Thursday, May 11, 2023

It’s with a heavy heart that I write to inform the Hamilton community that Margaret Juravinski has passed away on Tuesday, May 9, 2023 at the age of 91. Margaret will now be reunited with her husband of more than 65 years, Charles Juravinski, who passed away only 15 months ago on Feb. 16, 2022.

I had the great privilege of being a dear friend and advisor to the Juravinskis for many years as they shared their good fortune with our fair city with a vision to create a healthier Hamilton through collaboration, research, and ingenuity. While Charles was always more comfortable in the spotlight, I’d like to take a moment to honour Margaret’s legacy by sharing with you a little about her.

Margaret was born and raised in Hamilton and there were few things she loved more than her husband, horses and her community. She was fiercely loyal to this town and it’s one of the reasons why the Juravinskis’ philanthropy was focused so resolutely on the place she called home for nearly a century.

Margaret was Charlie’s rock. She was a quiet pillar of strength and inspiration for him in good times and in bad. She was more influential in his business dealings and decision making than any of us will ever know.

Margaret believed that sharing was caring. She said it from the very beginning. She hoped that others would see that sharing, whether it be a little or a lot, had the power to bring joy to the giver and change the life of the receiver. It’s probably the one message she hopes I will leave you with, so I’ve done my best to honour her wishes.

The partners in the Juravinski Research Institute, Hamilton Health Sciences, McMaster University and St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton will be issuing a joint message about Margaret’s passing and her many contributions to our community. Until that time, we request that you allow those closest to Margaret to grieve and remember her for the remarkable woman she was.