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
HARRY KREEL April 9, 1927 – October 20, 2025
It is with profound sadness that the family of Harry Kreel announces his passing on October 20, 2025 at the age of 98 years. He was predeceased by his parents, Ben and Rebecca Kreel; his brothers, Isadore and Boris Kreel; and his beloved wife Myrna, to whom he was married for 68 years.
Left to mourn his passing are his daughter Eileen; his son Darrell (Nicole); and his grandson Benjamin Kreel.
Harry was born and raised in Regina, Saskatchewan and moved to Winnipeg in his early 20s. He spent his career in education. He was the Director of Special Education for the Winnipeg School Division, Principal of R.B. Russell Vocational School and he also taught in the Faculty of Education at the University of Manitoba.
Our parents loved to travel, and throughout their lives they travelled extensively throughout Canada, the United States and the Caribbean. Upon his retirement, he and our mother were able to spend many wonderful winters in Palm Springs, as well as many visits to New York to visit family. The highlight for them was their trip to Israel, which was something they had always wanted to do, and they did.
Funeral Services were held on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, graveside at the Shaarey Zedek Cemetery. We would like to express our sincerest thanks to Rabbi Carney Rose for officiating and for delivering a most beautiful and heartfelt service.
To the pallbearers, you know who you are, and we would like to thank you for being there for our father. We would also, at this time, like to thank the wonderful staff of Weinberg I at the Simkin Centre. You treated our father with the utmost kindness, respect, dignity and compassion, and for that we will be forever grateful. And last but certainly not least, to Sheryl, Tia, and Victoria Levine, to Leslie Stokoloff and Joe Lacey, we will be forever grateful for all your love and support during this most difficult time.
Should anyone so desire, donations may be made in our father’s memory to the Saul and Claribel Simkin Centre or CancerCare Manitoba.
Obituaries
ROSALYN GOLFMAN (née LINHART)
Rosalyn Golfman (née Linhart) passed away peacefully on November 9, 2025, after a lengthy and courageous battle with cancer.
Born and raised in Winnipeg to Jack and Clara Linhart, Roz and her brother Sam grew up with a deep appreciation for education, music, and community. Her father, along with her mother who was an accomplished singer and performer in Jewish plays and on radio, instilled in her a deep appreciation for both hard work and family traditions. The tragedy of the Holocaust, which claimed the majority of her mother’s immediate family, profoundly shaped Rosalyn’s outlook on life, nurturing in her a strong sense of identity, resilience, and commitment to her Jewish heritage.
Growing up in a home filled with music, the aromas of traditional cooking, and the warmth of family celebrations, Roz developed a lifelong connection to her roots. Her devotion to the Jewish community continued throughout her life as she volunteered and chaired various programs at the Shaarey Zedek Synagogue and served as a member of the National Council of Jewish Women.
Education was one of Rosalyn’s greatest passions. She earned her B.A., M.Ed., a Ph.D. in Psychology, and a Masters in Family Therapy. As a clinical psychologist, Roz worked for 43 years dedicating her career to helping others. Rosalyn also served as President of the Manitoba Association of Marriage and Family Therapists and Chair of its Ethics Committee and taught at various times at the Universities of Manitoba and Winnipeg, and at Red River Community College.
Rosalyn’s greatest devotion was to her husband of more than 60 years, Charles (Chuck) Golfman. Together they traveled the globe and shared a lifetime of love and adventure. Their mutual curiosity led them to explore new places, lectures and forums, always seeking to expand their understanding of people and the world around them. Roz and Chuck raised three children – Jeff (Helen Huang), Lisa (Steve Kroft) and Jill (Mark Kantor). Her grandchildren – Angela, Nathan, Alex and Maya – were her greatest joy, and she cherished every moment spent with them, whether during family dinners, at her beloved Clearwater Bay, or on family trips. Rosalyn’s brother Sam (Judy) was a constant source of support, and the times Roz and Chuck spent with Sam and Judy in Phoenix and Aspen were always highlights for her. Family events with nieces, nephews, her numerous cousins and other relatives were also very special for Roz.
Rosalyn will be remembered for her compassion, intellect and unwavering devotion to family, her friends, and her Jewish faith. The values she instilled in her family will endure through them.
The family wishes to thank the many friends who supported Roz with gentleness, dignity and love. Thank you also to Dr. Marshall Pitz, Kim Paradoski and the caring and talented doctors and caregivers at CancerCare Manitoba and Grace Hospital who assisted Rosalyn and our family during this difficult journey.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Rosalyn and Chuck Golfman Fund at the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba, or to CancerCare Manitoba Foundation.
Obituaries
MARK BERNARD SCHACTER
May 12, 1946 – October 19, 2025
We are sad to announce that Mark Schacter died peacefully in Vancouver on October 19, 2025, at age 79.
He was born in Winnipeg on May 12, 1946, and moved to Vancouver at the age of 22 to seek his fortune, and lived and worked there for the rest of his life, in a number of careers. He was a raconteur, a free spirit, a sports fan, a close observer of current events, and a good friend to many, as far away as Rio de Janeiro and Los Angeles. He attended the Canada-Russia hockey series in Moscow in 1972, flew on the Concorde to London, and went to Rio for Carnival on a number of occasions.
He is survived by his brother and sister-in-law Brent Schacter and Sora Ludwig, nieces Miriam Stoller (Michael), Isanne Schacter, and Jennifer Schacter (Neil Rockman), grandnieces Reina and Maddie Stoller, Beatrice Schacter, and Sally Rockman, and grandnephew Jacob Rockman.
He was laid to rest in the Shaarey Zedek Cemetery near his parents on October 22, 2025. May his memory be a blessing.
Donations in his memory may be made to Yaletown House (www.yaletown.org) where he resided or to the charity of your choice.