Obituaries
WILLIAM CHAIKEN
William (“Bill”) Chaiken, one of the last of the first-generation abstract expressionists, died on November 13, 2021, at the age of 100. Bill was a prolific artist known for his abstract figurative paintings and admired for his improvisatory style, technical mastery, and emotional depth.
Bill was born in Russia in 1921 and emigrated with his family to Winnipeg in 1926 to escape the pogroms. His father, Zalman Chaiken, came to be celebrated in the community as a Yiddish poet (https://ia802704.us.archive.org/20/items/nybc204675/nybc204675.pdf).
Entering grade school at the age of five, unable to speak English, Bill charmed his classmates with his drawings, confirming his early devotion to art.
From 1937 to 1940 Bill attended the Winnipeg School of Art, where he studied under George Overton of the British Royal Academy and L.L. Fitzgerald.
From 1941 to 1945, he served in the Canadian army.
After the war, Bill moved to New York City and attended the Art Students League under the Veteran’s Rehabilitation Act, studying with Morris Kantor and Vaclav Vytlacil. He associated with the abstract artists of the New York School. In time, he found that he was not satisfied with pure abstraction, feeling that it lacked “empathy,” and he began to incorporate figures and landscapes into his paintings.His work quickly gained recognition and was displayed in many exhibitions, including six Whitney annual shows (1949 -1956).
In 1959, Bill became a member of United Scenic Artists, a union of freelance designers and painters for theater, film, and television. He painted sets for the Metropolitan Opera, The New York City Ballet, The New York City Opera, The American Ballet Theater, Radio City Music Hall, and Disneyland, as well as for television and Broadway plays and musicals. He also painted the sets and artwork for feature films under the directors Sidney Lumet, John Huston, Martin Scorcese, Woody Allen, John Schlesinger, Bob Fosse, Francis Ford Coppola, and many others. Bill claimed that his work as a scenic artist warmed him up for his own painting, which continued unabated. Some of the dramatic effects of the stage found their way into his paintings, as did early memories of Russia and visions of the wide-open skies over Winnipeg.
In 2009 Bill was devastated by the loss of his beloved wife Elke (née Neuhaus). He feared that he would never be able to paint again, but after a period of illness he returned to his studio, located at his home in the Ramapo Mountains in Hillburn, New York.
Bill continued painting in his own home beyond the age of 100. Two months before his 101th birthday, after moving to an assisted living facility, he took to his bed and died peacefully within a week.
Bill retained his connection with Winnipeg, visiting frequently while his parents were alive. Between visits, his mother kept him supplied with packages of smoked goldeyes.
Bill’s paintings are represented in the Whitney Museum of American Art and in private collections worldwide.
He is survived by his daughters, Ilya Chaiken and MarthaLeah Chaiken, and his granddaughter Zora Sicher.
A sampling of his paintings can be seen, and the family contacted, on his website: https://www.williamchaiken.com/
Obituaries
Recent funerals – as posted on the Chesed Shel Emes website
| Harold Diamond | Tzvi ben Yaacov v’Chana | 04/12/1935 | 12/05/2026 | 25 Iyar 5786 | Shaarey Zedek Cemetery | More Info |
| Ray Schnoor | Raizel bat Ephraim v’Rachel | 13/06/1927 | 05/05/2026 | 19 Iyar 5786 | Shaarey Zedek Cemetery | More Info |
| Gila Ruth Fainstein | Rachel bat Kiva v’Leah | 25/06/1935 | 04/05/2026 | 14 Iyar 5786 | Rosh Pina Memorial Park | More Info |
| Toby Schwartz | Chaya Tovah bat Moshe v’Chana | 16/07/1932 | 01/05/2026 | 14 Iyar 5786 | Shaarey Zedek Cemetery | More Info |
| Rachel Wolman | Rachel Bayla bat Moshe v’Malka | 03/02/1962 | 24/04/2026 | 7 Iyar 5786 | Shaarey Zedek Cemetery | More Info |
| Leah Gitlin | Laya bat Yosef v’Frayda | 04/09/1926 | 08/04/2026 | 21 Nisan 5786 | Shaarey Zedek Cemetery | More Info |
| Lin Joseph Rosenbaum | Yosef Levi ben Hershel Zvi v’Dvorah | 17/10/1952 | 06/04/2026 | 19 Nisan 5786 | Hebrew Sick Benefit Cemetery | More Info |
| Norman Stein | Nachum ben Avraham v’Chaya | 10/06/1932 | 06/04/2026 | 19 Nisan 5786 | Bnay Abraham Cemetery | More Info |
| Marvin Saul Silver | Menachem Shaul ben Avraham v’Chana Gitel | 20/11/1941 | 05/04/2026 | 18 Nisan 5786 | Shaarey Zedek Cemetery | More Info |
| Kimberley Dawn Kirshenbaum | Isabella bat Avraham v’Sarah | 09/12/1969 | 03/04/2026 | 17 Nisan 5786 | Rosh Pina Memorial Park | More Info |
| Walter Ganetsky | Zev ben Yosef haLevi v’Tziporah | 23/09/1940 | 02/04/2026 | 15 Nisan 5786 | Bnay Abraham Cemetery | More Info |
