Obituaries
Robert Nozick October 15, 1946 – June 13, 2023
Our family is deeply saddened to announce the passing of Robert Steven Nozick on June 13th. Robbie had lived with Parkinson’s for some 20 years, and it eventually took his life. He was interred June 15th at Shaarey Zedek Cemetery; his pallbearers were Jennifer Ritter, Kimberly Nozick, Josh Nozick, Jacob Steele, Alan Ritter and Brianna Ritter.
Robbie was predeceased by his parents Anne and Manuel, and is survived by and will be lovingly missed by his brother, Michael (Cheryl Ashley), his sister Marcia (Doug Aason), and nephews and nieces and grand-nieces and grand-nephews: Jennifer Ritter (Alan) and their twins Brianna and Madeline, Kimberly Nozick, Holly Steele, Joshua Nozick (Emily) and their children Scarlett and Cody, and Jacob Steele (Laura), and their children Alia and Mirabai. He will also be lovingly remembered by Rochelle Nozick.
Robbie led a life of great accomplishment. He was educated at Brock-Corydon, River Heights, and Grant Park schools, then graduated from the University of Manitoba, followed by Law School there, and completed his education at Harvard University where he earned a Masters Degree in Law, finishing 2nd in his class. He wrote a textual analysis of the Competitions Act of Canada and then taught for 18 years as a professor at the University of Alberta. He returned to Winnipeg where he continued his Law career, as an opinion writer for a major law firm and was often a consultant to major corporations and government.
Robbie was brilliant. When he wasn’t working, he was a master of all forms of number and word puzzles. He could solve the most complicated Sudoku and cryptic crosswords, in pen. He loved reading and thinking.
Robbie was one of those people for whom no one said an unkind word. He was known as a man of character and integrity, and like his father, was kind, gentle, and soft-spoken. An introvert, he was meek, humble, yet always attentive, honourable and trustworthy. He was a sports fan – loved watching the Blue-Jays, the Bombers and the Jets. Before he was housebound and while his Dad was still around, he and his Dad and brother Michael played cards together at the Montefiore Club – Robbie was a very good card player.
No matter what, even in time of great suffering, Robbie thought about and did for others. He lived through a terrible illness and he never complained. He was brave, accepting of his fate, and lived with grace and dignity. He was appreciative of even the smallest of gestures and never failed to express his appreciation and thanks. He was a good man, a true ‘mensch’.
Robbie was the ultimate fun-loving uncle, in full contact with his inner child with a panoply of goofy songs and dances. Until the last 5 years, when his disease did not allow him to, he came to family get-togethers, and he was often the hit of the party. He loved the weirdness of life and could not drag himself away from the macabre, from strange and bizarre unsolved mysteries, and the scariest of science fiction movies.
Robbie had a serious side too, where he pondered the wonders of the world and its issues, its randomness and unfairness. He was extremely well read and was more than just a skeptic about the financial world, often expounding, with great perception and clarity, on the greed and disingenuities of markets.
Our family would like to thank the doctors and nurses who helped Robbie over the course of his illness, and the team at MAID who helped him leave this world according to his wishes. We also want to thank Robbie’s many caregivers who helped him live with dignity. Your fondness and care for him, and his for you, is a testament to his kind, gentle, and loving nature. And we want, in particular, to thank those who helped him most, each in different ways, Loree, Aida and Neva. We are sure he will be especially missed by “his group” of close friends for their calls, stories and expressions of sympathy. And of course our heartfelt thanks to Rabbi Matthew Leibl for his kindness, compassion, and advice leading us through this difficult time and for the beautiful funeral service he led.
We have all been so proud of Robbie and how he has conducted what has been a difficult life. He remained an important part of all our lives through his illness until the end. He was and will remain much beloved and will be much missed. At the end we are sure he was thinking of joining his parents and we want to think they are reunited. For our part, he will remain in our hearts forever. Rest in peace Robbie.
For those so inclined, donations to Parkinson’s Canada (1-888-664 1973), or to Jewish Child and Family Services (204 477-7430) or a charity of your choice, are appreciated.
Obituaries
EARL (ARIE) PERLMUTTER
We are saddened to announce the passing of our dear friend and cousin Arie Perlmutter at the age of 77. Arie died peacefully after a brief but difficult struggle with cancer on April 12, 2025.
He was predeceased by his parents, Hymie and Thelma and by his beloved sister Sheila.
Arie developed and maintained many close friends throughout his life. He attended St. John’s High in the 60s and kept in touch with many of his classmates. He began his working life as a delivery driver for City Bread. This was followed by a career of over 20 years at Advance Electronics, where he was a well-respected and expert sales associate. He hung out at North End Sals, for virtually his entire life, discussing (arguing? kibitzing?) with many people too numerous to name, the issues of the day but especially about sports, and most especially about baseball.
In his retired life, he was a member of Larters Golf Club, golfing with much enthusiasm and passion, if not prowess. Arie donated to and volunteered at the Winnipeg Humane Society for many years.
