University marks passing of founding father
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LETHBRIDGE – Faculty, staff and members of the community are mourning the passing of one of the University of Lethbridge’s staunchest supporters and a man who influenced the educational direction of the post secondary institute.
Dr. Van E. Christou (LLD ’84), passed away Wednesday, Sept. 27 at the age of 91. From a U-of-L condolence notice:
“Christou was a member of the U of L’s founding Board of Governors, serving from 1967 until 1973. From 1975 to 1979, Christou was the University’s third chancellor. Van and his late wife, Helen, secured the first major art donation to the University, the sculpture titled Moses. They had seen the sculpture in the American pavilion at Expo ’67 and succeeded in obtaining the sculpture as a gift from the owner, the House of Seagram Ltd. As pioneers of the U of L’s art collection, the Helen Christou Gallery opened in 2002.
In 1984, the U of L conferred an honorary doctor of laws degree upon Van in recognition of his outstanding community service, especially in regard to the development of higher education, fine arts and culture.
