Obituaries
MORTON AARON SLUSKY
Our much-loved dad and zaida died suddenly on March 23, 2018, three months shy of his 94th birthday.
Mort was predeceased by his beloved wife Lee, his brother Irv and his partner Fay Glass. He leaves to mourn his children Maxa and Cliff Chisick and Jeffrey and Cindy Slusky; grandchildren Casey Chisick and Sophie Milman, Josh and Laura Chisick, Daniel and Baillie Chisick, Lee Slusky and Zachary Slusky; and great-grandchildren Lev, Jacob, Lyla, Talia, Maya and Asher Chisick.
Mort was born on June 27, 1924, the elder son of Rae and Max Slusky. He grew up in the North End, graduated from St. John’s Tech, and worked as a dining car waiter on passenger trains before enlisting in the Canadian Navy during the Second World War. He trained as a radio operator and was stationed at several locations in the Caribbean before the war’s end.
After his discharge, Mort attended the University of Manitoba Law School and was called to the bar in 1951. His brother Irv followed in 1953 and they practised law as Slusky & Slusky until Mort retired in 1999. As a lawyer, Mort was admired for his honesty, integrity, compassion, and dedication to his clients, some of whom continued to seek out his wise counsel long after his retirement.
Mort and Lee Rombom were married on December 25, 1949. They settled into the Grove Apartments on Main Street and began building their life together. Maxa was born in 1952, and Jeff in 1961, about the time they moved to their new home on Sweetwood Bay in then-mostly undeveloped Garden City. Worried about Maxa’s diminutive 10-year-old, 50-pound frame, Mort set about plumping her up with nightly Dairy Queen milkshakes after dinner. (Mission accomplished, Daddy; thanks.) Mort and Lee shared a traditional, loving marriage, rooted in their mutual devotion to their children and, in time, to their three eldest grandsons, Casey, Josh, and Daniel. Tragically, Lee passed away in 1989, at only 62, before grandsons Lee and Zach arrived to complete their family.
Late in his life, Mort was fortunate to meet Fay Glass, with whom he shared nearly a decade of happiness until her untimely death in 2007.
Mort was a devoted, loving zaida whose face lit up whenever his grandchildren were near. He delighted in regular family dinners and visits and that enjoyment grew even stronger when Casey, Josh, and Daniel married and provided him with three beautiful, talented granddaughters who loved and respected him. And just when he thought things couldn’t get any better, great-grandchildren started to appear about six years ago, recharging his batteries and putting an indelible smile on his face. The lives of his six great-grandchildren have been enriched permanently by time spent with their Zaida Mort.
Cursed with a lighting-fast swing and shaky putting stroke, Mort was nevertheless an enthusiastic golfer well into his ninth decade, and was rewarded with four holes-in one for his efforts. He served on Glendale Country Club’s board for several years. He passed his passion for golf (along with the shaky putting stroke) on to Jeff, for whom it remains an obsession.
Mort’s early life was steeped in Judaism and he remained invested in Jewish customs and traditions throughout his life. He was a longtime member of Rosh Pina Synagogue and served on its board of directors for many years.
Although reluctant at first, Mort grew to enjoy life at Shaftesbury Park Retirement Residence, where he rekindled old friendships and formed many new ones. He was an active and eager participant in social programs and trivia competitions, where his razor-sharp recall kept him well-stocked in Kit-Kat bars.
Until the very last day of his life, Mort carried himself with great dignity, good humour, and a proud independence that will always be an inspiration to his family. As a family friend, struck by his gentlemanliness, memorably put it, he was “a man who wore his tuxedo on the inside.”
Mort’s family would like to extend heartfelt thanks to the staff at Shaftesbury Park for treating him with the kindness and respect he deserved. We are also grateful to Dr. Terry Szajkowski for his extraordinary kindness, excellent care and reassuring availability.
A funeral service was held March 25 at Congregation Etz Chayim, officiated by Cantor Tracy Kasner Greaves. Pallbearers were Mort’s five grandsons and his nephew Alan Slusky.
