Percy died peacefully at his home in Winnipeg on June 26, 2019 surrounded by the people who loved him most. He was 97 years old.
He is survived by and will be deeply missed by his four children, Hennie Corrin (Richard Corrin), Barbara Goldberg, Patrice Goldberg and Laurence Goldberg (Diane Spivak); seven grandchildren, Matthew Corrin (Kate Corrin), Rachel Nedelec (Adam Nedelec), Adam Corrin (Lexi Corrin), Jonathan Goldberg, Rebecca Goldberg, Eric Meche and Michael Goldberg; and six great-grandchildren, Annie and Whitney Corrin; Lyla, Charlie and Madden Nedelec; and Piper Corrin; and will be sadly missed by his brother-in-law and sister-in-law Paul and Karen Morton and by his many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his wife of 61 years, Elaine Goldberg in 2016, his parents, Morris and Flossie Goldberg, his brother Stanley Goldberg, his sister and brother-in-law Eileen and Barry Tessler and his sister and brother-in-law Adele and Sidney Standil.
Percy had a certain something special that touched people he encountered in an endearing and indelible way. He was a great conversationalist and an engaged and deferential listener. Everyone he met felt embraced by his warm and welcoming nature.
He was born in Winnipeg on August 15, 1921 and spent his formative years in Altona, Manitoba. He attended the University of Manitoba (B.A. 1942) and then the University of Toronto (D.D.S. 1946). He returned to the prairies and spent the first few years of his dentistry career in Altona before setting up permanently at 807 Portage Ave. in Winnipeg. He practiced for 47 years and contrary to stereotype, enjoyed and was rewarded by the practice of dentistry and the people he encountered along the way.
Percy met Elaine Morton in the lobby of the Royal York Hotel before the 1953 Grey Cup game. They were married four months later and in less than five years they had four children. Theirs was a long and loving marriage and family was always the most important thing in both of their lives. He loved and supported and provided for his family and extended family until his last day.
Percy led quietly and by example. To all who knew him, he was a model of how to live and age gracefully. Many people relied on his wisdom and good judgment. He was fiercely independent, never uttered a complaint and always put his own needs last. He was even-keeled and patient, modest and dignified. “Everything in moderation” was an expression he used and lived his life by. He loyally supported the Jets and Bombers (and, at the end, even the Raptors), read widely and was intellectually engaged in life until the very end.
As his strength declined, there were many people who stepped in to coordinate his care and for whom he became a respected and trusted friend. The family would especially like to thank Edith Mendoza, Maryann Cuevas, Leonara Mamorno, Maria Taflan, Jasmin Lamsen and Issac Okunola and Dr. Kevin Coates for his exemplary and trusted care.
Funeral services will be held Friday, June 28, 2019 at 1:30 p.m. at Shaarey Zedek Synagogue, 561 Wellington Crescent, Winnipeg and followed by a gathering of friends and family at 622 Park Blvd. West, Winnipeg. Shiva will be observed in Winnipeg on Sunday June 30 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at 622 Park Blvd. West, Winnipeg; and in Toronto on Monday, July 1 and Tuesday, July 2 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at 226 Stibbard Avenue, Toronto.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Percy’s memory to the Elaine and Percy Goldberg Fund at the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba (www.jewishfoundation.org / Tel. (204) 477-7520) or CancerCare Manitoba Foundation (www.cancercarefdn.mb.ca / Tel. (204) 787-4177).
