‘A century of grace’

Dance was Lily Rose Guberman's career — but over 103 years, joy was her trademark

By: Janine LeGal

Lily Rose Guberman was a star. Luminous like the sun, sparkling and shining, not only in her limelight-filled career but in her everyday interactions. Aptly named after two flowers, Guberman had the grace and beauty of both.

Among the many theories about the secrets to a long and happy life, the life-long dancer knew a thing or two about that. She lived independently in her own home until age 102.

The oldest living original member of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet died Feb. 25 at age 103, after what can only be called a remarkable life.

“She never lost her childlike spirit and was always playful and encouraging,” said daughter Marla Berchard.

Back in the days when bootlegging was common in Winnipeg, Guberman’s mother, who lived modestly, rented a little house and offered a place for the locals to pop in for a beverage and a bite to eat.

“When she was three or four years old, mother would get up on the table and do a little dance and they would give her a shiny nickel. She was born with the natural talent to want to dance,” said Berchard.

Guberman began dancing in a more official capacity in her early teens and quickly moved from ensemble to solo artist, performing various styles of dance in countless recitals.

In 1939, when she was 17, Guberman was invited to join the Winnipeg Ballet Club (which became the Royal Winnipeg Ballet Company the same year), after catching the attention of the founders.

“My grandmother was poor, so the teacher let her attend dance classes for free. My grandmother didn’t want to encourage her to pursue dance,” Berchard continued. “She wanted her to be practical.”

But dance would reside in the centre of Guberman’s world, becoming a passion and a lifelong career.

Another love-filled chapter began in 1945, when the dancer married Wally Guberman. The two soulmates remained in love throughout 58 years of marriage. Together they lived through the best and worst of times.

“My parents were close. They were an absolute blessing for me. I couldn’t have asked for better role models,” Berchard said, expressing it as winning the parent lottery.

“They were incredible mentors. I never heard them raise their voices.”

All three of the Guberman children inherited their mother’s creative spirit. Brian was an actor and musician, Sandra’s passion was drama and theatre, and Marla’s included music, piano, guitar, and dance.

“Mom nurtured our talents and was the self-proclaimed ‘President of Our Fan Clubs,’” said Berchard. “Whether it was Brian’s musical and acting shows, Sandra’s acting in plays or my musical performances, Mom was there and cheered for all of it.”

The Gubermans faced heart-breaking tragedy more than once during their marriage. Their son, Brian, went missing in 1974 and has never been found. Less than three weeks later, Guberman’s own mother died. In 1979, their daughter Sandra died of an aneurysm. Without fail the couple found ways to lean on each other and keep each other strong.

“She faced heartbreak with tenacity, grit and endurance,” Berchard said. “Never one to lose hope that he would return, every year on Brian’s birthday, Mom wrote him a birthday card, which she kept for him in case he should return and they could be given to him.”

One of her final wishes was to have a picture of him in her hands in her final resting place, in the hopes that they might meet again.

“After Sandra’s passing, Mom and Dad established the Sandra Faye Guberman Memorial Library at the University of Alberta, Department of Drama, which was where Sandra obtained a Bachelor of Fine Arts, and a perpetual scholarship for an emerging artist at the Banff School of Fine Arts, also in Sandra’s name,” Berchard explained, adding that her mother had a knack for turning adversity into legacy.

When Guberman was moved to long-term care, her condo was sold and Berchard was left to clean her mother’s apartment. There she found even more evidence of her parents’ love for each other.

“She had this beautiful wooden cedar box — in it a package of love letters that my dad had written to my mother, some of the most beautiful, impassioned love letters Dad had written to Mom at a time in their lives when they were separated by distance, before they were married, and in anticipation of their being reunited.”

After her husband’s death in 2003, Guberman continued in the way she always had, marveling and seeing beauty wherever she went.

On her bucket list was a trip to New York, so at 91, she and her daughter did a whirlwind adventure and painted the town red.

“I could barely keep up with her energy and enthusiasm,” said Berchard.

Guberman studied Hebrew and sociology at university, loved photography and paper tole craft. In her 90s she took on learning computer skills, how to send email, surf the web and, according to her daughter, also getting into her share of online trouble.

She adored her three granddaughters, loved the family dogs, cats and budgies, and was a big fan of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the Toronto Blue Jays.

“She was a giver, always involved in her community, a philanthropist living a life of quiet service to her friends and community. She was a generous lady.”

At the Simkin Centre, where she lived her final chapter, Guberman was known as “Simkin Star.” Just before her 103rd birthday she was invited back to the stage, for the ballet’s 85th anniversary. She performed a walk-on role in Nutcracker in full dress costume, surrounded by her fans and fellow dancers, and still handling media interviews like a seasoned celebrity.

Jo Magnifico, director of marketing, communications and donor relations at the Saul and Claribel Simkin Centre, met Guberman in 2024, when she became a resident, in January of that year.

“She radiated elegance and warmth — was quick to smile, and always, always grateful. She was the kind of person who left a lasting impression after just one conversation,” she said.

Her grace, kindness and gratitude were most memorable for Magnifico.

“She had a gentle spirit but an unmistakable presence. As a lifelong dancer, she carried that movement with her — those flowing, expressive hand gestures that spoke volumes without a word, each gesture echoing a lifetime of artistry.

“As if choreographed by fate, Nutcracker was playing on her TV as Lily took her final breaths,” continued Magnifico. “Her last moments at the Simkin Centre, with family by her side, she spent immersed in that music and magic that had shaped so much of her life — bringing her story full circle in the most poetic way. Her life was a beautiful reminder that the joy of dance doesn’t retire.

“Lily Guberman epitomized a century of grace, and was still taking a bow at 102. She danced through life — and into our hearts.”

fpcity@freepress.mb.ca