He will be loved, missed
and remembered forever.
Donations may be made to Jewish Child and Family Services, Agape Table or any charity of choice.
Obituaries
SAMUEL SEARLE October 29, 1930 – December 1, 2025
Our dear father, Sam, passed away on December 1, 2025, after a long, rich life of 95 years.
Dad shared almost 67 of those years with our dear mother, his beloved wife, Betty, who predeceased him in April of 2024. Sam was also predeceased by his parents, Dora and David Cirulnikov; three of his four older sisters, Bernice Brownstone, Marion Toffick, Luba Sitchin, and their respective spouses; and his sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Doreen and Garry Shapera.
He is survived by his children Sharna, Lorne (Barbara) and Beverlee (Barry); grandchildren Evan, Aaron, Jamie and Matthew; sister Eve Blank; many nieces and nephews who adored him and for whom he was Uncle Sammy; several cousins; and many friends and former colleagues. All delighted in his company.
Sam was the youngest and only son in a family of five children. His parents emigrated from Russia in the late 1920s with his three oldest sisters. Eve was born shortly after they arrived in Canada and Sam in 1930. The family lived in Winnipeg’s North End and Sam attended public schools and the Talmud Torah night school. During the summers, and part-time throughout the years while continuing his education, he worked as a short order cook at both the Silver Grill Restaurant and Arcade Deli. Dad made his legendary, piled-high sandwiches into his eighties!
After graduating high school from St. John’s Tech, Sam was accepted into the Faculty of Architecture at the University of Manitoba, and ultimately went on to enjoy a very accomplished career as a partner with MMP, a major local architectural firm, and later, as a founding partner/developer with Duraps Corporation and Pine Hill Development Corp. In a career that spanned almost half a century, Sam made his mark on the landscape of Winnipeg and other North American cities, having been involved in the design and construction of private residences, schools, concert halls, fire halls, university and government buildings, and the development of condominiums, residential subdivisions, shopping centres and industrial land.
In addition to his professional life, Sam was also a dedicated community volunteer. A long-standing member of the Rotary Club of Winnipeg North, Dad was awarded Rotary International’s highest honour, the Paul Harris Fellow medallion, for his contributions and service to the organization. He also served on the board of the Rosh Pina Synagogue for several terms and was a charter member of the Bel Acres Golf & Country Club.
Dad was also a talented, and ambidextrous, artist, a curler, green thumb, dapper dresser and terrific dancer. He and Betty always lit up a dance floor!
Sam shared a wonderfully rich family life with Betty. Married in 1957, they moved four years later into the mid-century modern masterpiece that Sam designed for them in Garden City (a then new, north end Winnipeg neighbourhood) and in which they remained throughout their entire marriage. The house magically expanded and contracted as needed and saw its share of fabulous parties, Passover Seders and a multitude of family simchas and other joyous gatherings. As parents, they were loving, excellent role models who encouraged strong family connections. As grandparents, Zaida Sam and Bobbie Betty were the best – adoring, proud, involved and a lot of fun!
Locally, Sam and Betty enjoyed attending the symphony, chamber music and jazz concerts, the opera, the Folk Festival and the theatre. Their worldly travels took them to Mexico, Israel, China, Cuba, Europe, the Caribbean and North American camping trips and ski holidays. Closer to home, their cottage in Gimli (Loni Beach), MB, was a focal point for family and friends every summer.
Our father was a man of unwavering integrity, with a mischievous twinkle in his eye and a generosity of spirit. Respected and respectful, Sam Searle was a great guy, a real mensch. He will be deeply missed.
The last year and four months of Dad’s life were spent at the Simkin Centre. Sharing an ice cream and a smile, singing with him, particularly at the “Friday Night Lights” Shabbat service, were precious moments.
Sam passed away peacefully at the Grace Hospital. We are grateful for the care and kindness provided by the staff at both institutions. A heartfelt thank you, as well, to Sharon Merrells, the ultimate “Sam whisperer,” for her years of care and dedication, especially over those last challenging 16 months.
