MENDLE MARTIN MELTZER BA, LLB

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MENDLE MARTIN MELTZER BA, LLB Peacefully on Saturday, March 15, 2008, at the Victoria General Hospital, after a lengthy struggle with Alzheimer's, our husband, father and grandfather Mel Meltzer passed away at the age of 86. Mel is survived by his wife of 63 years, Marcia, his sister Lillian Goldstein (Saint John, NB), his children Chuck (Juanita), Marvin (Ruth) and Sheila (Arthur) and his grandchildren Brent, David, Steven, Randi, Nina, Jacqui, Aaren and Alex. Mel was born in Saint John, NB, on November 6, 1921, the youngest of five siblings. He received his bachelor's degree from Mount Allison University where he lettered in basketball, acted and sang on stage and on the radio and played the clarinet in his own Big Band called Meltzer's Marauders. He obtained his law degree from the University of New Brunswick in 1948. While in university he was active in Young Judea where he began corresponding with a Winnipeg girl named Marcia Duboff. After several years of writing back and forth Mel came to Winnipeg to meet Marcia and two days later they were engaged. They were married on December 30, 1945. In 1949 they moved to Winnipeg where Mel began his law practice. In April 2000 he was honoured by the Law Society of Manitoba for his 50 years of stellar principled practice. Mel did not undertake anything in his life without passion and commitment. From his practice of law, to his love of music, from his family life, to his community service work he always gave 100 percent of himself. A testament to this is the amazing list of his community service accomplishments and awards. Mel was the first Canadian President of B'nai Brith District 6, which was comprised of eight states and four provinces. As well he served on the Board of Governors for B'nai Brith and was a recipient of the B'nai Brith Humanitarian Award. He served as president of the Winnipeg Jewish Community Council and was a member of Mayor Bill Norrie's Cross Cultural Relations Committee for which he received the City of Winnipeg Community Service Award for his contributions. He was actively involved in the Jewish National Fund and was one of the first chairs of the Negev Dinner. As well, he served on many boards including the Sharon Home and the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba. Mel was a leading force behind acquiring land for and developing the B'nai Brith Camp in Lake of the Woods. Mel was a true inspiration to anyone that had the pleasure of knowing him. He will always remain a guiding light for his children and especially to his grandchildren who he adored so greatly and who equally adored him. Funeral Services were held Tuesday, March 18 at the Shaarey Zedek Synagogue with interment at the Shaarey Zedek Cemetery. The family would like to thank the staff on the 5th floor of the Victoria General Hospital for their care and compassion in his final days and a very special thank you to the wonderful people on the 3rd floor of Poseidon Nursing Home who cared for him and treated him with dignity during his stay there. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made in Mel's name to the Winnipeg Jewish Foundation or the Alzheimer's Society.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 22, 2008