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.