Lottie Riven Dead at 80

Lottie Riven, who gave a lifetime of service to Canadian Jewry and the building of the State of Israel, died here at the age of 80. She served as national president of Canadian Hadassah-WIZO from 1955-1960 after having served in many other important positions. She was honorary president of Canadian Hadassah-WIZO and a member of the World WIZO Executive. She was the first Canadian woman to receive the Governor Herbert Lehman Award in recognition of her manifold contributions to humanitarian organizations.

Mrs. Riven was also a member of the National Council of Canadian Jewish Congress; National Council of the Canadian Friends of Hebrew University in Jerusalem; Governor of the Board of the Jewish National Fund; and Governor of the National Board of the Canada-Israel Corporation.

She held membership in a variety of women’s organizations and participated in various community endeavors, including the Jewish General Hospital, Women’s Canadian Club, Canadian Consumer’s League, Weizmann Institute (Canada) and many others.

RECIPIENT OF MANY HONORS

In the international field, Mrs. Riven was elected to the Board of Governors of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem in 1957. In 1968 she was awarded the Hebrew University medal for distinguished service to the University. She represented Canada and participated as an executive member of several world-wide humanitarian organizations. In 1966 she was elected to the World WIZO Executive and until the time of her death served as an ad personam member of World WIZO.

The recipient of many honors, Mrs. Riven was decorated by King George VI in 1937 with the Commemoration medal on the occasion of their Majesties Coronation, and on the occasion of Canada’s Centennial in 1967, she was awarded the Centennial Medal by Queen Elizabeth II. Among her most cherished tributes, however, was her selection in 1960 as the “Women of the Year” by the Jewish National Fund. A village was named for her at Yash Resh in Israel.