DAVID A. GILMAN

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DAVID A. GILMAN David Gilman passed away on March 30, 2008 in Overland Park, Kansas. David lived a long and full life, and overcame many obstacles along the way. David was born in Tribune, Saskatchewan on July 5, 1912 to the late Isaac and Hanna (Kasakoff) Gilman. His mother died when he was only five, and his father, alone on a small farm, sent David and some of his siblings to the Jewish Orphanage in Winnipeg, where David spent the rest of his childhood. After graduating high school at St. John's Tech, he was sent to study at the Hebrew Theology Seminary in Chicago, on a Bronfman Scholarship. After completing his studies at the Seminary, David chose a different career path instead. He went on to the University of Chicago, where he obtained a business degree, then returned to Winnipeg and became a Chartered Accountant, which was to be his lifetime work. He was inspired through the years by his wife Helen, whom he met while visiting his sister in St. Joseph Missouri. David and Helen were married shortly thereafter and became the proud parents of a son, Sheldon, who was born in Kansas City while David was serving in the RCAF. After his discharge from the Service, David moved his wife and young son to Winnipeg. David moved to the United States in 1966, followed shortly thereafter by his family. During the Winnipeg years the other Gilman children, Barbara and Richard were born. David had a long and distinguished career as a Chartered Accountant. He was appointed to, and served three years as a Governor of the Canadian Institute of Taxation. He formed one of the first Jewish firms in the city as a Partner in the firm of Schacter Gilman, and later became the Senior Partner in the firm of Gilman Burke Newman Cantor, where he remained until his departure for the U.S. at the age of 55. Shortly after resettling in Kansas City he obtained his CPA degree and, starting from scratch, built a public practice there until his retirement at the age of 89. David was well respected for his business acumen and his integrity. His word was all you needed. He took a keen personal interest in his clients. He carried a positive attitude through life, and a sense of humility, which earned him the respect and admiration of his friends, and endeared him to all those who knew him. His family was the most important part of his life. He was a devoted family and was dearly loved by his children and grandchildren, all of whom were very close to him. They were at his bedside when he died. David was predeceased by his parents, his brother Maurice, and sisters, Kashie and Marian. He is survived by his wife Helen of 66 years, his three children, Sheldon (Los Angeles), Barbara (Highland Park, Illinois), and son Richard (Kansas City), and his devoted grandchildren, Jay and Laura Gilman, and Nicole and Alexi Vahlkamp, and his brother Sam in Winnipeg.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Apr 19, 2008