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Elinor W. Ames

October 01, 1931 - February 10, 2023

Elinor W. Ames obituary, October 01, 1931-February 10, 2023, North Vancouver, BC

BORN

October 01, 1931

DIED

February 10, 2023

Elinor Ames Obituary

Elinor was born and grew up in Weymouth, Massachusetts. She graduated from Tufts University with a BSc in Psychology in 1953 and completed her PhD in Developmental Psychology at Cornell University in 1960. After teaching at Smith College, Elinor spent a year in India on a Fulbright Scholarship. She returned from India to accept a position in the Psychology Department at McMaster University, where she met and married Michael Ames.

After moving to Vancouver, Elinor joined the Psychology Department at SFU as a charter faculty member in 1965, where she remained until her retirement in 1997.

Throughout her working life and in retirement Elinor was active in her community. She served on the Board and as President of both the Society for Children and Youth of B.C. and the North Shore Keep Well Society.
She is survived by her children Dan (Beth McTaggart) and Kristin (Dean Siemens), grandson Matthew Ames, sister Merry Archer (Carolyn Anderson), and longtime friend Meredith Kimball. Her family wishes to thank the staff at Cedar Springs, the Proof of Care caregivers, Dr. Lisa Gaede, the palliative care staff at Lions Gate Hospital, and the caring professionals of MAID for making her last days as good as possible and giving her choices at the end of her life.

At Elinor's request, there will be no memorial service. Those who wish may donate to SOS Children's Villages of Canada or the North Shore Keep Well Society.

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

Published by Burnaby Now from Mar. 3 to Apr. 2, 2023.

Memories and Condolences
for Elinor Ames

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8 Entries

Lorraine Gilman

March 9, 2025

I'm one of the students Elinor mentored and cared for. She changed my life and I'm incredibly grateful. In return, all she asked was that I care for and support my students too. To the best of my ability, I did. Many of them, in turn, went on to support others. She is forever in my heart.

CYRIL DCRUZ

August 18, 2024

The photograph in front of Sarojini Devi hall was taken in April 2024 when we paid a visit to Baroda. We were not allowed into the dorm and one of the students wanted to have her picture with us when she learned about my mother. The front is the same and one can see our quarters as well as the courtyard across which Elinor and Madge had their roos

Cyril DCruz

August 16, 2024

Cyril DCruz

August 16, 2024

We moved to Seattle in July of 2022 but this was the first visit to Vancouver since then. This visit brought back vivid memories from 1982 when Elinor, Danny and Kristen hosted us and took such good care of us. In addition to the five of us we had my mother also with us. It was a very special visit that rekindled the story of friendship that started in the early 60´s when Elinor and Madge came to Baroda, India as exchange students. They had their lodgings in a ladies dorm named Sarojini Devi Hall. My mother was the superintendent of the dorm and we had living quarters in the dorm. My mother was approached by the American consulate with a request that she provide meals for them as the hostel food was too spicy. That is how we became lunch and dinner companions and spent many fun hours together and remained close friends for nearly 60 years. We visited Elinor whenever we were in the area both in Vancouver and Edmonton. We miss her dearly and feel so grateful she came into our lives. Dear Danny and Kristen thanks for sharing your mother with us.
Cyril and Monica DCruz

Susan Gavel

March 16, 2023

I'm sorry for the loss of your mom. I was a student of hers at SFU. At the beginning of the first lecture she said "Half of what I teach you is going to be proven wrong. The problem is I don't know which half." This was a valuable lesson for me as I made me aware that what I learned was not written in stone, it could and would change and it was important that I keep an open mind and continue learning throughout my life. Many thanks to Elinor for this wisdom.

Lise Pitt

March 14, 2023

I met Elinor through Keep Well, when we were both on the Nutrition committee. It was such a pleasure to work with her, as she had such a clear vision of what we should be doing. My life is so much richer for having known Elinor. Deepest condolences to all her family and friends.

Peter Crocker

March 11, 2023

I remember Dr. Ames from SFU Psychology. She was always a very interesting person and sought to keep her students engaged. She lived a very fruitful life and gave much to her community

Pamela Baxter

March 10, 2023

Dear Dan and Kristin. Your mother and I started at Keep Well at about the same time, her on the Board, and me as staff. Elinor did a proper survey and analysis with recommendations for Keep Well. I loved having such a clear blueprint. We both liked each other and had coffee or lunch now and then. She was a great woman, smart and compassionate, with a can-do attitude. My sincere condolences on the loss of your Mum. And BTW, she was so proud of both of you!

Showing 1 - 8 of 8 results

Memorial Events
for Elinor Ames

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