Obituaries
KENNETH A. FILKOW, Q.C.
Kenneth A. Filkow QC, a prominent Manitoba lawyer, a leading member of the community and a devoted husband, father and grandfather passed away on Monday, October 27, 2014.
Over his 73 years of life, Ken touched so many people in meaningful ways.
Ken taught his children, Kevin, Shaun and Lainie, about the importance of living productive lives, about being caring individuals and about being aware of what’s happening in the world around them. He was always available and supportive and wise in his advice.
His grandchildren, Jesse and Ari Filkow in Vancouver, and Molly and Shae Borzykowski in Toronto thought he was a rock star. He was fun and creative; they loved his games and stories. He was a special father in law to Debbi-Jo Matias and to Bryan Borzykowski.
Ken was a loving and proud husband. For 44 years, he and Sharon were a great force. They created a life, rich with family, friends and experiences. Sadly, Sharon passed away in June 2008. Ken very much missed her.
Ken was an esteemed and highly sought-after lawyer. He had a distinguished legal career over 48 years. Without exception, his clients, and the lawyers and judges and others with whom he worked all had tremendous respect for him.
Ken had a brilliant legal and strategic mind, extraordinary communication skills and negotiating abilities. There are many reasons why Ken was exceptional legal counsel, but the main one was that he loved what he did. To Ken, law wasn’t a job – it was a calling. There was never a day in his life where he didn’t want to go to work, even when tackling very complicated cases. He took no shortcuts. He was a special mentor to many lawyers, junior and senior. Honesty and fairness were fundamental to his life and to his legal work.
Ken did so much more – he was the longest serving chairperson of the Manitoba Human Rights Commission; he ran Klondike Sterling Glove, the business his father, Alec and his mother, Evelyn started. He managed political campaigns and politicians at all levels would often call on him for advice.
Ken had a lot of friends. Every day he would go for breakfast and lunch with the widest range of people. No one wanted to end a conversation with Ken. He was interesting and he was funny and he listened. He knew so much about so much. Many people confided in Ken and he helped them.
As remarkable as Ken’s life was, it wasn’t always easy. He lost a son, he lost a wife and then became sick himself.
How he carried himself in the last few months speaks volumes about the kind of person Ken was. He continued working, he made time for his children and grandchildren and he fought as hard as he could to keep living his life.
Ken used to say that life is not for sissies, but while he recognized life was tough, he never complained. He loved life and he loved the people he met throughout it.
Ken was loved, admired and respected. He will be missed.
Donations can be made to the Ken and Sharon Filkow fund at Manitoba Cancer Care.
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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