Claire Doeler-Leech

Claire was born in Winnipeg, Canada and was a very active and ardent Communist all of her life. She will be remembered all across Canada by many comrades and friends, particularly in Winnipeg and Toronto.

In 1942 she met and married Horst Doerler, an active member of the Communist Party of Canada. A daughter Ellen was born, but the marriage ended after a few years.

Claire was very active in the progressive movements. She became a Youth Leader at Camp Naivelt, organized by the United Jewish People’s Order. In 1948 UJPO arranged a trip via London to Poland to help the orphaned Jewish children.

She also traveled with her daughter to Prague and was interviewed for a broadcast to Canada. She also attended the World Youth Festival. She then made her home n England and married Bill Bland (who died in 2001) and then her second daughter Eve was born.

While at the WFDY Youth Festival in Bucharest, Romania she met Jim Leech (Editor of the Canadian Tribune) whom she already knew in Toronto. Many years later Jim left Toronto for England and eventually married Claire.

Claire received her PhD in 1969 at the Faculty of Education at the London School of Economics (LSE) and taught classes at the University of London.

A large gathering of friends and comrades attended her funeral…and said farewell to Claire by proudly singing the “Red Flag” and the “International.”

Jim and Claire while in Canada were members of the Canada-USSR Association and active in its activities.

Enclosed please find a donation of $300 towards the work of NSC – this worthy magazine that I read constantly.

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