Gertrud G. Champe

Surry
Gertrud Graubart Champe, 88, died after a short illness November 28, 2023, at a Blue Hill Hospital. She was born February 14, 1935, in Vienna, Austria, the daughter of Paula von Haimberger and Peter Zacharias Graubart.
The family fled Europe in 1938 to the United States via Havana, Cuba and ultimately settled in New York City. Gertrud graduated from Wellesley College in 1955 and subsequently received a Master of Science degree in Physiology from the University of Virginia in 1958. Gertrud discovered her true passion in literature and language studies and so pursued and received a PhD in Comparative Literature from the University of Iowa in 1974. She remained teaching at the University until her retirement in 2001. Thereafter, Gertrud moved to Surry, Maine to care for her mother Paula and to continue her career as a translator in German, French and Latin. Gertrud was always engaged in learning and the history of ideas, she enjoyed her community, her garden and was an active and devoted member of her Catholic parish.
Gertrud is survived by her sons Mark Champe of San Francisco, California, Peter Champe of Longmont, Colorado and three grandchildren Alexander Champe Gilliland, Uma Champe and Benjamin Champe.
A memorial mass will be held at St. Joseph's Church in Ellsworth at 10 am, Saturday December 2, 2023. A celebration of her life will take place in late spring with a date and time to be determined.
Condolences may be expressed at www.jordanfernald.com