Some of My Best Memories of Claudia from Joan Vickers (as presented at her Celebration of Life, Dec 29, 2023 The Glencoe Club
The first time I met Claudia was just after I had been appointed as a new sessional instructor in 1975 while I was finishing my Masters at U of C. I was invited by my Supervisor at the time Andrea Borys to her appt and both Claudia and Shirley Murray were there. I had seen them around the faculty before but I was a way too shy to meet these charismaic individuals. Much to my surprise both were dressed like Pippy Longstocking, a Swedish fictional teenager popular at the time. They had on colorful striped socks above their knees, short skirts, and their hair was in two pigtails that sprouted out the sides of their head. They were laughing, happy to meet me and lots of fun. I thought was I ever lucky to be working with these two once in a charismatic characters.
During those early years Claudia was busy having her children and I did not have my first real encounter with her until one day at the xerox machine. I was now a new full time limited term instructor teaching in the teacher/coach education program and also the Women’s Athletic Director. She was also my boss as the Associate Dean. She kicked me off the machine, a no-no in a faculty with only one machine. I told her as much and muttered some “salty” choice words under my breath. I had no idea she heard me untl I heard her giggle from behind and turned. She said “ she had no idea I had any guts or gumption or something like that”. We became close friends that lasted without a break to the very end.
Claudia was a great Associate Dean (Academic) as it was her job to implement a new curriculum we had designed caused by Ralph Klein’s drastic cut of over 30+% cuts to our operating budget. Claudia, like Shirley and many of you here came from the post war, Queen Elizabeth generation that said "don’t complain, don’t explain. We just got on with the job and did the best we could.
As the Associate Dean (Academic) Claudia had tremendous composure and grace which she maintained at all times. She could be very straight forward and tough when she needed to be. She set a tone many of us tried to adopt, but never as well as she did. She was able to make ethical, consistent decisions at all times, which cannot be said for many of the administrators who followed her.
My most favorite story occurred while she was in the advanced Alzheimer ward. I had visited her a few times, but she no longer knew me. So I was telling her wonderful nurse, who was giving her lunch, all the great things Claudia had done – she was a real leader in both child development and geriatrics, a researcher who collected data from 1000 Calgary children was the lead author (and I co-author) on one of the first eye tracking studies with children at the lowest, middle highest percentile in motor skill developmental. Claudia was a marathon runner, and a great skier. One year we both had a sabbtical in the winter term so we decided to ski at Sunshine every TR. We made a rule. We never skied the same run twice taking turns selecting the next more and more difficult run each week. By the end of the winter we were skiing under the chairs and in the trees and did all the triple black runs except Delirium. Suddenly, I felt a touch on my arm and turned to see Claudia with this big grin of her face. She remembered me and we had a few moments like old times.
Rest in peace Claudia, I sure miss you, and will see you in the next life.
