Celebrating the Legacy of Rose Shentow
Many donors choose to leave a gift in their will to Carleton University, directed toward an area of study that held deep personal meaning during their lifetime. For Rose Shentow, this meant creating a scholarship in French—an enduring tribute to her love of languages and a way to inspire future generations of students to discover and embrace that same passion.
Born in Ottawa on October 6, 1929, to Morris and Dina Feldberg, Rose Shentow (née Feldberg) was an inspiring educator whose life was defined by a deep love of languages and a passion for teaching. Over the course of 34 years, she shared her knowledge of French, Spanish, and English with students across several schools in the Ottawa region. From September 1956 until her retirement in June 1990, Rose touched countless lives with her unwavering commitment to education.
In 1950, Rose married her beloved husband, David Shentow, and soon after enrolled at Carleton University to pursue a Bachelor of Arts in French Studies and Education - while raising two children. At her graduation ceremony in May 1959, Rose was awarded a special medal from the French Embassy in recognition of her dedication to teaching French and her pivotal role as a co-founder of Le Club Français, which brought together French and English-speaking students to foster understanding and overcome language barriers.
Rose’s belief in the transformative power of education never waned. In 1969, she returned to Carleton to pursue a Master of Arts in French Literature, which she completed in 1973. Her lifelong commitment to learning and teaching was recognized again on her 90th birthday, when she received a congratulatory letter from the Education Board of Ottawa, thanking her for her decades of dedication and service as a beloved teacher.
Rose passed away in Toronto at the age of 94, leaving behind a legacy of compassion, scholarship, and inspiration.
The Rose Shentow Scholarship in French, endowed in 2023 through her estate, stands as a token of appreciation to the French Department at Carleton University, and to Professors Dr. Charles Fleischauer and Dr. J.S. Tassie (former Chair of the French Department), who supported Rose during her studies. Through this scholarship, Rose’s passion for language and education will continue to inspire Carleton students for generations to come.