Johanna Louise Metcalf (née Leuty)
1932 – 2018.
We are deeply saddened to announce the death of our mother, Johanna Metcalf, on July 19. She will be truly missed by her children Peter Hanson (Hazel Romain), Kirsten Hanson (Sandy Houston), and Luke Metcalf; her grandchildren Alexandra and Maud Houston, Imoinda Romain (Chris Vautour) and Elisha Romain (Omar Nicholls); her great-grandchildren Jaiden, Kailon, and Ayla Nicholls, and Rosh Vautour; her sister Mary Pallett; and her many beloved nieces and nephews. Predeceased by her loving partner Robert Reid, and by husband George Metcalf; nephews Wesley Pallett and Kirk Leuty, sisters Joy Anderson and Pat McAlpine, and brother Si Leuty.
Johanna was passionate and fearless in everything she did. As a wife, mother, activist, philanthropist, reader, teacher, and student, she engaged with an open heart and a delight in both conflict, and resolution. Her temper, well known, could be somewhat mercurial, and her deeply felt sense of justice, and appetite for argument, made for some lively and occasionally difficult conversations. But her charm and wit, along with her unwillingness to suffer fools, garnered her multitudes of friends and admirers wherever she lived.
Johanna had an extraordinary gift for making friends. Her endless curiosity and varied interests made her fascinating and fun to be with, but it was her fierce loyalty and kindness, and her ability to deeply connect, that allowed her acquaintanceships to become great, and often lifelong, friendships.
A serial renovator and decorator, she created beautiful spaces in London, Toronto, Muskoka, and Stratford, where her family and friends gathered to enjoy her brilliant company. As a hostess her generosity was unparalleled, and her opening night parties at Stratford were the stuff of dreams. The community of friends that surrounded her in Stratford was a tremendous source of joy to her in her last decade.
One of the great roles of her later years was as the heart and soul of the Metcalf Foundation. For several decades she worked with her husband, George Metcalf, to build a responsive, dynamic, and imaginative philanthropic organization that was infused with her qualities of humility, principled ambition, and a high tolerance for risk. She had a deep commitment to social equality and a profound love for the arts, and was a steadfast supporter of Casey House, the Canadian Opera Company, the Stratford Festival, Toronto Public Library, and Victoria College, to name a few.
We were privileged to have known her, to have loved her, and to have been loved by her.
A private cremation has taken place. There will be a celebration of life at a later date.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Johanna Metcalf 2018.source
Death notice for the town of: Stratford, Province: Ontario