Matilda...

It is with great sadness that I heard last night of the passing of Matilda Caragiu Maroteanu, the sister of the actor Toma Caragiu two years her senior on 11th March, aged 82. I met Matilda in November with Brigitte last year for tsuica at her home near Pta Romana.

She impressed me so much...I had no idea who I had in front of me at that point. Her sister Jeta (artist and sculptress) was with us for the evening, and Matilda's cute little dog, too, who was devoted to her. I expect he will go live with his aunt Jeta. It was only on return to France telling Nicole about my visit that we explored internet together and found how brilliant she was. A loved professor, an unassuming, gentle lady who loved her family deeply, was proud of her recent book on her brother, full of humour and tales. Her French was perfect, her English even more so...she charmed me. Warm, wecoming, bright and witty, it was impossible not to fall for her.

Matilda was a member of the Academy, linguist, dialectologist and had written a dictionary of the Aromanian language. She was a genius - and a dear.

I had planned to go and see her this visit, but instead shall walk past her home on str. Polona with a sense of great loss for the Roumanian academic world.

May she rest in peace.

11 martie 2009 A murit sora lui Toma Caragiu

Matilda Caragiu Marioteanu, sora marelui actor Toma Caragiu, a murit miercuri, anunta Academia Romana.

Lingvist si dialectologul, Matilda Caragiu Marioteanu era membru titular al Academiei Romane din 2004. Nascuta in 1927, in Grecia, Matilda Caragiu Marioteanu a urmat cursurile Facultatii de limba si literatura romana a Universitatii din Bucuresti.

A predat la Facultatea de Litere cursuri de Istoria limbii romane, Gramatica istorica, Dialectologie generala si romana (nord si sud-dunareana), Limba romana contemporana si Limba romana pentru straini.

In 1993, a publicat "Dodecalog al aromanilor sau 12 adevaruri incontestabile, istorice si actuale, asupra aromanilor si asupra limbii lor".

In 1997, a publicat lucrarea "Dictionar aroman (macedo-vlah) DOARO. A-D. Comparativ (roman literar-aroman), contextual, normativ si modern".

A mai scris basme, povestiri aromane in limba romana destinate copiilor si doua volume de versuri.

In 2003, a publicat cartea-album "Toma Caragiu - Ipostaze", in memoria fratelui sau.