Obituaries
MENORAH WALDMAN
It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Menorah Waldman on Wednesday, November 18, at the age of 95. Menorah lived a full and rich life, filled with family, friends, music, theatre, literature, Yiddishkeit and so much more.
Menorah leaves behind an extended clan of family and friends to celebrate her life and mourn her passing — her son Dovid and daughter Yona (Cam); grandchildren Louise (David), Sarah (Shawn), Marin (Sam), Charlotte (Jason) and Ryder; great-grandchildren Riel, Aliyah, Eva, Cassady and Cleo; and daughter-in-law Diane. The matriarch of the Waldman clan, she is also mourned by her nephews and nieces, her great-nieces and -nephews and many cousins. She also leaves her oldest and dearest friend, Jeanette. A sign of Menorah’s warm and welcoming nature was that her door was always open to everyone, and so the friends of all her kids and relations grew to know and love her too. She was predeceased by her parents Charles and Sarah Gorvich, her son Aili; grandson Cassady; husband Bert; nieces Shira and Carol; and most of her long-time friends.
The only child of Charles and Sarah Gorvich, Menorah grew up in the North End, attending Machray and St. John’s before going to university, a privilege at the time. She remained an active intellectual all her life and an especially avid reader, usually juggling several books at once.
She and Bert married in August 1945 and several years later, bought their first house on Lansdowne east of Main. They moved to Woodcrest Drive in a new and growing section of Garden City in 1963, where, together, they continued to raise their three children Aili, Dovid and Yona, while supporting and working for many community organizations, including Habonim and Chevra Mishnayes Synagogue. Menorah was an active member of the North End Yiddish Folk Choir, Pioneer Women/Na’amat and other organizations. Her commitment to community was lifelong – she volunteered with the Fringe Festival, WSO, PTE, Jewish Child and Family Services and the Gwen Secter Creative Living Centre, where she also served as Chair of the Board for a number of years.
A feminist before the word existed, Menorah worked most of her life, retiring in her 60s to take up a new career as a certified fitness instructor, an accreditation she maintained until age 89. She regularly taught aquafit, aerobics and weight classes to seniors and others, in addition to swimming almost daily. She taught at the downtown Y, at the North End Centennial Pool, at Heidelberg Villa on Edmonton, and Lions’ Place on Portage. We believe she was the oldest contract employee of the City of Winnipeg! She also began swimming competitively at the Masters Level in her 70s, participating in many Manitoba Seniors’ Games and winning dozens of medals over the years.
Menorah leaves behind a rich legacy of activism. She was a lifelong socialist – in her youth she helped build the Habonim camp at Sandy Hook (Camp Massad). She knocked on doors for progressive candidates, marching against war, sexism and racism and cheerfully walking in Pride parades in support of beloved family and friends. She remained politically active and engaged up until the onset of dementia in her early 90s.
Menorah’s funeral was held graveside on November 19 at the Rosh Pina Memorial Park, with Rabbi Kliel Rose officiating. The family is grateful for his warm and compassionate service. The five mourners/pallbearers were family Dovid, Robbie and Louise Waldman, Phil Spevack and Diane Zack. A Zoom shiva was held on November 20 with more than 30 participants, including, appropriately, children running around in the background, which was exactly as Menorah would have wished.
Her family would like to express its gratitude to the staff and volunteers at the Simkin Centre for their compassionate and loving care, in particular to the staff on Simkin 1.
If you choose, donations in her memory can be made to the Spiritual Care Fund at the Saul and Claribel Simkin Centre or to Gwen Secter Creative Living Centre.
Obituaries
LOUIS ELFENBAUM March 12, 1936 – December 9, 2024
With great sadness, we announce the passing of Dr. Louis Elfenbaum. Louis was a popular Professor of Kinesiology at California State University, Sacramento. He taught for 38 years and then retired and moved to San Diego, California, with his wife, Elizabeth.
Born in rural Lipton, Saskatchewan, on March 12, 1936, Louis was the youngest of six children of Abraham and Dora Elfenbaum. With his siblings, Louis braved the harsh Canadian climate to maintain the family farm.
At age 14, Louis moved to Winnipeg, Manitoba, where he lived with his sister and attended St. John’s High School. In high school, Louis was extremely popular, an excellent student, an accomplished athlete, and was voted school president.
After high school, Louis studied at Manitoba Teachers’ College and began his teaching career. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Bemidji State College in Minnesota, followed by a Master of Science in Physical Education from the University of North Dakota. He earned his Doctorate in Kinesiology from Ohio State University in 1966. His early professorships were at West Texas State University (now West Texas A&M) and prestigious McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
In 1970, Louis accepted a full professorship at California State University, Sacramento where he taught Kinesiology for close to four decades. During his tenure as a professor, Louis pursued his interest in law, earning his J.D. degree from Lincoln Law School in 1982.
