Rosalie (Lee) Grills—Honouring a remarkable friend of CapU
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It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of the peaceful passing of a cherished friend and dedicated donor to Capilano University, Rosalie (Lee) Grills. She was surrounded by her loving daughter, Karen, and son-in-law, Ralf, during her final moments.
Those close to her called her Lee and she holds a special place in the heart of the University. In 2010, we awarded her with an honorary degree in recognition of her remarkable contributions as a fervent advocate for women’s rights, equity and diversity for more than 40 years and a passionate supporter of the arts and teaching excellence. She was a founding member of the Women's Legal Education Action Fund (LEAF), a founding member of the North Shore Women's Centre and founding member of the Women's Centre at then-Capilano College.
Many may not be aware that Lee was a trailblazer in her own right, breaking barriers as the first woman to proudly wear slacks in the workplace at IBM. Her courage and determination paved the way for countless others to follow their own paths without constraints.
We will forever cherish the impact she made on the University and the broader community. Her generosity and unwavering commitment to causes she held dear were truly inspiring. Lee and her husband George have donated over $1 million to establish awards and support programs including: the Una Graham and Lee Grills Award, the George and Lee Grills Global Stewardship Endowment Program Fund and the North Shore Women’s Centre Award. More recently, she was a founding donor to the UNESCO Howe Sound Biosphere Region partnership.
Our thoughts and condolences go out to her family and all those who were fortunate enough to know her. May her memory continue to inspire us to strive for greatness and live life to the fullest, just as she did.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Ingham
VP University Relations
Submitted by: Communications