Dr. Rita Marion Kesteven

Dr. Rita Marion Kesteven passed away peacefully on August 17, 2026, at the age of 85, after a brief illness. Originally from Wimbledon, London, England, Rita made Canada her home in 1967. A trailblazer in education, she earned her PhD from the University of Cambridge, breaking barriers for women in academia. Beyond her scholarly pursuits, Rita was deeply committed to naturalism and animal welfare, contributing to the Triangle Newspaper with her extensive paper on Inverary's history. Her serene home near Sydenham was a sanctuary for wildlife and feral cats, reflecting her love for nature. Rita is survived by her younger brother Geoff, sister-in-law Linda, and niece Avery, whom she cherished. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Elements Outdoors in her memory.