Obituaries
ALLAN DAVID SHAFER -1927-2022
Following a life well lived, Al passed peacefully on May 14, 2022, at the age of 95. He lived life with a smile on his face and a twinkle in his kind eyes. His glass was never half full, rather it was overflowing.
An industrious and hardworking young man – Al started his career in the early 50s as a car salesman at Gladstone Datsun (under the sign of the swinging keys). His exuberant personality quickly propelled him to Sales Manager and so began his dream of owning his own car lot. He changed course in the early 60s when an opportunity arose to buy a partnership in the McLaren Hotel. Although it was never his first love, he brought his optimism and energy to work every day and was much liked and respected by patrons and staff alike. In 1969 he and his wife Lona fulfilled a long-time goal of their own by designing and building their dream home where he lived until his passing.
After retiring from the hotel in the early 70s his attention turned to a beloved hobby of art collecting. Never one to stay idle, and always hoping to get back into sales, he opened the Concourse Aboriginal Gallery in the Trizec Building, where he thrived. He moved the gallery to Notre Dame and Albert in the early 80s and he remained working until his retirement last year at the age of 94. His great energy and kibitzing nature endeared him to all who crossed his path, and the gallery remained a welcoming hangout for friends, artists, and neighbourhood residents who often dropped by for a laugh and a coffee.
His legacy will be his extreme generosity that benefited many. Despite his favourite shopping destination being the Dollar Store, he will be recognized and admired for his donation of the entire Concourse Gallery contents last year to SScope. The prominent and unexpected media coverage of this unique donation touched him deeply.
We are so happy that he spent his last winter in Palm Springs with his partner Estelle, enjoying the sun, many friends, and his status as a champion horseshoe player.
Al was predeceased by his wife Lona and sister Dorie and is survived by his sister Esther.
He will be missed by many friends and relatives and leaves to mourn his partner Estelle and her family, his daughters Maureen (Dave), Lesli (Don), grandchildren Rakel, Jordan, Dana (Jack), Alix, Max (Cassie), and great grandsons Frank and Ed.
A true mensch and our go to guy for everything, he will be missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing him.
Donations in Al’s memory may be made to ArtCity: https://artcityinc.com/Financial- Donations, Harvest Manitoba: https://www.harvestmanitoba-.ca/donate-now/, or a charity of your choice.
Obituaries
SOL SHLOMO TODRES
It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of Sol (Shlomo) Todres on October 27, 2024 in Israel. Sol was born in Winnipeg in 1934 to Sam and Bessie Todres. He was a proud North Ender who graduated from St. John’s High School and received his BA and Masters in Social Work from the University of Manitoba. He was a strong believer in the power of group work and translated those beliefs in his role as the first full-time Director of Bnai Brith Camp in Kenora. Of his many innovations, his most beloved and enduring was the development of Advanced Camp for the older campers- a source of meaningful and enduring memories for many.
In 1968 he made Aliyah and settled in Kfar Saba. He earned his doctorate in Social Work from Yeshiva University. His work career included contributions to the Ministry of Welfare and Bar Ilan University.
He is survived by his loving wife Varda, his son Allon (Ortal), his daughter Naomi of Ibiza, Spain. He leaves behind his brother Rubin (Elaine), his nephews, Jesse of Toronto, Howard of Saskatoon, his nieces Lindsay of New York, and Susan of Winnipeg, and three grandchildren.
Donations in his honour can be made to Bnai Brith Camp of Winnipeg
Obituaries
BARBARA GOSZER April 15, 1930 – October 6, 2024
It is with profound sadness along with gratitude for her long and purposeful life that we announce the passing of Barbara Goszer. Left with cherished recollections are her children Sharon (Steven Tritt), Elliott (Jennifer Schulz), her grandchildren Sam (Justine), Joseph (Shaun), Nicholas, Sarah, Jack and Max, and her great-grandchildren Carson and Callie. She also leaves to mourn her passing nieces Hilda (Len), Debbie (Jack), Libby (Doug) and their families who loved their “Aunty” dearly. She was predeceased by “the love of her life”, Adam, to whom she was married for almost 60 years and by a daughter, Yonah.
Barbara was born in Lwow, Poland where she often said she had an idyllic childhood until 9 years of age, when the Second World War and the Holocaust started. She was the sole survivor of her family, having been hidden by a courageous woman whom she had honoured as The Righteous Among the Nations and whose descendants sought her out in 2013, forming a warm connection over the past decade.
Barbara was a petite but strong, opinionated, principled woman with an extraordinary sense of social justice, a remarkable work ethic, and the deepest of loyalty. She lived with intention. As a living witness to a time in history when inhumanity was at its height, she spent decades dedicated to educating school aged children and their teachers throughout Manitoba and other parts of Canada about the dangers of discrimination and intolerance of diversity. She advocated standing up for others and taking action despite fear. She also encouraged appreciation for freedom and having a roof over one’s head. Her legacy will inspire her family members as well as generations of children to make a difference in bettering the world we live in. She dreamed of a world free of hatred and of a bright future.
Thank you to Dr. Sheila Domke, her primary care physician, to the entire health care team on 4 North at Grace Hospital, and to her many caregivers in the past couple of years who treated her with the utmost of dignity and respect.
Funeral services were held graveside at Rosh Pina Memorial Park on October 8, 2024. Those wishing to honour her memory can do so by making a donation to the “Barbara and Adam Goszer Holocaust Education Centre Endowment Fund” at the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba.
Obituaries
BARBARA RUTH HOCHMAN June 7, 1952 – September 16, 2024
t is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Barbara Hochman on Monday, September 16, 2024. Barbara was born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the first child born to Clarice and Jack Rubin. She is survived by her husband of 52 years, Danny, mother Clarice, sister Jackie (Akman), brother Ron (Rubin), brother-in-law Mickey Hochman (Dorine), nephew Jared Akman (Leanne), niece Jamie Berman (Skyler) and great-nieces and nephew, Lowan, Julie, Shea and Hannah. Barb was predeceased by her father Jack Rubin and brother-in-law Richard Akman. Barbara grew up in River Heights, attending Grant Park High School, then continued her studies at the University of Manitoba. On her first day of university she met Danny and they were married two years later. Barbara began working as a secretary at the law firm Aikins, MacAulay and Thorvaldson, and then advanced to become a corporate and commercial paralegal. She returned to law school while working at AM&T, and eventually became a partner at the firm. Barbara excelled at everything she put her mind to. She was beautiful, stylish and fiercely intelligent. Barb courageously fought her first battle with cancer over 30 years ago. Since then she enjoyed life to the fullest. Barb was a loving and devoted wife, an amazing sister and an extremely generous aunt and great-aunt. She and Danny moved from Winnipeg to Kelowna 15 years ago where they escaped Winnipeg winters and saw their golf games flourish. Barbara will be greatly missed. Funeral services were held to celebrate Barbara’s life on September 20, at the Shaarey Zedek Cemetery. Pallbearers were Jared Akman, Jamie Berman, Skyler Berman, Brent Knazan, David Rubin and Danny Rubin.
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