Margrit Elisabeth Gertrud Eichler

the complications imposed by a global pandemic), Margrit Eichler, 78, of Toronto, died

peacefully in Toronto at Bridgepoint Active Healthcare.

While the final outcome of this duel was certain, the lived experience of it was up for the

taking. In her last year, Margrit enjoyed every pleasure that life offered her, from tackling

600-page books for book club to smelling the flowers. As she wrote to friends and family

this year: “For my entire life, spring has sprung. First it was not there, then it was. Not so

this year. This year, I am living spring. I am acutely aware of what flowers are out, the

different timetables with which trees put on their greenery. My neighbour’s maple has not

only grown all its adult leaves, but has already lost its blossoms, while my tree puts out its

first shy buds. It is lovely to experience spring in this way.”

Born in Berlin, in 1942, she made Canada her home, where she helped significantly to

advance the field of women’s studies, as one of its early architects, from her academic

postings at the University of Waterloo, New College at University of Toronto, and the

Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE). OISE was her academic “home” — so

much so that every time one rode the Eastbound Bloor-Danforth subway, she would say

“better hold me back” when the train approached St. George station. A few of her many

academic milestones included membership in the Royal Society of Canada, membership

in the European Academy of Sciences, a Ph.D from Duke University, an honorary

doctorate from Brock University, serving as the Director of the Institute for Women’s

Studies and Gender Studies at the University of Toronto, and countless publications on

myriad subjects from social stratification, to non-sexist research methods, to feminist ecosociology,

and even a best-selling children’s book, Martin’s Father.

In her groundbreaking book, Families in Canada Today, Margrit wrote: “If we free ourselves

from the monolithic notion that families have a particular structure and instead operate

on the assumption that the structure of families is (and always has been) fluid, there is no

reason to concern ourselves with the thought of ‘the death of the family.’” So the list of

her survivors is long and appropriately “fluid”.

Margrit is survived by her sisters, Irene Liefländer (Manfred Liefländer [d.]) and Doris

Schiuma (Michele Schiuma) with whom she maintained a lifelong connection and great

mutual enjoyment.

Then there is a series of kinship Venn diagrams that look like fireworks on the page.

Her two ex-husbands, Gernot Köhler (Krisztina Lantos) and Donald Payne help connect

her to the next generation, including her son Jens Köhler (Tatjana M. Smith), stepdaughter

Patti Payne (Rita Celotto) and step-children Allan Payne (Heather Jones),

Heather Payne and James Payne (Adele Miller), and her treasured grandchildren Oscar

Johnson Kohler, Simon Johnson Kohler, Duncan Payne and Nigel Payne (d.) and their

mums, Emily Johnson and Allison Payne. She was aunt to Uwe (Riva), Steffen (Pia), Carlo

(Katharina), Daniele (Eva), great aunt to Andrew (Zeynep), Alexander, Florentine, Julian,

Valentina, and Matteo, and cousin to Christiane (Bernd) and first cousin once removed of

Klara.

She will be missed by her play-reading groups, her book club, her Oasis community, her

intellectual family of academics and scholars across Canada and the world, her activist

networks, such as Science for Peace, and Our Right to Know, and the McGill-Granby

Village neighborhood association.

She was blessed with exceptionally loving friends, who helped her through up and down.

(Special thank you to Gryphon, her feline companion who provided comfort during long

months of Covid lockdowns and chemotherapy.)

Her Dungeons & Dragons character, Gwendolyn (Wood Elf Druid), is survived by Bran

Barleyhaven (Human Paladin), Balasar Kerrhylon (Dragonborn Fighter), and Ophelia

Galanodel (Wood Elf Paladin). Her fellow adventurers thank her for her exceptionally

well-timed shape-shift into a bear. They vow to discover who is stealing the precious tomes

and promise to secure an acceptable price for the contents of the magic beer keg.

Indeed, Margrit had many family and kinship circles, as her passions and curiosities

helped her forge deep and long lasting connections across a lifetime of study, action,

travel, and play. This list is sure to have missed many important people and groups. Please

do share your remembrances below this obituary by clicking on "Add a Memory".

A memorial service will be planned for a time when it is safe to gather without masks, to

share stories and a lot of food.

In lieu of flowers, fight for justice, do sound science, and travel and laugh when you can.