Milena DOLEZELOVA-VELINGEROVA

Milena Doleželová-Velingerová
February 8, 1932 - October 20, 2012
Professor Emeritus, University of Toronto

After a wonderful life, Milena left this world peacefully, with her loving daughters by her side.

Daughter of Marie Velingerová and the late Ing. Josef Velinger of Prague, Czech Republic; mother to Milenka and Marketa; loving and generous maba to Andrew and Jenny; aunt to Jan; sister to Jirka.

Milena was a woman ahead of her time, a true pioneer. Life's difficulties were simply obstacles to be overcome. Born in Prague, Milena's early childhood of privilege was ruptured by the Nazi Occupation. After the Communists came to power in Czechoslovakia, her family lost everything. Nevertheless, she received an MA in sinology from Charles University in 1955. Still in her twenties, she travelled to newly Communist China to study with renowned sinologist Professor Wu Xiaoling. Her PhD was awarded in 1965; ten days later, Milenka was born.

When Soviet tanks rolled into Prague in 1968, the family made the difficult decision to leave everything behind and emigrate to Canada, with only a few suitcases in hand. The University of Toronto became the family's second home. Milena was Professor in the East Asian Studies Department at the University of Toronto from 1968 until her retirement in 1996. Her students and her intellectual work were central to her life. But 'retirement' was just a word - after age 65, Milena returned to her beloved Prague, restored a rundown apartment to full splendour, re-established the graduate program in Chinese literature at Charles University, learned to drive standard, launched an international research project on the first Chinese encyclopaedias. She took her grandson Andrew to Paris, Berlin, Vienna, all around the Czech Republic. On the occasion of her 80th birthday, her former students hosted an international conference in her honour.
Milena never lost her zest for life, work, travel, art and culture, gardening, high heels. She believed that most of life's ills could be solved over a good cup of hot tea. She was a strong, brave, elegant and incredibly generous woman.
   The family is grateful for excellent care received at Prague's Nemocnice Pod Petínem.

A scholarship in Milena's memory will be established at the University of Toronto. In lieu of flowers, contributions to www.donate.utoronto.ca [gift in memory of Milena Velingerová] would be appreciated.
   A private family service has taken place in Prague. Celebrations of Milena's life will be held in both Prague and Toronto. She leaves a rich personal and professional legacy. She will be deeply missed. Sbohem.