Keith Audley Alexander Ellis
April 5, 1935 - December 28, 2024
Keith Audley Alexander Ellis, FRSC, DFil (University of Havana), CD (Jamaica), Professor Emeritus at the University of Toronto (Spanish and Portuguese), passed away peacefully on December 28, 2024, at the age of 89, after a life devoted to his family, learning, teaching, and social justice through culture, especially literary culture.
Keith was born on April 5, 1935, in St. Mary, Jamaica, to Cora Joyce (Lazarus) and Charles Henry Alexander Ellis. He is survived by his beloved sisters Claudette (Herman White), Jean (Keith Dixon), Marion (Dennis Taylor), Cherry (Orett Hart), and Christine (Ray Applewhaite). He will be deeply missed by his wife, Zilpha; his daughter, Carmen Marie (Robert Willetts); and his grandsons, Owen and Maxwell.
A scholarship student at Calabar High School, Keith taught Spanish and History there for two years before earning his B.A. from the University of Toronto in just two years. He completed his Ph.D. in Romance Literatures and Languages at the University of Washington (Seattle), focusing on humanitarian justice and literature, including his groundbreaking work on exiled antifascist Spanish writer Francisco de Ayala.
A lifelong advocate for social justice, Keith was particularly inspired by Cuban national poet Nicolás Guillén, whose works he analyzed, taught, and translated extensively. His intellectual legacy includes books, articles, and lectures promoting the artistic contributions of Spanish American and Caribbean poets and leaders, and he championed cultural exchange to bridge colonial divisions in American culture.
Keith was also a gifted translator, completing major works such as Versos Libres by José Martí and several anthologies of Nicolás Guillén’s poetry. He translated Derek Walcott’s play The Joker of Seville into Spanish and introduced Canadian literature to Cuban audiences. His efforts sought to unify American cultures through shared artistic heritage.
Keith Ellis received numerous honors for his scholarship, teaching, and cultural advocacy. His family invites donations in his memory to support Revolutionary Cuba through the Canadian Network on Cuba, Toronto Forum on Cuba, or for U.S. citizens, Global Health Partners.
A memorial service and celebration of Keith’s life will be held in a few months.
Memories and notes of condolence may be shared at AFTERCARE CREMATION & BURIAL SERVICE LIMITED.
