Malcolm Neil Chernick passed away at Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs, California on June 4, 2019 at the age of 78, from complications related to cancer.
He was predeceased by his wife Vera, who passed just a few months earlier, as well as his brother Victor. Neil will be dearly missed by his three sons Cory (Holly), Jonas (Nicki) and Daryn (Krissy) and his grandchildren Ethan, Caleb, Morley, Kal, Izzy, Zoe, Kayleigh and Breeana, and his dog Ally. He will also be remembered by his brother Grant (Catherine), his sisters-in-law Sophie, Esther (Peter) and Rose (Ron), and his first wife and mother of his children, Erla Glesby. Born and raised in Winnipeg, Neil worked the CP Rail kitchen train cars in his younger years, working his way through law school at University of Manitoba. He served as in-house lawyer for CP Rail for 30 years at the office in the old historic train station at Higgins & Main, retiring on almost the very day he turned 55. Neil relocated to sunny Palm Springs where he met Vera and spent his days on the golf course, sipping coffee with friends and twirling Vera on the dance floor on Saturday nights. Neil’s late father, Harry Chernick, was known by many piano bar patrons in Winnipeg, Palm Springs and around the world as “Winnipeg Harry”, and Neil embodied the same class, style and dignity as his crooner father. Neil cherished his many visits with his sons, daughters-in-law and grandchildren over the decades, whether in a fishing boat on the Winnipeg River, at baby naming ceremonies, Bar Mitzvahs and weddings, over Chinese Food, Kelekis and corned beef sandwiches, or playing poker in a rustic cabin. The family wishes to express their sincere appreciation to Neil’s dear friends Gary and John, and to his in-home nurse Tony, for their love, care and attention in his final days.
