MELVIN MANISHEN

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MELVIN MANISHEN It is with great sadness that the family announces the passing of Melvin Manishen on Friday, November 10, 2006 at age 81, peacefully following a brief battle with cancer. He was predeceased by his parents Pearl and Jacob Manishen; sisters, Rae Cohen and Esther Zelickson; and brothers, Max and James Manishen. He will be forever missed by his wife of 59 years Beverley; sons, James (Joy), Jeffrey (Joanne) and Wayne (Carol) Manishen; sister Bernice Faintuch of Skokie, IL and grandchildren, Sarah, Ira, Aaron, Jaclyn and Joshua Manishen, nieces, nephews and cousins. Mel was born April 25, 1925 and was the youngest of six children. His family was dedicated to improving the lives of others, his mother serving as a prominent Hadassah leader and his father actively working through the Hebrew Sick Benefit Society to help newly arrived immigrants establish security for their families in a city of opportunity. Mel came by his extraordinary qualities of generosity and loyalty honestly, leaving an unforgettable imprint on everyone he met through his caring, concern and action, all delivered through a uniquely personal charisma that was his alone. Mel was a business leader, community leader, loving father, adoring husband, philanthropist, risk taker, voracious reader, friend for life, lover of life, liver of life, bigger than life itself. His nearly 50 year career as the driving force behind Empire Sheet Metal Mfg. Co. Ltd. won him success, not just materially but through the warm friendships that bonded so many colleagues, associates and customers to him. To his children, he knew the fine line between being a parent and a peer and knew how to cross that line when he felt doing so would elevate both. To Beverley, he was supreme. To all, he was a man you wanted in your corner for his unassailable loyalty and dedication to helping achieve the hopes and dreams he so actively sought to have you reveal to him. Memorial service was held November 12 at Shaarey Zedek Synagogue, Rabbi Alan Green officiating. Pallbearers were, Aaron Manishen, Ben Hochman, Seymour Goldberg, Sidney Standil, Melvin Lazareck and Howard Blatt. Honorary pallbearers were, Louis Billinkoff, Norman Coghlan, Jerome Cohen, David Diamond, David Kaufman, Louis Kliman, Jack Levit, Barry Myers, Ronald Polinsky and Morley Zipursky. The family wishes to thank the wonderful staff on the palliative care ward at St. Boniface Hospital. Donations are welcome in lieu of flowers and may be made to CancerCare Manitoba, 675 McDermot Ave., RM. ON109, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0V9. (www.cancercare.mb.ca) or the Manitoba Prostate Cancer Support Group, 705-776 Corydon Ave., Winnipeg, MB, R3M 0Y1 (www.manpros.org). Messages of condolence may be sent to manishen@mts.net.

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As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Nov 15, 2006