His family and friends would like to thank the staff at the St. Boniface Hospital whose compassionate and caring attention to Arie in his final days was truly a great comfort to him.
In keeping with Arie’s wishes, cremation has taken place and no funeral will be held.
Obituaries
IRENE MARANTZ (nee KATZ) November 28-1930 – March 30, 2025
Our mother, Irene , passed peacefully in her own home at the age of 94. Irene was predeceased by: her parents, Abe and Sally Katz , her husband; Cyril Marantz, sister Clarice Rosenbloom, brother Max Katz, sister Bernice Grant, her sons-in-law Mike Langer and Bruce Cook
Irene is survived by her children: Jeff Marantz and Barb, Debra Marantz, Susan Marantz, Ellen Marantz, and brother Harvey Katz; her grandchildren, Sarah Marantz Lindenberg and Ira, David Marantz and Olivia; her great-grandchildren Rose, Izabella and Max; and many nieces, nephews and friends.
Our mother was born in Fort Francis, Ontario. After meeting and marrying my father Cyril she moved to Winnipeg. Mom loved that she moved to Winnipeg and had this large Jewish community for which she became an integral part of and it became a major part of her life.
Once her youngest daughter Ellen was in school, she went to work at the family business : Marantz and son, as a bookkeeper, and worked there until her early 70s.
Irene love to go to synagogue and be a part of Rosh Pina congregation. She was also a member of the sisterhood and was very involved in the activities in and around the synagogue. She was so grateful to learn Hebrew and to be able to participate in the Shabbat and other holiday services.
She spent every summer since the birth of her eldest son Jeff, at Winnipeg Beach.
She loved the beach riding her bike, going for long walks, meeting with her beach friends, playing cards and sharing good meals.
Irene was a kind soul.
She never had a negative word to say about anybody and nobody ever had anything but a kind word to say about her.
Her family was the light of her life. She encouraged her children to pursue their dreams and be the best they could be.
She was a loving and caring grandmother to her grandchildren, and her home was always opened to them, her friends, her children’s friends and even to strangers.
Funeral was held on April 2
Pall bearers were : David Marantz, Ira Lindenberg, Allan Marantz, Ari Marantz, Stephen Rosenbloom, Hartley Katz. Honorary pall bearer: Josh Marantz
Obituaries
SYLVIA BASS NOVEMBER 19, 1924 – MARCH 14, 2025
On March 14,2025, after a very long life and a brief illness Sylvia Bass (nee Breitman) passed away peacefully. She is survived by son Ken, daughter Robyn Lerner (Neal) and grandchildren Jordyn (Tina), Shea (Anna) and Blake (Jacqueline). She is predeceased by her husband Harold and her four siblings (Alvin, Joseph, Belle and Shirley).
Sylvia was born on November 19, 1924, and had her North End Winnipeg childhood shaped by the rigours of the Great Depression. When the warehouse that employed her father went out of business in 1931 her mother, a seamstress, regularly worked late into the night to keep the family from destitution.
In 1942 Sylvia graduated from Isaac Newton High School with an A average and entered the world of work as a receptionist and secretary. In the pre- Dictaphone era this was a challenging vocation, requiring mastery of the arcane language of Gregg and Pitman shorthand. Her employers included Dr. Art Lerner and a forerunner agency of Jewish Child and Family Services.
In 1948 Sylvia met her life partner Harold Bass, an auto mechanic and auto body shop proprietor. After they married, at the fashionable Marlborough Hotel, she devoted herself to providing a home for her husband and children -Ken, born in 1950 and Robyn, in 1960. Her responsibilities increased in the Fall of 1966 when Harold decided on a radical career change, from the auto trades to government employment as a welfare worker.This meant attending an eleven month college course, available only in Brandon.
Sylvia was always sociable, enjoying the company of her Garden City neighbours, her many friends and her large extended family. For many years she was active in Pioneer Women (Na’amat), and a memorable 1971 trip to Israel strengthened her connection with the homeland. She and Harold also travelled to Chicago and Florida, as well as several trips to Las Vegas, where she indulged the Breitman family taste for gambling.
In their later years Sylvia and Harold focused their attention on their grandchildren, letting everyone know of their many and various accomplishments. Unfortunately, in 2009 Harold suffered serious health problems and was no longer able to live at home. He died the next year. Because her natural sociability made living alone out of the question Sylvia moved to the Portsmouth Retirement Residence, where she was a vital part of the community for the next sixteen years.
The funeral took place at the Chesed Shel Emes on Sunday, March 16 with interment at the Shaarey Zedek cemetery, Rabbi Anibal Mass presiding. Pallbearers were Jordyn Lerner, Shea Lerner, Blake Lerner, Harrison Katz, Ramy Penner and Benji Winestock. Neal Lerner, David Davis and Ken Bass were honorary pallbearers. Our thanks to the caring staff at the Portsmouth, JTRC Care Services and the Grace Hospital. Special thanks to Dr. Terry Babick, who cared for Sylvia for many years and helped her to reach 100.
Anyone wishing to make a donation is asked to do so to an Israeli – linked charity of their choice.
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