Obituaries
ARNOLD AUBREY PORTIGAL
It is with great sadness the Portigal Family announces the passing, on January 4, 2015, of Arnold Aubrey Portigal, 86 years old.
Arnold was born on March 9, 1928 in Winnipeg, Canada, the only child of Samuel and Genevieve Portigal. He was married for 57 years to his wife Elodee, whom he met in 1958 on a blind date in Los Angeles, California and married three months later. They had two children, Blair Portigal and Leslie Portigal Folz. Leslie sadly passed several years ago following her battle with ovarian cancer.
Arnold was a self-educated man, a man of purpose, an entrepreneur, philanthropist, humanitarian, truly a Renaissance man. In 1963 he sold his commercial finance organization to Walter E Heller International and became President of Walter E Heller Canada, Ltd. During the following five years he developed Heller’s Consumer Finance Facilities throughout Canada. He then left the Heller Organization to again establish his own commercial real estate private equity firm.
Arnold was a passionate advocate of the Jewish community in both Winnipeg and Phoenix and for the State of Israel. He was Deputy Director of the United Israel Appeal, sitting on boards in both Israel and and Canada. He initiated and chaired Project Canada whose sole purpose was to provide immigrant housing to answer the acute need of Russian Jews fleeing to Israel. In 1974 he was awarded by the United Israel Appeal and State of Israel Bonds, receiving the Eleanor Roosevelt Humanity Award. He travelled extensively to Israel during the 1960’s and 1970’s to meet with the likes of Golda Meir, Moshe Dayan and David Ben-Gurion.
In both Canada and The United States, Arnold was deeply involved in community activities which included many political appointments. In Winnipeg he was appointed to the Board of Victoria General Hospital and became Chairman of the Board. During his eight year tenure he completed ground breaking improvements at the hospital. Arnold was then appointed by the Premier of Manitoba and MInister of Health to assume the Post of Chairman of the Manitoba Cancer Treatment and Research Foundation as well as the Manitoba Institute of Cell Biology. During his long tenure he negotiated clinical trials of drugs developed by the institute with major US pharmaceutical companies.
When Arnold moved full time to Phoenix, Arizona, he was appointed National Treasurer of the American Cancer Foundation until early 2002 when he decided to step down after determining he was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.
We are reminded of Dylan Thomas’s words, “Do not go gently into that good night, rage, rage, against the dying of light…” Arnold, like these words, carried with him the quality of spirit and soul that took him fighting until the very end. He will be greatly missed. HIs spirit will forever remain with us.
He is survived by his wife Elodee, son Blair and grandchildren Sydney and Alexa Portigal and Joshua Folz.
Obituaries
ESTHER MINUK Dec. 27, 1932 – April 3, 2026
Esther Bat Hershel Ve Devorah
It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Esther Minuk, beloved matriarch of our family. She was predeceased by her bashert, her beloved husband, Julius; her parents, Doris and Harry Golub; and her sister, Evelyn (Herbie).
Esther was a loving and proud mother, Baba, and Great-Baba to her children Yale, Rhonda (Tom), Perry (Abby), Jody, and Marla (Franklin); her grandchildren Jordan (Amy), Daniel (Allie), Allie (Jordan), Hannah, and Lily; and her great-grandchildren Julian, Aidan, and Eddie.
Known to many as `Queen Esther’, she led with kindness and integrity, always seeing the good in others. Her home was open and welcoming, filled with warmth, laughter, and love. She was sharp, compassionate, and deeply devoted to her family. We are heartbroken and forever grateful for the love and legacy she leaves behind. She will be eternally missed by her family.
Memorial donations may be made to B’nai Brith of Canada Foundation, 416-633-6224, https://bit.ly/4bRsabI or Sunnybrook Foundation, 416-480-4483, www.sunnybrook.ca/foundation
Obituaries
MILTON FREEDMAN
It is with profound sadness and much love that I announce the passing of Milton Freedman on October 30th, 2025, three months after we celebrated his 100th birthday. Milton was predeceased by his parents, Helen and Peter, his older brother Sam, and his younger brother Sid, with whom he shared a very special relationship. He is survived by his wife Joanie, his sister Ruby Donner, nieces and nephews, great nieces and great nephews, and a great-great nephew.
Family and friends meant everything to Milton, and there wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do for them. He was gentle and kind, quiet and dignified, thoughtful and wise. He gave the best advice, but only if asked.
Milton and I liked to travel, and for many years spent the winter in Palm Springs. We also travelled to Europe and England, and felt most at home in London. We reminisced endlessly about the river cruises we went on, and the amazing places we had the opportunity to visit, whether it was having dinner at a restaurant overlooking the North Sea, or attending a private concert at a palace in Vienna, or tasting Black Forest cake especially prepared for us, while we were in Germany’s Black Forest region. It all was stunning, magical, delicious. But it was the people we met along the way, who made everything even more special, and we never forgot them.
Milton was an avid reader, inhaling newspapers, magazines, and books as if they were oxygen. Remarkably, he remembered much of what he read, and it wasn’t unusual for him to quote a passage from a book that he had read years earlier, if it was relevant to a conversation. It was not to show off…that wasn’t who he was.
Milton was a runner, and for years ran ten miles, three times a week. On the days he didn’t run, he walked outdoors for two and a half hours. Eventually, he gave up running, preferring to walk seven days a week no matter the season, no matter the weather. This continued until he was well into his 80’s. And even in his 90’s Milton remained determined to walk, at first using one cane, then two, then a walker. When he was asked, how he did it, Milton simply said, “Just keep putting one foot in front of the other.” On occasion he might add, “And eventually you’ll get to where you’re going.”
Sage advice.
Milton is deeply missed, and will forever be remembered.
Obituaries
MARLI REBECCA SILVERMAN
Marli Rebecca Silverman passed away on March 11th at the age of 43 from end-stage renal disease. She lived her life with meaning, courage, and resilience, and touched everyone who knew her with her strength, warmth, and spirit.
She leaves behind her beloved daughter, Rylee, who was the light of her life; her father, Bruce; her brother, Matthew; Rylee’s father, Drake; and many family members and dear friends who will carry her memory forward with love.
Marli will be deeply missed and forever remembered for the impact she made on those around her.
May her memory be a blessing.
Donations in Marli’s memory may be made to Breakthrough T1D (breakthrought1d.ca).