Irina Margaret Reid

Irina Margaret Reid December 5, 1927 - January 25, 2016 Irina was a longtime faculty member in the Department of Slavonic Studies at the University of British Columbia. Born in Denmark of Danish/Russian parentage, Irina's parents met and married in China and lived in Shanghai where she was raised until after WWII. Irina lived through the Japanese occupation and eventually came to Canada after the end of the war to continue her piano studies. Eventually she settled in Vancouver. She was hired by the newly-established Department of Slavonic Studies at UBC to teach Russian. She started the Slavonic Circle, a student group to study and enjoy Slavic, primarily Russian, as well as offering courses about Russian/Slavic culture. She married Dr. Cyril Reid of the Department of Chemistry. They were passionate about race horses and eventually moved to Southlands. They established the Augean Stables adjacent to their home and garden which Irina lovingly designed and treasured. Dr. C. Reid predeceased her in 1999. In her retirement, Irina worked on compiling a history of Slavic religious art. Irina was also a keen devotee of ballet, which she studied as a young girl in China, and became an active supporter of Vancouver's Goh Ballet, the Vancouver Ballet Society, and the Banff Centre for the Performing Arts. Many thanks to Anne and Byron Stanley who took care of Irina in her declining years, maintaining her in her home, which she loved, as long as possible until she went into a care facility, where she remained until she passed. Irina will be fondly remembered by her friends, former colleagues and students for her personal warmth, love of all animals, and her generosity. A celebration of her life will be held at her home this spring.