Obituaries
THE HONOURABLE CHARLES NATHAN RUBIN
The Honourable Charles N. Rubin passed away peacefully on July 31, 2022, at the Riverview Health Centre in Winnipeg, surrounded by his family, at the age of 89.
He was born October 23, 1932, in Fort William, Ontario, the son of Sam and Yhetta Rubin (nee Dodyk) who immigrated from Poland in the 1920s. He was predeceased by his parents, his brother Max (Blanche), and his sisters, Dorothy Levine (Morris “Moishe”) and Loraina Rubin. He leaves behind his beloved wife of 57 years, Naida (nee Fingard); his children, Benee, Greg (Jenny), Laurie and Adam (Sarah); and his grandchildren, Brynn, Chelsea, Sydney, Robyn, Samantha, Jenna and Jeremy; and his niece Marcia Levine.
Chuck – as most called him, was raised in Fort William, ON and attended Fort William Collegiate graduating in 1951. He then attended the University of Manitoba and obtained a Bachelor of Arts in 1954 where he was elected Senior Stick. He went on to complete law school at the University of Manitoba where he graduated in 1955 and would commence a long and distinguished legal career. He joined the prestigious Winnipeg firm of Newman & MacLean where he became partner in 1967. In 1966, Chuck became a part-time judge for the northern communities in Manitoba. He would continue his busy Winnipeg practice while also working up north and on July 1, 1975, he was appointed as a full-time judge of the Provincial Court of Manitoba (Criminal Division). At the time of his retirement in 2007, he was the longest serving judge in the court’s history having accumulated a combined 42 years as a presiding judge. Over the course of his legal career, which spanned over five decades, Chuck made an indelible mark on the law as a lawyer, mentor, lecturer and judge. While he was grounded in the law, he was driven by, and devoted to, justice. He served the legal profession and the province with the utmost dedication, integrity and loyalty.
He was enormously respected by defense counsel and crown attorneys alike in addition to his colleagues on the bench. He was universally regarded as a tough but fair jurist. He loved every minute of his life as a judge. Not because of his title or position but because he genuinely cared about everyone and he had an acute ability to deliver fair and balanced decisions. In true judicial fashion, he never gave an interview, discussed a case publicly or responded to any criticism. At the time of his retirement he left a legacy as an exceptionally fair, balanced and patient judge.
An active member of the community, Chuck was a past president of the Kinsman Club of Manitoba, the Shaarey Zedek Synagogue, the Provincial Judges Association of Manitoba and sat on numerous boards including the Society of Crippled Children and Adults of Manitoba, the Winnipeg Police Board and was Chairman of the Addictions Foundation of Manitoba and the Jewish Federation of Manitoba Endowment Book of Life. He was also actively involved in the formation of the Winnipeg Jazz Festival and volunteered with it for many years.
In the early 1960s Chuck met the love of his life, Naida, who was born and raised in Winnipeg. They went along to have a long and happy marriage where they raised their four kids and enjoyed their grandchildren. In the early 1980s their family expanded when Cliff (Wiebe) came to live with them as he pursued his post secondary education. Cliff went on to become a member of the family and to be cherished by Chuck and Naida as a son. Chuck and Naida were privileged to have a great and vast group of friends and throughout their life they travelled frequently and saw much of the globe together.
Prior to meeting Naida, Chuck built himself a little cottage along a unique property lining the shores of Lake Winnipeg. For decades the cottage at Sans Souci would be the family’s playground. Whether it was tractor rides, boating or riding mini-bikes through the trails of the park in summer, or snowmobiling and cross country skiing across the frozen lake in the winter, cottage life provided a sanctuary for Chuck and his family. He loved nothing more than puttering around the cottage, enjoying time with family out there and with his many friends in the local community. An avid outdoorsman, he hunted frequently and never passed up an opportunity to fish.
He was a truly remarkable man. A model of integrity and modesty. The first in his family to attend university, he worked alongside with the brightest intellectuals in the province but in the end he really was a common man. He lived a full and beautiful life. He remarked that if he were to do it all over again, he wasn’t sure how he would find the time.
Funeral services took place on August 4, 2022, at the Shaarey Zedek Cemetery in Winnipeg. The family would like to extend its appreciation to pallbearers: Cliff Wiebe, Jeffrey Hurtig, Richard Buchwald, Adam Buchwald, Al Wilhelmer and Daniel Adelman. Honourary pallbearers and life long friends were: Ken Katz, Norm Shore, Rube Helman, Howard Collerman, Gene Zazelenchuck and Morley Bernstein.
He will be sorely missed by his friends and colleagues and always treasured by his family.
Heartfelt gratitude is extended to the Province of Manitoba Palliative Care program and their outstanding health care providers along with the incredible staff at Riverview Health Centre for their compassionate and dignified palliative care.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Winnipeg Food Harvest in his honour, or to a charity of your choice, would be gratefully appreciated by the family.