Louis cared deeply about his students, offering a special lecture about life that attracted students not only from his department, but also from the entire university. He valued intellectual curiosity and fostered that spirit in his students as well as his four children, who have all pursued higher education earning advanced degrees.
Louis had a magnetic personality. He was kind, patient, generous, caring, honest and selfless. Those attributes had a lasting positive impact on everyone he met. He was adored by his family including his children, grandchildren, brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, and cousins, who greatly valued his wisdom, his guidance and his unconditional love.
Louis is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Lefcort, (pre-deceased by his ex-wife Esther—d. 2018–and mother of) his four children, Adrian Elfenbaum (JoAnne Winter), Ian Elfenbaum (Susan Adler), Marcia Elfenbaum, Pamela Elfenbaum (David Klein), 2 stepchildren, 13 grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
Obituaries
GARY MELTZER January 28, 1953 – July 31, 2024
It is with deep sorrow that we announce the peaceful passing of Gary Martin Meltzer on Wednesday, July 31, 2024, at the Grace Hospital, surrounded by his loving family. Born on January 28, 1953, in Beausejour, Manitoba,
Gary was the cherished son of Arnie and Helen Meltzer (née Shore).
Gary was predeceased by his devoted parents, Arnie and Helen Meltzer, and his brother, Allan Meltzer. He is survived by his nephew Jonathan Meltzer (Sean), niece Megan Meltzer, his great-niece Gabby Meltzer and his great-nephews, Jerrod Meltzer and Benji Carroll. Gary will be deeply missed by his many cousins. He shared a particularly close relationship with his cousin Jennifer Curtis-Lane. Jennifer’s steadfast presence by Gary’s side in his final days was a testament to their deep connection. Gary’s love extended to Jennifer’s husband Deon and their three daughters, Sophie, Abby, and Emily.
Gary’s early years were spent in Beausejour Manitoba, where his father Arnie and Uncle Sid started their business. Those days were filledwith the warmth and joy of a large extended family. In 1964, the Meltzer family moved to Winnipeg, settling on Hartford Avenue in West Kildonan, where Gary attended West Kildonan Collegiate before earning his CPA degree from the University of Manitoba.
A naturally private person, Gary was happiest when surrounded by family and talking about politics, sports or current events. His fondest memories were of summers spent at Winnipeg Beach with his Margulius and Shore cousins. As he grew older, Gary became more reserved, quietly excelling in a wide range of skills. Whether fixing cars, repairing things around the house, or building intricate model airplanes and cars, Gary’s talents were many, yet he never sought attention for them.
Gary’s aptitude for numbers and building, found a perfect outlet in his career as a CPA and bookkeeper for companies specializing in window manufacturing and installation. His professional career eventually took him from the back office to the factory floor where his last few years were spent building windows andother items that used to fill his spreadsheets. His professional skills were matched by a deep love for hockey. As a devoted Winnipeg Jets 1.0 season ticket holder, Gary was known for his passionate “coaching” from his favourite chair during away games.
Gary was a man of habit and tradition. He frequented the Salisbury House at Main Street and Matheson for coffee and the Green Briar Inn for beers with friends. His vanity license plate, “GO AWAY,” became infamous in the family, a quirky symbol of his unique personality.
One of Gary’s lesser-known talents was baking. He took pride in mastering his mother’s cherished recipes, often sharing his creations with Jennifer and her daughters, who were his willing taste-testers.
Gary’s big heart was often hidden beneath a quiet demeanour, but his family always knew they could count on him. Whether helping with a move, installing appliances, or giving advice on home improvements, Gary was always there.
After his father Arnie fell ill, Gary remained at home to help his mother. He continued to help Helen adjust to life without Arnie, demonstrating his unwavering dedication to family.
The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to the staff on the 3rd floor of the Grace Hospital for their compassionate care during Gary’s final weeks, with special gratitude to Nurse Tyler for his empathy and kindness.
A special thank you to Tracey Kasner for conducting Gary’s funeral and capturing his essence. Funeral service was held on Friday, August 2, 2024, at the Hebrew Sick Cemetery.
Pallbearers included Jonathan Meltzer, Megan Meltzer, Jennifer Lane, Jeffrey Curtis, Rick Shore, and Leon Pincovich.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Jewish Federation of Winnipeg or Cancer- Care Manitoba.
Gary will be remembered for his quiet strength, his selflessness, and the love he had for his family. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
Obituaries
JERRY MOSCOVITCH
Jerry Moscovitch, husband to Gloria and father to Susan and Dan passed away at the Simkin Centre January 2, 2025.
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