dearly missed. You were always so kind to my family and myself. We so much enjoyed our many visits to Parksville to see you and Dominick. You always had a big heart and took time to consider the welfare of others. I was so honoured to have got to know you and have you in my life. God Bless you.
Angelina Cacciato
May 29, 2013
I think of Mairuth often especially since she was instrumental in my producing a pilot with CBC. We were at a luncheon with the Board of Directors of the CBC in 1986. I sat at the table with her. At the end of the meal when people were asked to comment, she egged me to say something. I did and was surprised by the applause at the end of my impromptu speech. It was then that Doug Ward, Head of CBC Regional Programming for Ottawa introduced himself. That introduction led me to produce the tv pilot, MUSIC MONDO FEATURING DARIO DOMINGUES.
She gave great advice on the program - THE INTERVIEW, part of Gaining A Voice where she advised viewers on how to give a good interview. This video is posted on YouTube.
There were many times I wanted to reconnect with her. And as so often happens in life, we neglect what we need to do. This will be one of my regrets.
Mairuth was always positive, encouraging and supportive of me and my activities that I was involved with. And I will always be grateful for that and keep her dear in my heart.
Norma Dove-Edwin
May 28, 2013
Growing up in Montreal, Mairuth was one of the people I admired for her break through into areas of the media which many blacks thought was impossible at that time. I came to know Mairuth well when she came to Expo 70 in Osaka and when it was over she spent a few days with my family who were living in Tokyo at that time when my late husband, George was the Nigerian Ambassador to Japan. Our friendship from
Japan continued over the years and I spent a weekend with her and Dommick in her country home in Ottawa and we spoke whenever she came to London and I was there. I was looking forward to seeing her again in Vancouver this summer but sadly she will not be there with her warm welcoming smile. My sympathy to her family. Norma Marshall Dove-Edwin
May 28, 2013
May 28, 2013
May 28, 2013
May 28, 2013
May 28, 2013
Sally Thompson
May 27, 2013
I was privileged to know Mairuth and Dominick during the years they lived in Parksville B.C. in the community of Craig Bay. Occasional visits during subsequent years in Parksville were always very special. God Bless you Mairuth.
Marilyn Wilson
May 27, 2013
Mairuth was a visionary and an inspiration to so many people, including me. I first met her when she organized an international library conference in the late 1980s to encourage multicultural diversity in literature. It was most successful, and led to the formation of a group of dedicated volunteers, brought together by Mairuth, to promote literacy. Under the name, Equatoria, our group was not very large, but, with Mairuth at the helm we accomplished many goals in our quest for highlighting multicultural literature, bringing it to the awareness of, and helping to make it more available to as many people as possible.
Mairuth was also a wonderful role model and friend. She will be truly missed by all of us who knew and loved her.
Jean Peart
May 27, 2013
Mairuth always stood out in the crowd. My memories of her begin in Montreal in the 1960s. Union United Church was the cornerstone of the Black Community in Montreal. It was Oscar Peterson's church and it was the home of the Negro Theatre Arts Club. Percy Rodriques, of Star Trek fame, starred in a National Film Board movie, "Long Ways to Go" with some of the staging being in the church. Mairuth brought her usual classy style to the film. I was honoured to have had a small part in the film.
We both ended up in Ottawa and I was able to see her amazing contributions to the community, up close. She sure left a mark wherever she went. Her shoes will be hard to fill.
May 26, 2013
Mairuth was an inspiration to me when I arrived in Ottawa many years ago. She encouraged me to get involved in community work. She was a wonderful hostess, friend and mentor. She always had time for tea or coffee and was one voice of encouragement while raising my son Kwesi.
I am so glad I got to spend some time with her last summer when we talked and talked as usual sharing our joys and fears.
She will have a special place in my memory and that of my son Kwesi.
She was a blessing.
May God comfort Dominick, her dearest husband and friend, Lucille and her beloved granddaughter Zinzi.
Rest in Peace dear friend.
Madonna Larbi
Korkor Amarteifio
May 26, 2013
"My heart is filled with joy and my mouth shouts His praises, my soul rests in safety for God has shown me the way of life, granting me the joy of His presence and the pleasures of living with Him forever"
Mairuth, mother and friend, rest in the Lord..korkor Amarteifio, Ghana
Christmas 2007 in California
May 24, 2013
Eryk Hanut
May 23, 2013
Mairuth Sarsfield was a magnificent writer. Her book has brought me- and many many others- joy and knowledge. May you rest in peace, and may you carry with you the light you spread around so generously.
Larry Shapiro
May 23, 2013
I have known Mairuth for many decades. Her input and work in "New Generation" remain invaluable. Her work will go on shining. Civil rights and Arts have lost a great pioneer and a great Artist. And I have lost a great friend.