Obituaries
SOL SHLOMO TODRES
It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of Sol (Shlomo) Todres on October 27, 2024 in Israel. Sol was born in Winnipeg in 1934 to Sam and Bessie Todres. He was a proud North Ender who graduated from St. John’s High School and received his BA and Masters in Social Work from the University of Manitoba. He was a strong believer in the power of group work and translated those beliefs in his role as the first full-time Director of Bnai Brith Camp in Kenora. Of his many innovations, his most beloved and enduring was the development of Advanced Camp for the older campers- a source of meaningful and enduring memories for many.
In 1968 he made Aliyah and settled in Kfar Saba. He earned his doctorate in Social Work from Yeshiva University. His work career included contributions to the Ministry of Welfare and Bar Ilan University.
He is survived by his loving wife Varda, his son Allon (Ortal), his daughter Naomi of Ibiza, Spain. He leaves behind his brother Rubin (Elaine), his nephews, Jesse of Toronto, Howard of Saskatoon, his nieces Lindsay of New York, and Susan of Winnipeg, and three grandchildren.
Donations in his honour can be made to Bnai Brith Camp of Winnipeg
Obituaries
BARBARA GOSZER April 15, 1930 – October 6, 2024
It is with profound sadness along with gratitude for her long and purposeful life that we announce the passing of Barbara Goszer. Left with cherished recollections are her children Sharon (Steven Tritt), Elliott (Jennifer Schulz), her grandchildren Sam (Justine), Joseph (Shaun), Nicholas, Sarah, Jack and Max, and her great-grandchildren Carson and Callie. She also leaves to mourn her passing nieces Hilda (Len), Debbie (Jack), Libby (Doug) and their families who loved their “Aunty” dearly. She was predeceased by “the love of her life”, Adam, to whom she was married for almost 60 years and by a daughter, Yonah.
Barbara was born in Lwow, Poland where she often said she had an idyllic childhood until 9 years of age, when the Second World War and the Holocaust started. She was the sole survivor of her family, having been hidden by a courageous woman whom she had honoured as The Righteous Among the Nations and whose descendants sought her out in 2013, forming a warm connection over the past decade.
Barbara was a petite but strong, opinionated, principled woman with an extraordinary sense of social justice, a remarkable work ethic, and the deepest of loyalty. She lived with intention. As a living witness to a time in history when inhumanity was at its height, she spent decades dedicated to educating school aged children and their teachers throughout Manitoba and other parts of Canada about the dangers of discrimination and intolerance of diversity. She advocated standing up for others and taking action despite fear. She also encouraged appreciation for freedom and having a roof over one’s head. Her legacy will inspire her family members as well as generations of children to make a difference in bettering the world we live in. She dreamed of a world free of hatred and of a bright future.
Thank you to Dr. Sheila Domke, her primary care physician, to the entire health care team on 4 North at Grace Hospital, and to her many caregivers in the past couple of years who treated her with the utmost of dignity and respect.
Funeral services were held graveside at Rosh Pina Memorial Park on October 8, 2024. Those wishing to honour her memory can do so by making a donation to the “Barbara and Adam Goszer Holocaust Education Centre Endowment Fund” at the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba.
Obituaries
BARBARA RUTH HOCHMAN June 7, 1952 – September 16, 2024
t is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Barbara Hochman on Monday, September 16, 2024. Barbara was born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the first child born to Clarice and Jack Rubin. She is survived by her husband of 52 years, Danny, mother Clarice, sister Jackie (Akman), brother Ron (Rubin), brother-in-law Mickey Hochman (Dorine), nephew Jared Akman (Leanne), niece Jamie Berman (Skyler) and great-nieces and nephew, Lowan, Julie, Shea and Hannah. Barb was predeceased by her father Jack Rubin and brother-in-law Richard Akman. Barbara grew up in River Heights, attending Grant Park High School, then continued her studies at the University of Manitoba. On her first day of university she met Danny and they were married two years later. Barbara began working as a secretary at the law firm Aikins, MacAulay and Thorvaldson, and then advanced to become a corporate and commercial paralegal. She returned to law school while working at AM&T, and eventually became a partner at the firm. Barbara excelled at everything she put her mind to. She was beautiful, stylish and fiercely intelligent. Barb courageously fought her first battle with cancer over 30 years ago. Since then she enjoyed life to the fullest. Barb was a loving and devoted wife, an amazing sister and an extremely generous aunt and great-aunt. She and Danny moved from Winnipeg to Kelowna 15 years ago where they escaped Winnipeg winters and saw their golf games flourish. Barbara will be greatly missed. Funeral services were held to celebrate Barbara’s life on September 20, at the Shaarey Zedek Cemetery. Pallbearers were Jared Akman, Jamie Berman, Skyler Berman, Brent Knazan, David Rubin and Danny Rubin.
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