Obituaries
GERSHON DAVID SUCHAROV September 6, 1942 – July 17, 2019
Gently, surrounded by his family, Gersh left this world in St. Boniface Hospital ICU due to systemic infection. His body and spirit fought hard but this time there was no reprieve.
He was born and raised partly in the fabled North End of the city of Winnipeg, and partly in West Kildonan and went to Talmuh Torah School for his first six years then transferring to West Kildonan Collegiate Institute for junior high until Graduation. He held a special fondness for his classmates from Talmuh Torah maintaining lifelong friendships with some. Gersh started work in the historic Exchange District after high school, first in the grain and then garment industry at Silpit before joining his father in the Insurance business at his firm Robins and Sucharov. That was followed by some years in retail management ending his career with Revenue Canada Taxation, called CRA today.
Gersh married the late Molly Vinsky in 1964. Although the union did not last, he was beyond grateful for the daughters it produced and was proud of their accomplishments. But he was lucky in love the second time round, determined to avoid the mistakes he made in the past. They met through his volunteer work. Margaret, his “bashert” (destiny) and he built a life together.
In retirement he looked forward to the days we would pick up our oldest granddaughters – Amber and Simone from school. After lunch on those days, he would stand at the kitchen counter measuring out gummi bears and wagon wheels for their after school snack. He missed those days after they started driving and no longer needed our pickups.
While not able to be physically active with the youngest granddaughters, he sat in his recliner giggling as the twins, Macey and Miley, gleefully covered his entire body with stickers or tissues. We found manageable activities that allowed him to engage with them.
Gersh was renowned for his sense of humour, always ready with a joke or a quip. He loved golf, and the Blue Bombers. How he would have loved to watch them win The Grey Cup last fall!! After Grey Cup he turned his attention to NFL and Superbowl. He had an encyclopedic knowledge of the Mafia and particularly Myer Lansky and the history of Las Vegas. He was always on the lookout for any movies or documentaries on the topic. He looked forward to phone calls from Max; discussing the latest people news with Bev. And lunches with the Sucharov cousins!
But what he looked forward to the most were visits with his family; catching up on family news with Brenlee;, community news with Al; Betty’s newest endeavors; and watching his grandchildren grow, whether 27, 26 or 7. He tried to be there when they needed him. At the end of his life he needed them.
Gersh was a grateful member of the Winnipeg Group and had 36 years of continuous sobriety in A.A. when he died. He valued the friendships he formed there, too many to mention. His last years he became active in JACS, particularly with Scott and Riva, and Rick.
He is survived by his wife of 33 years, Margaret, daughter, Brenlee, son-in-law, Al Benarroch, daughter Betty (who passed away six weeks after his death), and granddaughters, Amber, Simone, Macey and Miley; brother Max Sucharov, sister-in-law Rebecca Toolan, her children Michael and Sarah, niece Mira Sucharov (Stephen Gluck), Rory and Lev; the Sucharov cousins; and the Kay cousins. He was predeceased by his parents Myer (Moe) and Rose Sucharov (nee Bershadsky).
He was grateful for the attentive care he received at the HSC Pain Clinic from Dr. Howard Intrater and the nurses there – Sharon, Jackie, Judy, Donna and Marcie. Also he was indebted to his neurosurgeon, Dr. Neil Barrington at HSC.
The family would like to thank the caring staff at St. Boniface ICU, his long time cardiologist Dr. Phil Garber, Dr. Claudio Rigatto , Dr. Assad Junaid and especially for his exceptional care, his family physician, Dr. Grant Goldberg; additionally, Anat of Homecare who went above and beyond in her assistance to Gersh and the family.
