DANIEL GUTKIN

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DANIEL GUTKIN March 7, 1916 - September 28, 2005 Passed away peacefully at the Sharon Home. DOROTHY GUTKIN (nee BARTFIELD) September 3, 1919 - October 5, 2005 Passed away at St. Boniface Hospital with family at her side. Dorothy and Danny met 70 years ago as teenagers in Winnipeg. November 22, 2005 would have been their 63rd wedding anniversary. Their lives were filled with love for one another and for their families and friends. Their memories will forever be cherished by their son Dr. Calvin Gutkin (Mary), daughter Cheryl Barish (Earl), grandchildren, Michelle Gutkin Burns (Cory), Maia and Leah Gutkin of Toronto, Wendy Erlanger (Michael) of Los Angeles, Andy Barish (Josie) of Toronto, and Darcy Barish (Rhonda) of Vancouver, and great-grandchildren, Madeline Gutkin Burns (Toronto), Gabrielle and Jacob Erlanger (Los Angeles), Hailey and Tyler Barish (Toronto), and Adam and Ari Barish (Vancouver). Danny is also survived by his sister Shirley Hendin (Syd) and sister-in-law Ruth Gutkin. He was predeceased by his parents, Max and Celia Gutkin and brother Jack Gutkin. Dorothy was predeceased by her parents, Meyer and Ethel Bartfield, and sisters, Pearl Gottlieb and Minnie Goldberg. Daniel was honoured at his funeral at the Shaarey Zedek Synagogue and Cemetery, Sunday, October 2, 2005 by pallbearers, Andy Barish, Darcy Barish, Michael Erlanger, Dr. Donald Gutkin, Terry Gutkin and Marvin Hendin. Honorary pallbearers were Cory Burns, David Finkleman, Wendy Erlanger, Leah Gutkin, Maia Gutkin, Michelle Gutkin Burns, Dr. Elliot Halparin, Dr. Lawrence Halparin, Dr. Dane Hershberg, Joe Roman, Norman Roseman, Harry Stuart, and Al Walder. Dorothy was honoured at her funeral at the Shaarey Zedek Synagogue and Cemetery, Friday, October 7, 2005 by pallbearers, Andy Barish, Darcy Barish, Cory Burns, Terry Gutkin, Marvin Hendin, Dr. Dane Hershberg, and Norman Roseman. Honorary pallbearers were Wendy Erlanger, David Finkleman, Penny Gottlieb, Leah Gutkin, Maia Gutkin, Michelle Gutkin Burns, Joe Roman, Arline Roseman, Harry Stuart, and Al Walder. DANNY GUTKIN completed high school at St. John's Tech and in 1941 graduated from the University of Manitoba School of Pharmacy. For over 50 years, he had an outstanding career as a pharmacist, apprenticing at Service and Ringer's Drugs, owning and operating The West End Pharmacy and The Mall Drug and then becoming an associate with Shopper's Drug Mart. His knowledge and skills, compassion for his customer-patients, and dedication to charities and community service organizations, including Kiwanis and B'nai Brith, were renowned. He received honours from both the Manitoba and Canadian Pharmaceutical Associations for outstanding service by a pharmacist to his community, including one of his profession's highest accolades, the prestigious Bowl of Hygeia presented to him in 1984. He was also recognized by colleagues abroad when the research facility at Technion University in Haifa, Israel was named the Danny Gutkin Room. Post retirement, Danny volunteered his services as a pharmacy consultant at Shopper's at Redwood and Main and on CJOB radio where he would answer questions the public would call in about how to take their medications. Danny's brain stored and recalled an encyclopaedia of humour which he loved to share with one and all and his exceptional piano talents were legend. It was rare that a room he was in was not filled with music and laughter. From his school days on he organized special events, including variety shows for different charities for which he often brought celebrities from around the world into Winnipeg. In 1994, he co-founded the Winnipeg Retired Senior Professional and Businessmen's Club - a group of men in their 70s and 80s, who met weekly for lunch and discussion with guest speakers ranging from sports and entertainment personalities to professional and political leaders. This Club remains another legacy to Danny Gutkin. DOROTHY BARTFIELD graduated from Daniel McIntyre Collegiate as a top student, the recipient of many scholastic achievement awards, particularly in literature and creative writing. However her dream of a university education, for which she easily qualified, was not to be as she had to sacrifice this in order to work full time to help support her parents. For the rest of her life Dorothy maintained a passion for reading and learning about the progressive changes in the world around her. Her interests were wide ranging and, to her final moments, she remained both a student and highly valued teacher and source of information for her children, family and all who knew her well. When she was 16, she was a beautiful, intelligent, and