Cecile Elstein (née Hoberman) died suddenly on 2 March 2025. She was born in Cape Town, South Africa and moved to England in 1961 to avoid apartheid, with her husband Max (Emeritus Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Manchester). In the 1960s, they lived in London and then Southampton until 1977 before moving to Manchester. Cecile and Max joined the Lit and Phil in 1994 and Max is a former vice-president.
Cecile was a prolific Sculptor, Printmaker and Environmental Artist. The studio pupil of Surrealist artist Catherine Yarrow, Cecile’s approach to life and her art practice was influenced by philosopher Martin Buber’s ‘I and Thou’ and Albert Camus’s ‘The Myth of Sisyphus’. Cecile worked for several decades with the Master Printmaker – Kip Gresham originally at Manchester Print Workshop (1980s) to his Cambridge Workshop (2019).
Artworks are held and exhibited in public and private collections globally, nationally and locally including Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester; Manchester Cathedral; Alsager Gallery, Crewe; Pitcairn Gallery, Knutsford; Prize winner at 9th British International Print Biennale, Bradford; Singapore Festival of Arts, representing Britain; Manchester Academy of Fine Art; The Portico Library and Gallery, Manchester; Dukes Gallery, Castlefield, Stockport Art Gallery and in 2023 at Salford University Gallery.
Local public artworks include ‘Nir Tamid’, Everlasting Light in Menorah Synagogue in Gatley, bronze portrait of Michael Kennedy, writer and music critic at the Royal Northern College of Music and a sundial in Marie Louise Gardens, Didsbury (with Tam Giles). During 2001- 2021, Cecile, together with textile artist Margaret Crowther, facilitated Didsbury Drawing, a weekly life-drawing group based on the philosophy of non-interference.
Cecile will be greatly missed by her many friends and remembered for her originality and the strength of her opinions, for her enthusiasm, her wide interests and above all for her kindness and empathy. She was predeceased by son Paul in 1998 and will be missed by Max, their daughter Maureen, 3 grandchildren, 3 step grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.
Dr Paul Miller, 19 March 2025