ALEXANDER LIROS

Died in Toronto, March 7, 2024. Born in Berlin, June 15, 1943, to a Greek father, Lucas Acliros, and a Russian mother, Valentina Blauberg. Moved to Montreal in 1963, graduated from Sir George Williams University (now Concordia) B. A. cum laude, then went on to University of Toronto for a B.L.S Worked as a librarian at Carleton University, Ottawa, 1969-1977. On to Amsterdam for a romantic interlude with a Dutch fellow he met in Crete. Moved to Toronto in 1978, worked part-time for North York Public Library (later Toronto Public Library) 1978-2008. Took art classes in Ottawa, and continued drawing, painting, sculpture in Toronto. Formed a gay art collective JAC (1981-88) with John Grube and Clarence Barnes. Joined Gallery 1313 artists' collective, and had several shows at its Cell Gallery. Lived with a landscape architect Ron Fischer, 1979-1985. Met retired architect Gerrard Pook in Chicago, and a long-distance romance followed. We travelled in the States and Europe, visited art galleries and museums, made art together, and had three shows at Kozak Gallery Toronto. Lived together in Toronto 2000-12. Diagnosed with leukemia 1998, stem cell transplant 2004 at Princess Margaret Hospital. Secondary cancer appeared 2020, again 2023 Predeceased by Gerrard Pook, Serge Liros, and Nicole Simms (née Liros). Survived by friends, Duncan McLaren, Peggy McNiff, Howard Podeswa, Marietta Forster, Erich and Mikhael Haberer; family, George Liros, Karin Hasbargen (née Blauberg), Christina Akliros Pritham, Alexandra Liros, Sarah Vega-Liros.