ELAINE SANDRA RIEHM

(née McKinnon) 1936 – 2025 Born in Toronto on November 3, 1936, Elaine was the daughter of Douglas and Esther McKinnon. After a brief illness, she died peacefully, on March 29th, surrounded by family at St. Joseph's Hospital in Hamilton. Elaine was educated at the University of Toronto, graduating in 1958 with a degree in history. She married Carl Riehm in September of that year. In the 15 years that followed, she and Carl moved frequently, living in Princeton (New Jersey), Montréal, South Bend (Indiana), Princeton (again), Boston, and South Bend (again), while Carl completed his education and established his career as a mathematician. In 1973, Elaine and Carl returned to Canada and settled down in the Roseland neighbourhood of Burlington, where they lived for 45 years before they downsized to a condominium in Dundas. Elaine bore two children in quick succession in 1960 and 1961, and dedicated the next 15 years to raising her sons. A lifelong supporter of public education, she worked part-time as a supply teacher in the public schools of South Bend and Burlington before entering local politics in 1976, when she ran a successful campaign for the Halton County Board of Education. She served for nine years as a Trustee and stepped down in 1985, before spending a year abroad while Carl was on sabbatical leave in Germany and Switzerland. As an empty-nester, Elaine worked for many years at McMaster University in Hamilton, where she served as Managing Editor for the Journal of Eighteenth-Century Fiction. Following her retirement, she collaborated with husband, Carl, in supporting the founding of the Fields Institute at the University of Toronto, and in 2011 co-authored a biography of mathematician, J.C. Fields. Although she was not an ambitious politician, Elaine was a strong supporter of the Liberal party her entire adult life. She was a dedicated spouse, mother and grandmother, an avid reader, and had varied interests that included gardening and cooking. She valued fitness and was an active hiker, cross-country skier, and cyclist for many years. In her 50s, she suffered two accidents, one skiing and one cycling, which no doubt contributed to the limited mobility that she suffered later in life after a problematic knee replacement. Even so, she travelled extensively in retirement, both in the company of Carl and, following his passing, with her friends. Elaine is survived by her brother, Kenneth McKinnon; sons, Derek (Lourdes) and Marc (Anna); and grandchildren, Kira, Lauren (Kean), Gordon, Graham (Jasmine), Diego, and Catalina. Elaine's family would like to express our gratitude and thanks for the end-of-life care that she received at St. Joseph's Hospital. In her memory, donations to the St. Joseph's Healthcare Foundation (stjoesfoundation.ca/) would be appreciated.