The Concordia community mourned the loss of notable alumni and friends in 2023.
Daniel Langlois, LLD 04
The visionary businessman and philanthropist — commemorated “as one of the most active patrons of culture of our time” when conferred an honorary doctorate by Concordia in 2004 — tragically passed away with his partner Dominique Marchand on the island of Dominica on December 1. He was 66.
Maria Birks, major donor
The former director of the Birks Family Foundation who championed the Concordia University Press and the novel programs offered by Concordia’s Centre for the Arts in Human Development (CAHD) passed away on November 19. She was 78.
Bina Ellen, major donor
The co-namesake of the university’s Leonard and Bina Ellen Art Gallery, also a supporter of the CAHD, passed away on August 8. She was 97.
Egbert Gaye, BA 89
The journalist, community leader and founder of Montreal Community Contact, a mainstay of the city’s Black community, passed away on June 4. He was 67.
Myer “Mike” Gutwillig, BA 48, BFA 97
The author, journalist, PR executive and realtor — a man-about-town who once wrote a musical about Montreal’s iconic Wilensky’s lunch counter — passed away on January 2 at age 97.
© Concordia University
