Obituary of Toby Graser

It is with deep sadness that we mark the passing of Toby Graser (nee Cytrynbaum) on June 2, 2025.

Toby was a remarkable woman who defied categorization.

Born on March 18, 1937 in Montreal, she trained as a concert pianist, modelled in Montreal and New York, and eventually became one of New Brunswick’s most distinguished artists. Throughout her life, Toby was a creative force of nature with a talent for beauty. In addition to a fifty-year career as a painter, she created pottery, did interior design, made her own clothes as a young wife and mother, knit sweaters whenever she tried to quit smoking (which always failed), and was a gourmet cook who threw famously fabulous dinner parties.

Elegant, classic, raunchy and fun, Toby loved to laugh and despised pretention in any form. She simultaneously carried off being a devoted wife and mother with pursuing her artistic practice. Her many friends adored her quick wit and immense heart: she was the first one to send over homemade dinner to an ailing friend, or to make a sandwich for a hungry wanderer who came to the back door. She was practical and savvy, loved gadgets and was devoted to a succession of dogs.

In Montreal, she was fixed up on a blind date with a dashing radio host, Weldon Graser, who became the love of her life. Toby and Weldon moved to Fredericton, NB (Weldon’s home town) where he became a lawyer, and Toby scandalized the establishment with her frank glamour and blithe disregard of convention. They raised two children, Dina and Geoff, travelled widely, and were active in the Jewish community as well as with other social and cultural groups. Toby volunteered for Planned Parenthood for a time and was a strong supporter of women, particularly in the arts.

When Weldon was appointed to the bench, Toby and Weldon moved to Rothesay, where she continued to paint, garden and golf. Fiercely independent, she careened back and forth to her downtown Saint John studio in a big red jeep for the next two decades.

As a painter, Toby had over 50 solo shows and participated in group exhibitions across Canada, New York and Mexico since 1969. In the 1980s and 1990s she participated in a number of professional workshops, most notably at Emma Lake, Saskatchewan and Triangle Artists’ Workshop in Pine Plains, New York. A major retrospective of her work toured Canada between 1992 and 1995. Her work has been the subject of numerous publications and is in many public, corporate and private collections in North America and Europe. Most recently, the Saint John Art Centre exhibited a selection of works from the fifty years of her career.

She was beloved by her friends and family who will miss her terribly: son Geoffrey (Sherry Weir) and his sons Adam, Zachary and Joshua, and daughter Dina (Lee Smolin) and their son Kai. The family extends heartfelt thanks to Kim Longmuir, Toby’s devoted caregiver in her last years, and their sincere appreciation to the staff at Embassy Hall in Quispamsis for their care. Donations in her name can be made to the Alzheimer Society of Canada or to a visual arts organization of your choice.

Arrangements are under the care and direction of Brenan's Funeral Home, 111 Paradise Row, Saint John, NB (506-634-7424). A funeral service will be held in Brenan's Chapel on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, beginning at 3:00 PM with interment to follow in Shaarei Zedek cemetery.