| Lorelei Camille Lavitt | Rachel bat Yaakov v’Raisa | 11/04/1936 | 26/03/2026 | 8 Nisan 5786 | Rosh Pina Memorial Park | More Info |
| Melvin Myers | Moshe ben Chaim v’Rachel | 24/04/1936 | 24/03/2026 | 7 Nisan 5786 | Shaarey Zedek Cemetery | More Info |
| Naomi Sharon Searles Koslovsky | Nechama Sara bat Shmuel v’Chana | 11/04/1940 | 23/03/2026 | 5 Nisan 5786 | Hebrew Sick Cemetery | More Info |
| Suzan Kravtsov | Chaya bat Shlomo v’Malka | 27/11/1935 | 23/03/2026 | 5 Nisan 5786 | Shaarey Zedek Cemetery | More Info |
| Marcelo Chaffer | Moshe ben Chaim vFreda | 23/05/1959 | 20/03/2026 | 2 Nisan 5786 | New Israeli Congregation of Montevideo, Uruguay | More Info |
| Bonni Book | Basia Miriam bat Noach v’Tovah Chana | 29/04/1944 | 14/03/2026 | 25 Adar 5786 | Shaarey Zedek Cemetery | More Info |
| Sarah Schwartz | Sarah bat Moshe v’Leah | 21/08/1930 | 08/03/2026 | 19 Adar 5786 | Jewish Memorial Gardens, Ottawa ON | More Info |
| Jennie Goldstine | Shaindel bat Aharon v’Manya | 25/09/1929 | 06/03/2026 | 17 Adar 5786 | Shaarey Zedek Cemetery | More Info |
| Shelley Fogel | Shaindel bat Yehuda v’Sarah | 16/02/1935 | 05/03/2026 | 16 Adar 5786 | Rosh Pina Memorial Park | More Info |
To see more funerals go to https://chesedshelemes.org/records-of-the-deceased/
Obituaries
RAY SCHNOOR
June 13, 1927 – May 5, 2026
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved mother and grandmother, Ray Schnoor, on May 5, 2026, just short of her 99 birthday.
Ray was predeceased by her husband of almost 71 years, Toby Schnoor. He passed away in December 2022, and she never really recovered from that loss. Ray was the last of her generation. She was predeceased by her parents, Frank and Rose Kass, her sister, Betty Rice, and her brothers, Sidney and Jack Cass. She is survived by her children, Jeffrey Schnoor (Bruce) and Carla Nepon (Jack), her grandchildren, Taryn and David Nepon and many nieces and nephews. Regrettably, she did not live to see David’s upcoming marriage to Nicola.
Ray was completely devoted to her family; nothing was more important to her. She loved her family with all her heart and took immense pride in her children and grandchildren; she delighted in their accomplishments. She kept a traditional Jewish home and made sure that no one ever left her table hungry. She was an excellent cook and baker, even though she often wouldn’t eat her own creations because of her many (often inexplicable) food aversions. For decades, her world revolved around the weekly Friday Night Dinner, where all the family gathered. She planned it, made it, served it, reviewed it and then started again.
Less traditionally (for her time), Ray also worked outside the home, part-time, as a bookkeeper. She did that well into her 80s.
The family is grateful for the care Mom received at the Simkin Centre and for the loving dedication of her caregivers, Lisa and Terry. The last few years were difficult for Mom but we choose to remember the good times.
A graveside funeral was held at the Shaarey Zedek Cemetery on May 8, 2026. Pallbearers were Jeffrey Schnoor, Jack Nepon, David Nepon, Kevin Rice, Randy Schnoor and Neil Stern. Larry Rice was honourary pallbearer. The family is grateful to Rabbi Matthew Leibl who led the service and shared the family’s memories and grief. The kindness of family and friends has been a great comfort.
Like Toby, Ray leaves a gap that cannot be filled, and memories that we will cherish forever. These few words cannot begin to capture the pain of our loss. We love you always, Mom, and miss you terribly.
Obituaries
LIN JOSEPH ROSENBAUM
October 17, 1952 – April 18,2026
It is with great sadness that the family marks the passing of Lin, loving son, uncle, great-uncle, brother and brother-in-law. He will be greatly missed.
Lin completed his undergraduate degree in business at the University of Manitoba. He eventually took and completed apprenticeship as an electrician and worked as a licensed electrician with his father Harry. He took pride in his work and craft and assisting his father. He was greatly valued by their customers .
Lin was adventurous , traveling throughout Europe. He was a kibbutznik, and always spoke fondly of time spent in Israel. He was an avid runner, and had participated competitively in the Boston Marathon .
He made friends well and remained committed to volunteerism with community arts , including the Winnipeg Fringe Festival. He showed great empathy to others, reflected in his work with Mood Disorders Manitoba.
Lin believed in the worth of all persons and saw the good in others. His best nature illuminated the best nature in others; to a brother, son, friend, uncle and great-uncle, always.