The Jones Clan
May 23, 2013
FAREWELL
From your Mudian cousins Mairuth. You never forgot your Bermudian roots and kept us in your thoughts and love no matter how big the world you conquered and roamed.Just as you were a part of us so you shared your life that we could be part of you. A life well lived and fully has become a part of our heritage -just as you explored in your writings the heritage of precious predecessors. Thank you for your shining example.We will surely miss you
REST IN PEACE The Jones Clan
Rev. Emmanuel K. OforiI
May 23, 2013
Mairuth, well known in the black and wider community for her writings, grew up in Union United Church, Montreal. She made this local congregation her spiritual home. When Mairuth wrote her book, NO CRYSTAL STAIR, set in Little Burgundy, she did her book reading at Union United and most of the members still cherish that memory. She also graciously wrote the Foreword for Union United Church's 100th Anniversary book PROUD PAST, BRIGHT FUTURE. We will miss this beloved sister and friend. Our condolences go to the entire family. Union United joins me to sing the hymn:
God be with you till we meet again,
By His counsels guide, uphold you,
With His sheep securely fold you;
God be with you till we meet again.
Dorothy Wills
May 22, 2013
Mairuth will be warmly remembered as an important contributor to Canada and to its people of African Descent. She was an innovator and her creative talents are a testament to her ingenuity, as manfested in her writings. She will be greatly missed.
Sincere condolences to the Family.
Roland & Dorothy Wills.
Sonia Saumier
May 22, 2013
To my dearest family, some things I'd like to say...
but first of all, to let you know, that I arrived okay.
I'm writing this from heaven. Here I dwell with God above.
Here, there's no more tears of sadness; here is just eternal love.
Please do not be unhappy just because I'm out of sight.
Remember that I'm with you every morning, noon and night.
That day I had to leave you when my life on earth was through,
God picked me up and hugged me and He said, "I welcome you."
It's good to have you back again; you were missed while you were gone.
As for your dearest family, they'll be here later on.
I need you here badly; you're part of my plan.
There's so much that we have to do, to help our mortal man.
God gave me a list of things, that he wished for me to do.
And foremost on the list, was to watch and care for you.
And when you lie in bed at night, the day's chores put to flight.
God and I are closest to you....in the middle of the night.
When you think of my life on earth, and all those loving years
because you are only human, they are bound to bring you tears.
But do not be afraid to cry; it does relieve the pain.
Remember there would be no flowers, unless there was some rain.
I wish that I could tell you all that God has planned.
But if I were to tell you, you wouldn't understand.
But one thing is for certain, though my life on earth is o'er.
I'm closer to you now, than I ever was before.
There are many rocky roads ahead of you and many hills to climb;
but together we can do it by taking one day at a time.
It was always my philosophy and I'd like it for you too...
that as you give unto the world, the world will give to you.
If you can help somebody who's in sorrow and pain,
then you can say to God at night......"My day was not in vain."
And now I am contented....that my life has been worthwhile,
knowing as I passed along the way, I made somebody smile.
So if you meet somebody who is sad and feeling low,
just lend a hand to pick him up, as on your way you go.
When you're walking down the street, and you've got me on your mind;
I'm walking in your footsteps only half a step behind.
And when it's time for you to go.... from that body to be free,
remember you're not going.....you're coming here to me.
Ruth Ann Mahaffey (author)
©Copyright 1998
Gail Grant
May 22, 2013
Our deepest sympathy to the family,,,,Mairuth was a friend of my mother and father. (Betty and Rodney Millington). So on my Mom's behalf, my Dad passed already,I send sympathy and God's blessings to her family.
Mairuth, 2008, Salt Spring Island
May 21, 2013
I remember Mairuth so well for her warmth and generosity. Her smile would light up any room. She was a friend and colleague and frequent participant in our regional gatherings of The Writers' Union of Canada and Writers West. I remember the spectacular feast she prepared one year for her Writers' Union colleagues in the Commons room when she lived in Craig Bay Estates near Parksville. She will be missed but warmly remembered!
May 21, 2013
May 21, 2013
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May 20, 2013
Mairuth was a strong,generous and courageous woman.Condolences to Dominick, Lucille,and especially her grand-daughter,Zinzi,who she often spoke about.
Our association was with her and Dominick at Craig Bay,Vancouver Island,as well as the University Women,s Club in Parksville/Qualicum where she had many friends.
Maureen and Ken Dawson
Linda Rogers
May 19, 2013
We will miss a dear friend and great lady. She was wonderful to work with and delightful to know. Now Mairuth is laughing with the ladies in the first chapter of "our" book, part of the heavenly chorus.
Janice Kelly
May 18, 2013
To Dominick, Lucille and Zinzi, my deepest sympathies for the loss of such a grand soul. I had the pleasure of working with Mairuth at CBC-TV in Montreal and also in Ottawa with her on Expo 70 Osaka. She was fearless leader and believer and had a generous heart. Her book was lovely and a great jewel for her crown of communications. Sad that there aren't more Miaruths.
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