MELVIN LEONOFF

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

MELVIN LEONOFF Mel Leonoff passed away on November 1, 2007 at the age of 92. Mel was born in Winnipeg and spent most of his life in this city. He was one of four children and is predeceased by his brother Lyle and his sisters, Vera Shockman and Sheila Kleiman. He had numerous aunts, uncles and cousins and served as the patriarch of his extended family throughout his lifetime. Mel married his childhood sweetheart Idy in 1940 and together they raised their three children, Larry (Arlene), Arthur (Lynda) and Heather (David Deutscher). They loved to have friends and family over and Friday night dinners at their home were legendary. The greatest tragedy in Mel's life was the premature death of Idy in 1987. Mel later married Fanni (Starr) Leonoff, a friend of over fifty years. They shared ten years together until Fanni passed away in 2000. Mel worked in the clothing industry, first with Twentieth Century Headwear and later with Diamond and Company. He loved his work and the friendships he made across the country. He was greatly honored by the fact that friends he had met through business traveled to Winnipeg to help celebrate his ninetieth birthday. Despite the fact that Mel was in constant pain throughout the last years of his life he continued to be active. He enjoyed meeting his friends for lunch and especially enjoyed that he was the official driver. Mel was blessed with six grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Funeral services will be held at the Shaarey Zedek Synagogue on Sunday November 4, 2007 at 1:30 p.m. with interment to follow directly after at the Shaarey Zedek Cemetery. If friends so desire, donations may be made to the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba, or to a charity of choice.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Nov 03, 2007