ELEEN (née KOLCHIN), Luba Esther 1928 – 2018 Medieval Art Historian, Professor Emeritus (University of Toronto), extraordinary mother and grandmother, humanitarian, political activist, feminist, cinephile, opera and symphony lover, gardener Luba was born in Winnipeg to Lena (née Denaberg) and Saul Kolchin, both of whom were born in Russia.
She had two half siblings, Vera Morris and Sidney Cole who were 18 and 16 when Luba was born. She moved to Toronto with her family in 1937. Luba had a brilliant mind. She went to Sarah Lawrence College in New York in 1946-1947 until she was banned from the US for her political beliefs. She then dedicated herself to political activism until 1956. After having children, she returned to her studies at University of Toronto in 1958 where she had an epiphany about the relationship of art to social and political life and she became a medieval scholar and professor of art history.
Predeceased by her grandson, Gabe West, Luba is survived by her daughters Laura and Martha Eleen.
Funeral will be held on Sunday, November 11th, 1 p.m. at Hart House, University of Toronto.