Gillian Mackie

MACKIE, Gillian It is with deep regret that I announce the death of my dear wife Gillian Mackie at the age of 90. We emigrated from England in 1955 with the first two of what was to become five children and lived in Edmonton until 1968 when we moved to Victoria. Gillian already had a Master's degree in Zoology from Oxford but as the children grew up and began to leave home she enrolled as a part time student in Art History at the University of Victoria. This led to masters and doctoral degrees. Her PhD thesis won her the Governor General's gold medal. Gillian was a scholar of Early Christian art and iconography and her book Early Christian Chapels in the West (University of Toronto Press) is a standard reference. She taught several courses at Uvic with the infectious enthusiasm of one who really loves her subject. Gillian was an accomplished potter and some of her stoneware and porcelain pieces are in the permanent collections of the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria and the Maltwood Museum. She was an artist in everything she did whether it was quilting, potting, making clothing, cooking or gardening. She had a remarkable eye for colour, pattern and texture. Gillian was a devoted mother to Alexander, Christina, Richard, Rachel and Quentin and kept up for as long as she could with their doings and with those of her nine grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. A private memorial service for family and a few close friends will take place in late October. - George Mackie