Ritva Orvokki Seppanen passed away peacefully at the Montreal General Hospital after a brief illness. She was the only child of Aarne Seppanen and Tyyne (née Sallinen). She will be profoundly missed by her partner John McAuley and by her son Christopher Nicholson and his wife Helene Nicholson of Medicine Hat, Alberta, grandchildren Dylan and Emma Nicholson, step grandchildren Amanda, Clinton, Kayla, along with their families and John’s brothers Michael, Charles, and David.
Ritva was a lifelong Montrealer who received her B.Sc. from McGill and M.A. from Concordia. She had two careers, the first in pharmaceuticals at Ayerst and then nearly four decades at Concordia in the Department of English where she taught literature as well as coordinating and teaching in the professional writing and composition programs. Ritva was admired by her peers and appreciated by her students. Everyone who met her was touched by her wit, grace, and intelligence. Thanks to the doctors and nurses at the General for their exceptional care. Contributions in her memory may be made to the charity of your choice.