Ruth Schattner
Ruth Schattner died in Toronto on August 10, 2021.
Ruth was born in 1930, in Vienna, Austria, to Leo and Sala Schattner. The Schattner family left Vienna in 1938, spending the war years in Switzerland. They emigrated to New York, N.Y. in 1948.
Ruth obtained her B.A. degree in French at Hunter College in 1951. She then accepted a scholarship from the University of Toronto (Canada) to study for the PhD degree in French.
She was awarded the PhD degree in November 1963. Her dissertation, “Contemporary Society as Reflected in Marcel Proust’s A la Recherche du Temps Perdu,” displayed an intellectual breadth which she possessed throughout her life.
In 1964 Ruth began a career teaching at York University, first at the Glendon College campus, and subsequently at the new and larger campus in North York. Initially she taught French language and literature, but was later cross-appointed to the Humanities Division. Her classes were lively affairs which included music, art, and theatre. They sparked eager participation among her students, animated discussion, and long-term contacts even after the class was over.
Ruth believed strongly in the value of a liberal education for anyone who wanted it; that belief influenced her decision to teach part-time in York University’s Atkinson College evening classes in addition to her regular faculty appointment. She continued to teach at Atkinson even after her retirement from full-time regular teaching.
Ruth’s broad intellectual interests were evident in her life outside the classroom. She attended plays, concerts, and performances of all sorts, patronised art institutions, and filled her house with art and music. During first semi-retirement and then retirement, she led discussion groups and gave lectures to various groups in the Toronto community. For several years she served as docent at the Art Gallery of Ontario. Her guest lectures and AGO tours were clear demonstrations of her broad interests and eagerness to share insights with her audiences.
Ruth is survived by daughters Evelyn Straka (Blake Landor), and Michèle Straka (Christopher Klugman), and son Alexander Schattner.
In lieu of flowers, kindly send In Memoriam donations to the Art Gallery of Ontario or to Annex Cat Rescue. We appreciate your kindness.
Meg Salter
So sorry for your loss. I met Ruth once, very briefly, while visiting Lyn on one of her Toronto visits. A remarkable life
MICHELE STRAKA
Dear Meg,
Thanks very much for your kind words about my mother Ruth. Though you and I have never met, to my knowledge, I appreciate your sentiments of sympathy for our great loss. My mother is sorely missed.
Michael Halfin
Though I never had Ruth as a professor, I met her through daughter Michele when we were students at York University. What a dynamic and engaging individual! I remember sitting in the back seat for long rush hour car rides from the campus down to Ruth’s home in Toronto engaged in the most enlightening conversations. She was fun and energetic and oh so gifted. I am sure that she was a “favourite prof” for many, many students and I am grateful that I had the opportunity to know her on a personal basis. May her name forever be a blessing.
Michele Straka
Thank you, Mike, for such a thoughtful condolence message about my mother Ruth. I too remember those long car rides back downtown with you and my mother, long before the subway reached the main university campus. She was a stimulating conversationalist, always curious and well-informed, not to say well-read! I learned a great deal from her, though I was never in one of her classes either. She was skilled in sharing her wealth of information on any given topic; this enthusiasm for the subject was both engaging and stimulating. I believe part of her legacy is her strong engagement with knowledge of all sorts, academic surely, but in many other areas as well. Her memory will be with us for a very long time.
Rita Quagliara
My deepest condolences for your loss. As one of the long-time serving administrative staff members in the Department of Humanities (40 years!) York University, I knew Ruth very well. She was one of the kindest professors I ever had the pleasure of working for/with.
Michele Straka
Thanks very much for your thoughtful message, Rita. Clearly you had a long relationship with our mother at York. Perhaps I even met you there, since I did my undergrad there. I know several of the Humanities profs my mother knew and worked with, as well as some of the Admin staff. Congratulation on your long career with York!
Best regards,
Michele (Mimi)
Regina Landor
What a full, rich life Ruth led. I wish I had known her. She passed on her love of art and beauty to you, Lyn, and lives on through her children. Much love to all of Ruth’s family. Regina
Evan Jones
I was taught by Ruth about twenty years ago at York University and will always remember her vast range of knowledge and her kindness. I thought of her today and am sad to find this in my search for her. My sincerest condolences.