This long time member of AMCA Toronto, a member of the Croatian Fraternal Union, a founder and stage manager with the Croatian-Canadian theatre troupe Histerioni, a successful business woman, an art enthusiast and collector, has left us in her 66th year.
Our dear friend and AMCA Toronto member Lila Lupo passed away suddenly in her home on Monday, the 25th of September.
Lila was born in Zagreb in 1951 where she earned a degree in the Croatian language and comparative literature at the University of Zagreb’s Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. Before moving to Canada she was a recognised pedagogue in Zagreb and a favourite teacher among her pupils. She relocated to Canada in 1989 with her husband at the time, film photographer and cameraman Romeo, and their twelve-year-old son Rudi. They opened a photography studio in downtown Toronto’s Front Street.
Soon after settling down in her new home she became involved in the society life of the local Croatian community, with she and her husband documenting in photography all of the key events of the nineteen-nineties. As a member of the Estrada organisation she helped for many years in organising the “Croatian Christmas” event and penned numerous interviews and reports on the life of the Croatian community of Ontario for the Croatian Fraternal Union’s Zajedničar newspaper. Lila took part in establishing the Croatian-Canadian theatre troupe Histerioni where, as a stage manager, she contributed to the success and promotion of the association and in spreading a spirit of friendship. From its founding Lila was a regular member of the AMCA Book Club, which she enriched with her brilliant book analyses and her participation in fiery and unforgettable discussions.
Loved by her friends as a person of vibrant spirit and robust intellect, Lila stood out as a refined and elegant person with a particular sense for aesthetic value. She was a great art enthusiast and collector. As a successful businesswoman Lila Lupo enriched the fashion scene in Toronto with her key achievement – the Lila Lupo European Fashion boutique. She is grieved by her son Rudi, an IT expert working with the Apple Corporation in San Francisco and her greatest source of pride and greatest love.
We extend our sincere condolences to her son Rudi, her sister Ana-Maca, Romeo and the broader family and close friends in whose lives her departure has left a great pain and emptiness. May she rest in peace.
We will say or final goodbyes to Lila with family and friends on Monday, the 2nd of October at 10:00 o’clock in the morning at the Turner & Porter Funeral Home, Yorke Chapel, 2357 Bloor Street West, Toronto.
By: Aranka Lengyel