Sid Geen died on June 7th, three months shy of his 97th birthday.

Sid grew up with six siblings in a small house on Selkirk Avenue. As a teenager he helped his father deliver coal until he got his first outside job at Oretzki’s Department Store on Selkirk Avenue. Sid’s own children grew up in a house at 121 Cathedral Avenue east of Main. Then in 1969, Sid purchased a turn-of-the-century mansion at 147 West Gate where he was proud to live for the next 55 years.

Predeceased by his wife Shleema in 2009, he leaves a large family behind, including great-grandson Daniel who just turned seven and specifically requested that he be mentioned here.

Sid graduated from Law School in 1955 as Gold Medallist. He soon became recognized as an agressive litigator, often representing trade unions. In 1965 a judge issued an injunction shutting down the picket line of one of Sid’s clients. Five years later, as a member of the new NDP government, Sid passed what became known as the Green Amendment which guarantees the right of any person to walk down a public sidewalk carrying a placard for the purpose of “communicating true statements” – possibly the most comprehensive Freedom of Speech legislation in Canada, if not the world. (No, the Green Amendment does not allow protest groups to shut down Portage and Main.)

Sid was never bound by conventional wisdom, instead forming his own unique perspective on events. (Those perspectives were shared for years with readers of the Free Press until a leftward shift in editorial policy made Sid too politically incorrect.) A good example of Sid’s different point of view was Obamacare: while others debated the impact on doctors and patients, Sid predicted that the insurance companies would be the big winners. So he bought United Health and quickly doubled his money. (In fact he cashed out too soon…the shares have since gone up tenfold.) But surely nothing has had a greater public impact than his vision, in 1968, that the third-party NDP caucus should be setting its sights not on replacing the Liberals as the Official Opposition, but on seizing power as the actual government. It was Sid’s audacity in challenging for the party leadership that led directly to the “Draft Schreyer” movement and subsequent victory in the 1969 election. (The family is grateful to Ed for the moving words he spoke at Sid’s funeral in testimony to his long-time colleague’s integrity, ability, and loyalty.)

Despite his noted accomplishments in public life, Sid sometimes said that he actually achieved more in the field of law than in politics. That can be argued; but he has surely left a remarkable legacy in terms of family life: 15 grandchildren who, despite living in four continents, have retained intimate friendships well into adulthood – and also nine great-grandchildren (so far) whom we hope will look forward to the same. For this Sid must share the credit with his wife Shleema, who put on countless Passover dinners for the entire brood year after year; and also his daughter Cathy and husband Peter who generously hosted regular family vacations and ocean cruises.

Sid would not have wanted his interest in sports to go unmentioned. In university he was Slingin’ Sid, star quarterback of the Law School team. In his late 40s, he decided he should take up hockey, and eventually joined the Manitoba Steelers, who would welcome him to their scrimmages well into his 80s. He was an avid golfer who almost shot his age (93 when he was 91). As a spectator he enjoyed football, most likely because he could second-guess the plays called by the coaches. He also liked watching golf, despite enduring years of disappointment waiting for Greg Norman to win a major tournament.

We cannot conclude without mentioning Sid’s long-time companion Dwila Burns, who brightened Sid’s later years following the death of his wife in 2009. Sid and Dilly enjoyed road trips together and she was a welcome addition to our many family gatherings. Dilly’s sister Sonia was married to Sid’s Law School classmate Scott Wright, and her father, former premier D.L Campbell, long enjoyed a mutual admiration society with Sid.

Funeral service was held on June 9th at the Chesed Shel Emes, with interment at the Hebrew Sick on McPhillips. Donations in Sid’s honor may be made to Operation Smile Canada.