very popular young woman - one who grabbed the attention of 19 year old Danny Gutkin. Late each day, he would vie for the task of sweeping the sidewalk in front of the drug store where he worked just so he could see and talk to this little doll (as he referred to her forever) as she walked by on her way home from work in her pretty powder blue coat and matching hat. He may have swept the walk - but she swept him off his feet. To their last days he saw her in this same light, and for good reason, as she took great pride in maintaining both an inner and outer beauty that never let him off the hook. As years went by, even in tough times, Dorothy always managed to look great and to maintain a youthful attitude and appearance. Her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren saw her not only as a mother and grandmother, but as a very with it friend - one who understood and loved to discuss the latest happenings . She was always up on the recent news - be it about politics, business, or entertainment. Not only did she dress with style, she was also a trusted fashion consultant for others, including her teen aged granddaughters. Those caring for her during her latter years when her health problems were significant felt that her ability to think and look young contributed significantly to her leading a longer life than might otherwise have been possible. Dorothy was the consummate wife and mother, the ultimate support for everything that happened in the life of the Gutkin family. While Danny worked long hours to help meet the family's needs, Dorothy was home with the children. She cared for them through every illness, did homework and studied with them encouraging them to make the most of their God given abilities, attended every school concert and parent teacher meeting, arranged the birthday parties, and was their trusted counsellor and friend during every dating and social crisis. When Danny took ill at age 39, and was in hospital for almost a year, she taught herself to become the home and drugstore financial and business manager and she went back to work to help support the family. When Danny continued his recovery at home, she was his nurse, rehab therapist and psychologist. From then on, despite many other health problems the two of them together overcame every challenge in order to rebuild and sustain a successful business and home life. They taught and role modelled the importance of persistence and commitment to hard work - of remaining optimistic in the face of what seemed to be the most extreme adversity - of never giving up. They also lived and role modelled the importance of great friendships Dorothy and Danny loved their friends dearly and their lives were filled with wonderful times spent with the Stuarts, Hershbergs, and Segals from the Rupertsland Avenue days in West Kildonan - and with old friends like the Finklemans, Popeskis, Kladys, Romans, and Walders. To the end of their lives, Dorothy and Danny both looked forward to every chance to get together or just to talk on the phone to these great friends. Dorothy and Danny were passionate about their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, who in turn loved them dearly. Visits, phone calls and photos by the bus load were exchanged frequently. There were no major family happenings - be they in Winnipeg, Toronto, Los Angeles, or Vancouver - that did not involve Dorothy and Danny. For the past three decades winter and summer vacations for the kids and grandkids meant going to where Bobba and Zaida were. Those times will be remembered always. Over the past several years, Dorothy and Danny had significant health problems, but they remained undeterred by them. They lived their lives to the fullest right to the end. Their love for one another which began 70 years ago has kept them together now. They have left a legacy that will carry this love and wonderful memories forward forever. The family wish to thank Bob Blahnik, Beryl Duncan, Grace and Seffray who helped Mom and Dad meet their care needs at home over the last few years and the doctors, nurses and staff at The Health Sciences Centre, The St. Boniface Hospital and The Sharon Home. Donations honouring the memory of Dorothy and Daniel Gutkin may be sent to either: The Dorothy and Daniel Gutkin Fund of the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba, C- 400 123 Doncaster Ave., Winnipeg, MB R3W 2B2 (tribute line phone : 204 - 472-7525); or The Research and Education Foundation of The College of Family Physicians of Canada, 2630 Skymark Ave., Mississauga, ON L4W 5A4, email shollingsworth@cfpc.ca; or phone 1-905-629-0900 ext. 244).

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Oct 14, 2005