Obituaries
KERRY PAUL ROITENBERG
June 29, 1954-April 3, 2017
Kerry Roitenberg left us on Monday April 3, 2017 at the age of 62.
He is survived by his father Shom Roitenberg; his sister Janis; his brother and sister in-law Evan and Audra; and his nieces Lindsay and Jillian. Kerry was predeceased by his mother Sheila and his grandparents Rose and Jack Rittberg and Rose and Isaac Roitenberg. Kerry also leaves behind many cousins and friends, notably B and Jeff.
Kerry was born in 1954 and was the eldest of three. He attended Talmud Torah, Joseph Wolinsky Collegiate and Garden City Collegiate. Kerry was a gifted student and brilliant all around. He was an accomplished bridge player who played in many tournaments as a teen. He excelled at school and was a member of Reach for the Top teams in high school. He’d always wanted to practice law. Unfortunately, fate intervened.
Kerry was quite a musical talent. He joined Cantor Brownstone’s choir at a very early age and eventually was tapped to lead some synagogue services, even before his Bar Mitzvah. On the occasion of his Bar Mitzvah, he had to leave his own party early to attend the dress rehearsal for the show he was doing at Rainbow Stage.
His interests, however, went beyond school and music. Kerry loved sports. Kerry was a lifelong fan of the BC Lions, as they both came to being in 1954. Kerry was also a huge fan of the big bad Bruins in hockey. Underneath the wall hanging depicting a history of Bobby Orr’s uniforms, Kerry slept with a Boston Bruins blanket on his bed for as long as anyone can remember. It was Kerry’s love of sports that gave birth to his nickname: Koach. Kerry was a true coach: leading by example, teaching by doing, and he exemplified NEVER giving up.
In 1974, at the age of 20, Kerry underwent brain surgery at the Mayo Clinic. Following that surgery, but before he was left wheelchair bound, Kerry completed his Bachelor of Arts degree at the U of W. Three years post-surgery, having suffered a few seizures over that time, Kerry was left paralyzed and with some cognitive impairment from one final seizure in 1977. Since 1979, he had been a resident of Luther Home. That is where much of the legend of Kerry Roitenberg begins.
While others may have become sullen or sorrowful after being confined to a wheelchair, Kerry treated life with a sense of humour and positivity. He moved in to Luther Home at the age of 24 and left it last week as its unofficial mayor. Residents and staff gravitated towards him. It became evident that the staff and residents became part of Kerry’s family, and he, their’s. Kerry was at home there, not in ‘a home’, and he was with people who genuinely cared for him, not just as professional care givers. Such was Kerry. Such are the people at Luther Home.
Kerry was fun, whether it was playing a game of cribbage or chess, joking around, or confounding people with his own language of riddles and trivia. To speak with Kerry, especially when he was feeling playful or mischievous, was to have your mental acuity tested as he would use pop-culture references and trivial Hollywood stars of old, as reference points to express himself and tell a story. Kerry never lost his competitive spirit. In a game of cribbage, even establishing a one point lead was cause for a smiling Kerry to taunt with a cry of “SOMEBODY’S LOSING”. And he was insufferable when his Lions beat the “Blue Bumblers” as he called them.
Kerry participated in everything at Luther Home including sitting on the Residents Council. No current resident or staff member goes back to a time “pre-Kerry”, as he’d been there longer than all. The morning of Kerry’s passing, as he peacefully lay in his bed, there was a steady stream of staff and friends to Kerry’s room at Luther Home to say goodbye.
The way Kerry lived his life, the humour and compassion that he displayed in spite of the cards he was dealt, was a gift. He never let his limitations dictate a definition of who he was or who he wanted to be. He created happiness for himself on a daily basis. There were limits as to what he could do or express, but there were no limits as to what he could feel. There were no limits as to how much he could love, or be loved in return.
Funeral services were held on April 5, 2017 at Shaarey Zedek Synagogue, officiated by Rabbi Alan Green. Pallbearers were Ian Cramer, Dr. Sheldon Glow, Jeff Hirsh, Stuart Slayen, Daniel Yusim and Norman Yusim. Honorary pallbearers were Randy Cramer and Arthur “B” Hirsh. Art, a million “thank yous” are not enough.
Kerry’s family would like to thank Dr. Heather Domke for her care and compassion over the years. The family wishes to particularly thank the staff at Luther Home. Words can’t do justice to our gratitude for how Kerry was cared for and the quality of life he was afforded for nearly 38 years. To those inclined to donate in Kerry’s memory, please consider donating to the Luther Home Solarium Project.
Kerry, Koach, Uncle Kerry, we love you and will hold you in our hearts forever.
Obituaries
BARBARA ELAINE WINESTOCK
Barbara Elaine Winestock, maiden name Block, was born on the 27th of May 1951 to parents, Hymie and Gertie Block. She grew up in Hodgson, Manitoba and then Winnipeg’s north end with her parents and younger sister Ava. In short, Barbara was chaos.
In 1980, she married Larry Winestock, who she had met only months prior. When they remembered their plane tickets, the two traveled around the world and when they remembered their luggage, they did so with clothing. They were chronically late, habitually unprepared and perpetually entertaining. Their love was sincere and their fights were like cats and dogs with rabies. Their family would be completed after years of trying to adopt, when they got the “once in a lifetime” opportunity twice, adopting Gabriel in 1989 and Bailey in 1992.
Barbara was so many things to so many people. She did so much throughout her life. She sold advertising spots for CKRC, she taught at the Rady Centre, she sewed, she gardened, she painted and so much more. She was loud, outgoing and made friends everywhere she went.
