REGINALD RIPSTEIN

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REGINALD RIPSTEIN Reginald Ripstein died peacefully in his sleep Saturday February 21, 2004. Reginald was predeceased by his parents, Bessie and Isaac Ripstein; brothers, Manuel and Victor and sisters, Gertrude, Mona and Zelma. He is survived by his loving wife of 48 years, Ellen; two sons, Ira and his wife Elske, and Arthur and his wife Karen, and grandchildren, Jonathan, Zev, Talia, Yael, Aviva and Noah; sister Corrine Slotin. He was born into the comfort of a large family, March 8, 1909. They lived in a large house at 27 Kennedy St., across from the legislature. He had many fond memories of that time. Playing shinny with frozen horse manure as a puck, sleeping on a hammock on the front porch in the summer and sharing a room with his brother Vic in the winter, his mothers daily homemade soup; summers on his uncle Kalmans farm, going with his grandfather Tavel Finkelstein every Friday afternoon when the train from Montreal came to the CNR station to see if any Jewish families got off the train, so he could take them home for Shabbat. He went to Carlton, Gladstone and Fort Rouge schools. The family spent a year in Venice, CA before returning to Winnipeg. He went to Kelvin High school, where he won awards in Mathematics and physics, and played varsity basketball weighing 110 pounds. There was no money for university when he finished school, so he went to work, starting a 72-year career in the grain business. When he worked for the Maple Leaf Milling Company he could name every grain elevator in Western Canada. He spent most of his years as an independent futures broker. He preferred to work by himself. He was a strong believer in the free market, disliking constant government intervention in the grain business. He made the first-ever trade in canola in 1963. He campaigned voraciously against smoking on the trading floor. In 1997, a year before he got sick, the exchange honoured him with a special award for the longest ever sitting member. In 1941 Reg signed up for the army at the age of 31. He was stationed at various places in Canada and Britain. He was a sergeant, with his own battalion. He taught map reading and ballistics. He never tired of his army stories, or telling of the irritating red tape of the Canadian army. He greatly broadened his horizons during the war. His greatest accomplishment in life was his family. He and Ellen married six weeks after their first date. He was charmed by her intelligence, self-confidence, and understanding of the two things he loved to discuss, business and the war. Two sons soon followed, and he always said he was the happiest man on earth. He spent all of his free time with his young family. He loved to read interesting items from the newspaper aloud. Many times a day, he would spontaneously say, "Gee, I love the three of you". In 1964, after Arthur had gone to full day school in September, Ellen decided to go back to work. Reg was supportive, and willing to look at things in a new way. They went to and from work together every day until Reg got sick in 1998. The last five years, and especially the last three months have been difficult. We are grateful to the staff of the Sharon Home, particularly Victor, for all of their kind support. His life was full and happy. We will miss him. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Jewish Foundation of Winnipeg, Ellen and Reg Ripstein Fund, or the charity of your choice.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Feb 28, 2004