GERVER, (Archibald) (Martell) MARGARET ELISABETH (Betty) Ampney Crucis, England
On Sunday 5 September 2021, Professor Elisabeth Gerver died in her sleep at her home in Ampney Crucis, Gloucestershire, England. She had been diagnosed with terminal breast cancer and dementia a few years earlier.
She was predeceased by her parents, Donald (2002) and Mildred Archibald (1960); her stepmother (Barbara Chase 1998); her first husband, George Martell, from whom she was divorced; her second husband, Dr David Gerver (1981); and her third husband, Professor Peter Stoward, in February 2021. She is survived by her two children, Alexander (Sascha) Gerver (Atlanta Wardell-Yerburgh) and Miriam Gerver (Domenico Esposito), her stepdaughter, Helena, her three grandchildren, Giles Calder, Nicolas and Elisa Esposito, her step granddaughter, Grace Calder, her two sisters, Jean Lawson (Edmonton AB) and Joyce Archibald (Perth, Australia) and her Aunt Margaret McColl (Victoria BC). She was fortunate to be very close to all her family even though they were spread across the world.
Elisabeth was born on 15 April 1941 in Winnipeg where her father was training with the Royal Canadian Air Force. Whilst her father was overseas in England, the family moved to Summerside to be near her maternal grandparents. When her father returned from WW2 the family settled in Halifax and then lived for two years in Port of Spain, Trinidad. Her lifelong love of Shakespeare started on the Savannah of Port of Spain watching Shakespearean plays. The family then moved to Venezuela, where her father was working.
On return to Canada, the family settled in Upper Canard, Nova Scotia. Elisabeth attended Wolfville High School and then Dalhousie University on a full scholarship. She graduated in 1961 with a Bachelor of Arts, First Class honours in English. In 1963 she graduated from the University of Toronto with a Master of Arts. In 1968 Elisabeth graduated with a Doctor of Philosophy from Kings College, University of London, England. In the mid-1960s Elisabeth worked briefly as a social worker in Toronto. She and George were divorced during this time.
In 1968 Elisabeth worked for a summer on a kibbutz in Israel and met her second husband, David Gerver. They had two children, Alexander and Miriam. David died very suddenly in 1981.
Elisabeth taught English and Communications in several universities in the United Kingdom. including Northumbria, the Open University, and Queen Margaret College, Edinburgh. She was the Director of the Scottish Institute for Adult and Continuing Education, Edinburgh, Scotland, from 1983-1990. In 1990 she was appointed as the Chair of Continuing Education at Dundee University, Scotland. On her retirement in 1998, she was appointed Professor Emeritus.
In addition to the above she worked on academic projects in Norway, Denmark, Argentina, Australia and Hong Kong. She was also on various boards, including as Chair of the Programme Committee of the BBC Continuing Education Advisory Council, and the Vice President of the European Bureau of Adult Education She wrote or co-authored three books: Computers and Adult Learning (1984), Humanising Technology: Computers in Community Use and Adult Education (1986) and Strategic Women: How do they Manage in Scotland? (1991), as well as many academic papers.
Elisabeth was listed as a noteworthy Continuing Education Educator by Marquis Who's Who.
Elisabeth and Peter moved to the Cotswolds in England on their retirement and in 2001 she was appointed to a voluntary position as a Magistrate on the Gloucestershire Bench. She was also the local programme secretary of The Arts Society and did volunteer work for many other organisations, including Kelmscott Manor, William Morris’s country home. She was also volunteer editor of the village newsletter for Ampney Crucis, combining her substantial skills in English with her strong belief in being of service to the community.
Elisabeth had a very full and productive life, filled with enthusiasm for whatever she was doing. She had a lifelong love of learning which included enjoying many cruises and tours which concentrated on particular aspects of history or art.
She shared her knowledge with others. She was immensely proud of her children and grandchildren.