In 2019 she was diagnosed with brain cancer and given a prognosis of 11 months. This impending date was however not enough to overwhelm her aforementioned chronic lateness. She wouldn’t make this appointment for another six years. She beat it for so long.
Barbara passed away on September 21, 2025. Due to the impending holidays the funeral was held on the 22nd of September at the Shaarey Zedek Cemetery. We miss you Bobs.
Obituaries
KEVIN ROSEN
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Kevin Rosen, aged 54, on Thursday, December 18, 2025, following a determined and courageous battle with ALS. Kevin was the beloved son of Harvey Rosen (z”l) and Judy Goodman, loving husband of Judi Price-Rosen, devoted father of Emery, cherished brother of Pam, and special brother-in-law of Barbi and Jared Green. He was also the proud uncle of Stella, Jakob, Miranda and Micah, a treasured cousin, and a loyal friend to so many.
Kevin was born in Winnipeg and grew up in Garden City where he attended Talmud Torah, Jefferson Junior High and Garden City Collegiate. He graduated from the University of Manitoba in 1996 with an Honours degree in Commerce and soon after, headed to Toronto. It was there that he met the love of his life, Judi, and they married in 2000. Soon after their wedding, the newlyweds returned to Winnipeg to start their new life together. For 25 years, their love for each other remained unwavering and strong. Kevin’s calm demeanor and his remarkable ability to find humour in any situation helped them weather life’s challenges together.
In 2006, Judi and Kevin became a family with the birth of their son, Emery. Kevin’s greatest joy was being a dad and fatherhood came naturally to him. He parented with patience, empathy and gentle guidance. Whether it was watching cartoons and funny TikTok clips together, or a surprise trip to Toronto to take in a Blue Jays game, Kevin always made “father-son time” a priority.
Kevin had a long and successful career in marketing and communications that began in Toronto, and continued in Winnipeg at Gateway Publishing. Most of his employment experience was in higher education. He was hired as Marketing Manager at Red River College in 2004, and in 2012, reached the pinnacle of his career as Executive Director of Marketing and Communications at the University of Winnipeg. Kevin led with integrity and humility and genuinely cared about the people he supervised. He was respected and well-liked by his colleagues and many remained in close touch after his early retirement.
Kevin was also an avid runner who completed seven full marathons. For years, he had trained his body and mind to push through that last gruelling mile with tenacity and intense focus. Like his favorite movie hero Rocky Balboa, Kevin was built for an epic fight. Little did he know that in his case, the stakes would be so much higher. The fight of Kevin’s life – and for his life – began with a diagnosis of ALS just months before he turned 50.
ALS may have changed his life, but Kevin never let it define him. He remained fiercely independent, continued to nurture relationships with family and friends, and welcomed visitors with a playful smile, a joke, and incredible patience. Even after he lost the ability to speak, Kevin’s quirky sense of humor remained, shining through via text, his computerized surrogate voice, and that signature glint in his eyes.
He was kindness personified. A wonderful listener. Loyal. Thoughtful. Humble. A true mensch.
To paraphrase his late father, we all won the lottery of life for having had the privilege of knowing and loving Kevin Rosen.
The family extends their heartfelt gratitude to the many doctors, nurses and specialists involved in Kevin’s care: the staff at the Motor Neuron Clinic, his WRHA Palliative Care Team, Diana at the ALS Society of Manitoba, “Smoky” Lisa and Brenda. Sincere appreciation to Harsh, Maggie, Avya and Harleen who honoured Kevin’s dignity and provided companionship at the most difficult stage of his illness.
Donations in Kevin’s memory can be made to the ALS Society of Manitoba or the University of Winnipeg.
A Celebration of Life is planned for the spring of 2026.
Obituaries
ALAN LEVY
On January 6, Alan Levy, age 71, died at Grace Hospital with his wife and daughters by his side.
Born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Alan spent his childhood in the North End and later moved to River Heights, where his family settled on Brock Street.
After studying in Winnipeg and Tel Aviv, Alan moved to Toronto, where he lived for over 30 years. It was in Toronto where he raised a family with his first wife, Sylvia Bashevkin, worked in public sector human resources and fell in love with Chinese food.
In 2017, after brief stints as an academic in Regina and Brandon, Alan moved back home to the Peg, where he spent many fulfilling years with his devoted wife of 20 years, Cheryl Karlinsky, and their loving dogs. In his later career, he was appointed to the Labour Relations Board of Canada where he served as a skilled adjudicator and proud Canadian.
Alan was endlessly proud of his family, daughters Dalia Levy and Aviva Levy (Adam Walman) of Toronto, and two grandsons, Jonah and Ethan.
Predeceased by his parents Sheldon and Audrey Levy (nee Myers) of Winnipeg, Alan was a dedicated news junkie with a sharp sense of humour. He thrived most when discussing current events, cracking jokes and debating geopolitical crises. Much to his family’s frustration, he would stay up all night glued to the news, and they’d wake up to endless articles he’d shared the night before.
Alan had an exceptionally strong spirit of generosity and focus on ‘tikkun olam’ – repairing the world, which lives on in his children and grandchildren. His family is grateful to the staff at Simkin for providing him with a phenomenal level of care over the last few years, especially Dr. Chung and Sara Reid, Assistant Director of Care. Special thanks to Paul, Victor and Almaze, his kind and patient caregivers.
The funeral took place at Chesed Shel Emes on January 8.
Donations in his memory can be made to The Saul and Claribel Simkin Centre https://www.simkincentre.ca.