In memory of

Nancy Elizabeth Dillow

June 26, 1928 -  March 27, 2021

Nancy Elizabeth Dillow (née Robertson)


Nancy Dillow died peacefully at Christie Gardens, Toronto, on Saturday, March 27, 2021, in her 92nd year. Daughter of Genevieve and Fraser Robertson, journalist with The Globe and Mail and The Telegram, and granddaughter of Robert Spelman Robertson, Chief Justice of Ontario (1938-1952). She is predeceased by her husband Professor Harry C. Dillow and her only sibling, Lois Yarrow. Nancy is survived by her nieces Patti Hanson and Leslie Robichaud, and nephews Dr. Colin Yarrow and Gordon Yarrow of British Columbia and their families. She will be greatly missed by her family and countless friends.

Nancy was educated at St Clement’s School, Toronto, and graduated with a BA in art and archaeology from the University of Toronto in 1952. In 1956, she was hired by the Art Gallery of Toronto and became head of their extension department in 1959. She was appointed Director of the Norman Mackenzie Art Gallery, Regina, in 1967. Nancy was engaged as the first chief curator of the Winnipeg Art Gallery in 1979, retiring to Toronto in 1984. She became one of the original volunteers with the Textile Museum of Canada – a new career that lasted 26 years.

Nancy Dillow’s commitment to excellence in museum practice has been recognized by the Government of Saskatchewan and by the Museum Association of Saskatchewan with an Honorary Lifetime Achievement Award, and for volunteerism by the Textile Museum of Canada and the Ontario Museum Association. Nancy was appointed a Fellow of the Canadian Museums Association in 1981. Please visit https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nancy_Dillow

A celebration of Nancy’s life will be held when circumstances permit. Her family and friends would like to thank the staff of Christie Gardens for the compassionate care of Nancy in the final years of her life.

In memory of Nancy and to celebrate her volunteerism, donations can be made to the Textile Museum of Canada via their website: https://textilemuseum.ca/join-support/give/

In memory of Nancy and honouring the important role she played for the arts in Canada, donations can be made to the Art Gallery of Ontario at www.ago.ca/donate

Guestbook 

(5 of 8)

Peter Kaellgren (friend)

Entered March 31, 2021 from Toronto, Ontario

John Alexander and I will miss Nancy very much. We especially remember her as the person who was always on duty Tuesday afternoons at the reception desk in the Textile Museum of Canada. Nancy was an important guest at our wedding, September 15, 2007, where her 'date' was long-time friend Vincent Tovell. John and I spent some very pleasant times with Nancy. We especially remember her coordination of the annual Yardage Sale. Over the last two years, I learned more about her work as a pioneer Canadian Art Historian through my work with Joy Cohnstaedt. John and I are grateful to the excellent staff at Christie Gardens who did everything possible to make her life pleasant over the last few years.

Joan Murray (old friend)

Entered March 31, 2021 from Whitby

Nancy hired me as a docent in 1966, when I was wearing hushpuppies on my feet and she looked trim in a dress. I worshipped her from then on.
Much later, when I became the first Curator of Canadian Art at the Art Gallery of Ontario, she told me she had been promised the job but left to become director of the Norman Mackenzie Gallery in Regina.
Hats off to Nancy who worked so hard for all of us!
Joan Murray

Pat Steenbergen (Fellow volunteer at the yardage sale and in the workroom)

Entered March 31, 2021 from Toronto

I learned a lot about textiles from Nancy working with her in the fundraising activities of the Textile Museum of Canada. Her cheerful pleasant manner was always welcome.

Ann Posen (Textile Museum colleague)

Entered March 31, 2021 from Toronto

A dedicated volunteer at the Textile Museum, Nancy always had a twinkle in her eye. She was business-like in assessing what needed to be done, and never shied away from anything she could help with, be it leading fascinating tours for visitors to helping to sort and sell textile related items at our annual More Than Just a Yardage Sale. She taught much to her fellow docents about leading good tours, and her background in fine arts and archeology were invaluable to us novices. Her wry observations and dry wit will be missed. A treasure of a volunteer.

John Huculiak (Friend)

Entered March 31, 2021 from Hamilton

Condolences to her family, and to her many friends & colleagues. Though her passing is a loss to us all; we shall keep the best of her alive in our memories, and by sharing those memories with each other.

Photos 

(1 of 1)

Help Extend the Memorial
Order a Keepsake Book

Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Report an Issue