Eileen SWINTON

EILEEN SWINTON
Eileen Swinton (nee Hancock) died on Tuesday May 1 in Toronto at the age of 94. Born in Winnipeg, Eileen grew up in the Great Depression, a time of great suffering which shaped her life of contributing to Canada. She joined the Navy in 1943 and was posted to Ottawa where she met Kurt Swinton (d. 1987), whom she married in 1944. They had 3 children, Kathryn, Terence and Patricia. Living in Toronto after the war, Eileen and Kurt decided to join the Canadian Institute for International Affairs. When they discovered that women were excluded, Eileen fought to create a women's branch, becoming its first chairperson. Eileen was passionately devoted to the United Nations and in 1959, she headed Toronto's committee for the UN's World Refugee Year. In the early 1960s, Kurt's job as President of Encyclopedia Britannica International took the family to London, England. Their Knightsbridge apartment became a home-away-from-home for many young Canadians traveling in Europe. One of those was Elizabeth Greaves, a friend of Kathy's. The Greaves and Swintons soon became one family united by a beautiful baby girl Lisa, who now has a beautiful family of her own. When Kurt and Eileen moved to New York in the late 1960s, Eileen began her university career, earning a BA and an MA in sociology at the New School for Social Research. Back in Toronto, she abandoned a PhD program to help Nellie's, one of the first hostels for women. She was instrumental in raising funds for Nellie's, securing the hostel a permanent home, and launching a campaign that also served to ensure that shelters for women be seen as society's responsibility. Her continuing concern for the plight of refugees led her to take an interest in Tibetans fleeing their homeland after China's takeover. Eileen soon became owner of The Snow Lion on Queen St (later Avenue Road) a store specializing in the sale of Tibetan carpets and books about Buddhism, which she embraced. Eileen traveled relentlessly across Asia on buying trips for her store. Her daughter Pat, who traveled with her to India and Asia many times has followed in her mother's footsteps to find jewelry for her Scottsdale, Arizona store High Society. Eileen was a member of the Natural Philosophers, which has met monthly for 30 years. She was active in Veterans Against Nuclear Arms and supported many peace activities. When her hearing declined, she stayed engaged by writing Canadian politicians about promoting social justice. Eileen was fascinated by new medical discoveries about human consciousness. While Eileen died with the best of care and compassion in St Michael's Hospital, she firmly believed in every person's right to die at the time of their own choosing. She was a member of Dying With Dignity. Eileen was the glue for so many who shared her warm embrace. They stayed in touch with her year after year and will miss her with love. If you wish to mark Eileen's passing from this life, a donation to Doctors Without Borders or Amnesty International would have brought an approving smile to her face - as would a donation to the charity of your choice.