Funeral service was held July 19, 2019 at Chesed Shel Emes. Interment followed at Shaarey Zedek Cemetary. Pallbearers were Al Benarroch, Joel Kay, Jeff Morris, Marvin Garfinkel, Scott McWilliam, and Rick Green
Honourary Pallbearers were Myrna Charach, Miriam Segal, Bernie Sucharov, Bev Goulding, Laurie Foster, Garth Darraugh, Mira Sucharov, Sadira Garfinkel, Ara Morris, Merle Garfinkel, and Jeffery Garfinkel.
The reason for this obituary’s appearing at this time is that the author was hospitalized for several months around the time of Gersh’s death.
Obituaries
ABBOT KARASICK
1930 – 2025
It is with deep sadness we announce the passing of Abbot Karasick on December 29, 2025, at the age of 95. He will be remembered for his kindness, generosity and outgoing personality, always willing to lend a hand or an ear to others in need.
Abbot leaves behind Ruth, his wife of 72 years; son Brian and daughter-in-law Cheryl Shinfield; daughter Brenlee and son-in-law Matthew Posner; grandchildren Caleb, Sarah and Glen Boden, and Alex; great-grandson Eli, and many nieces and nephews.
The youngest of five children, he was predeceased by his brother Ben, and sisters, Eva (Bermack), Rebecca (Dobbs) and Ann (Yutman).
Abbot was born in 1930, at the beginning of the Great Depression. While that may have made for a difficult early childhood, another historic event provided a fortuitous opportunity; while sandbagging during the 1950 Red River flood, he met Ruth, the love of his life. They were married soon after, in 1953.
Never one to remain idle, Abbot had three careers over his lifetime: the first in the fashion industry, the second in the life insurance industry, and the third, following his retirement, setting up and managing Ruth’s fashion business. He thrived on being with people and nurturing relationships and brought his warm personality with him everywhere he went. He was athletic in his youth and remained an avid golfer until well into his later years.
Abbot and Ruth travelled extensively, taking cruises around the world, from the Caribbean to Europe, and with their last cruise being a long-awaited one to Israel. They spent many winters in Hawaii and Las Vegas. After their children moved from Winnipeg, they added trips to see them regularly in Montreal, Ottawa, Boston and Grand Rapids, along with trips to visit family in Toronto and Los Angeles. They also enjoyed spending weekends at their cottage in Winnipeg Beach.
Abbot spent his last six months at the Clara and Saul Simkin Centre. The family would like to thank the administration and management at the Centre, the caregivers at Blossom for their compassionate support, and especially the team in Simkin 1 for their attentive care and support.
Funeral services were held at the Shaarey Zedek Synagogue on December 31, 2025. Donations in Abbot’s memory can be made to the Simkin Centre Foundation, at https://www.simkincentre.ca/giving
Obituaries
NORMAN IRWIN SHORE
Norman Irwin Shore was born in Winnipeg on January 15, 1929 and passed away in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, on December 27, 2025.
He was predeceased by his father, David Shore and his mother, Bertha Shore (Cossoy). Norm grew up in Winnipeg’s North End, a place that featured prominently in his many stories, along with his years at St. John’s High School.
Norm worked alongside his mother and father at the Shore Brothers family jewelry business on Portage Avenue. He later owned a collection agency, worked in property management, and ultimately spent the remainder of his working life as a manufacturer’s agent representing several well-known watch brands.
Norm married Beth (Slotin) in 1960, and together they raised two children, their daughter Sydney Shore and son Philip Shore.
Sports were a lifelong passion for Norm. He was an avid curler and loved baseball, but nothing rivalled his enduring loyalty to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, a team he first watched in the 1930s when they were known as the Winnipeg Rugby Football Club. Norm loved to tell the story of how he and his gang of friends would sneak into the old Osborne Stadium in his youth to watch their team play. Norm remained a steadfast Bomber fan throughout his life, holding seats on the East (Wild) side of Winnipeg Stadium, then later the West side. He attended games at Princess Auto Stadium, extending his diehard support for the Bombers until he passed away.
Norm’s lifelong friendships were a source of joy for him, and, as he survived one childhood friend after another in his later years, he made a point of remembering each one of them fondly to friends and family.