The graveside funeral service, held on December 4, 2025, at the Rosh Pina Memorial Park, was warmly officiated, on a freezing morning, by Rabbi Kliel Rose. The pallbearers were grandchildren Evan, Aaron and Jamie Searle and Matthew Pearl, son-in-law Barry Pearl and great nephew Gavin Shapera.
Donations may be made to the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba’s “Betty & Sam Searle Memorial Fund” or to a charity of your choice.
Obituaries
JEAN SHIRLEY KOPSTEIN February 14, 1934 – January 11, 2026
Jean Shirley Kopstein passed away peacefully, a month shy of her 92nd birthday, with her three devoted children by her side.
Known to her family as Shaney, Jean will be deeply missed by her children, Ivy (Murray), Ruth, and Alan; her grandchildren, Louis, Minnie (Patrick), Leo (Ashley), and Max (Brynne); her great-grandchild, Margot; her brothers, Martin (Grace) and Gary; as well as her nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Jean was born on Valentine’s Day in 1934 in Montreal. In 1939, her family returned to Winnipeg, where they settled in the city’s North End. During her second year at the University of Manitoba, Jean met Bobby Kopstein, the light of her life. They married on June 23, 1954. That same year, Jean graduated as a teacher and taught for three years before choosing to stay home to raise their family.
Later in life, Jean embarked on a deeply meaningful professional career and left her mark on every organization she served. She worked as a counsellor at the Addictions Foundation of Manitoba, went on to become Director of Staff Development and Training for the provincial Department of Corrections, and was seconded by the government to establish the Manitoba Women’s Directorate. She was often described as an inspiration – a wonderful colleague, a thoughtful leader, and a great friend.
Jean had many passions and immersed herself fully in all of them. She loved travelling with Bob and had a keen appreciation for music, art, design, fashion, film, and food from many cultures – always in search of the perfect muffin! She formed deep bonds with family and friends, with constant concern for the well-being of those she loved. Jean and Bob were humanists who led by example, instilling strong values in their family.
Jean had a unique and engaging presence. She was outgoing, vivacious, curious, and intelligent. She lit up a room with her energy and her beautiful, warm smile.
Diagnosed with glaucoma in her 60s, Jean began a long and challenging period in her life. After the loss of Bob in 2014, she faced further health difficulties. Despite these challenges, her desire to live fully never waned. She remained interested in the world around her and took great joy in family dinners, trips to Winnipeg Beach, and spending time with family and friends.
The family extends heartfelt thanks to everyone involved in Jean’s care over the many years, especially those who went above and beyond. They are deeply grateful to Shaftesbury Park for its support, and in particular to Jean’s caregivers for their outstanding care, compassion, and kindness. The family also thanks the clergy and staff of the Shaarey Zedek Synagogue for their services and support.
Donations in Jean’s memory may be made to the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba or to a charity of your choice.
Obituaries
ISADORE (IZZY)MINUK (Z”L) JULY 5, 1927 – DECEMBER 30, 2025
With great sadness, we announce the passing of Isadore (Izzy) Minuk, on December
30, 2025, at the age of 98.
Izzy was born on July 5, 1927, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the third of five boys born to Tibel and Ben Minuk. Izzy was predeceased by his beloved wife Merle Minuk and his
cherished son Morley Minuk.
Izzy leaves to mourn his children Martin Minuk (Stephanie), Linda Rabkin (Jack), Jeffrey Minuk (Lora) and Cheryl Bokhaut (Bradley), thirteen grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
Our father was a man of great wisdom, kindness, strength and resilience. He was
fiercely devoted to his family. He was committed to his health and well-being and a longtime member of the Rady JCC.
Izzy spent his last years at the Simkin Centre. Our family would like to express its appreciation and thanks to the Staff and Administration of the Simkin Centre for their attentive care.
Donations in Izzy’s honour may be made to the Merle and Isadore (Izzy) Memorial Fund
at the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba, the Simkin Centre or the Rady JCC.
Daddy will always be our sweetheart