Norm’s interests were wide-ranging. He enjoyed reading historical fiction, listening to jazz from his extensive music collection, and spending time in the kitchen. He traveled the world into his late 80s, partly because his wife Beth owned and operated a travel agency, and partly because he was determined to spend time with his children and grandchild who spent extended periods of time living in countries as far away as Japan.
Generous with his time, Norm volunteered often. He assisted with his children’s softball and ice hockey teams and later volunteered at the Winnipeg Jazz Festival. He also volunteered as a driver for meals on wheels.
Norm is survived by his wife, Beth Shore; his daughter, Sydney Shore (Wayne Sharpe); his son, Philip Shore; and his grandson, Sam Sharpe.
Donations in Norm’s memory may be made to the Manitoba Jewish Foundation (Winnipeg).
Obituaries
ARTHUR WORTZMAN
Surrounded by his family Arthur Wortzman, lovingly known as Art, passed away peacefully on December 21, 2025.
He is survived by his wife Adele Wortzman; his three children, Anita Wortzman (Ron Yurman), Susan Wortzman (Glenn Smith), Jason Wortzman (Teresa Rogers); his grandchildren, Lexie (Jacob), Haley, Liam, Hannah and Jack and his great-grandchildren, Shiloh and River.
Born in Winnipeg in 1929, Art grew up in the vibrant West End of Winnipeg as the youngest of three children. His upbringing was unique for the time, with his parents, Harry and Tillie, working together in their ladies’ clothing stores in Winnipeg and Vancouver. This partnership allowed for a bustling household, filled with the laughter of friends and family.
Art shared a close bond with his siblings, George and Eleanor, and their respective spouses Glory and Howie(Silver), as well as with his brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Allan and Marsha Maslove. Art inherited many wonderful traits from his parents: from his father, he learned the importance of love and devotion to one’s spouse, and from his mother, he gained a sense of humor, fun, and adventure.
Art’s love for his wife was evident throughout their 66 years of marriage. Adele reciprocated his love and care, looking after him at home and then ensuring he was never alone during his stays at Shaftesbury and Victoria Hospital.
Art’s legacy extends beyond his family. He was a talented athlete, playing football for Gordon Bell High School and U of M Law. Art pursued law at the University of Manitoba and practiced law for over 50 years, known for his ethics, practicality, and dedication. Art’s sense of humor, wisdom, and kindness were well-known. He was a mentor and friend to many, offering wise counsel and support to many clients, friends and other lawyers.
Art’s adventurous spirit was evident throughout his life in Winnipeg, at Falcon Lake and travels to Mexico and Israel. He introduced his family to many activities, from snowmobiling to cross-country skiing, and completed a marathon at 52 years old. He was always game for fun, whether it was Lake Olympics or a historic bike ride on Pipeline Road. In his later years, Art continued to embrace new experiences, from ziplining across the Jordan River to making bread with his grandchildren. He was a talented craftsman, creating Adirondack chairs and vegetable gardens at the lake. Art’s love for learning inspired his family. His grandchildren, Lexie, Haley, Liam, Hannah, and Jack, shared countless adventures and cherished moments with their Zaida.
He was a talented card player, a voracious reader, and a lover of family dinners and games. Art’s legacy lives on in his children, Anita, Susan and Jason who have followed in his footsteps in various ways.
A special thank you to Juhn and Gerlie and several other dedicated caregivers who supported him like a family member. Thank you also to the wonderful staff at the Shaftesbury Park Retirement Residence and the Victoria Hospital.
Services were held on December 23, 2025, at the Shaarey Zedek Synagogue. Please consider a donation to the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba, Art and Adele Wortzman Fund.
Art’s life was a testament to the values of love, family, friendship, and adventure. His legacy will continue to inspire those who knew him.
Art, Dad and Zaida – you will be deeply missed, but your spirit will live on in each of us.