HAROLD BUCHWALD C.M., Q.C., LL.D. (HON.)

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HAROLD BUCHWALD C.M., Q.C., LL.D. (HON.) Harold passed away suddenly on Thursday, April 17, 2008, at 80 years of age, while surrounded by his family. The funeral was held Tuesday, April 22, 2008 at Shaarey Zedek Synagogue in Winnipeg, Rabbi Alan Green officiating. Pallbearers were his nephews: Murray Kesselman, Ted Kesselman, Bob Kesselman, Jeff Lieberman, Jonathan Buchwald, and great-nephew Andrew Kesselman. Honorary Pallbearers were M.L. (Buddy) Brownstone, Alan Cantor, Q.C., Robert Hall, Q.C. Yude Henteleff, C.M., Q.C., David Kaufman, The Honourable Justice Guy Kroft, Arthur Mauro, O.C., O.M., Q.C., Ronald Polinsky, Donald Weidman, Peter Weintraub and Saul Zitzerman. Predeceased by his parents Frank and Bessie (Portigal) and his brother-in-law, Lawrence Kesselman, Harold is survived by his wife Darlene (Dee), sons, Jeffrey and Richard (Tracy Leipsic), grandchildren, Rachael, Serena, and Adam, sister Laila Kesselman, brother Martin Buchwald (Mira), brother-in-law Robert Besbeck (Shirley), as well as his loving nieces and nephews and their children. Born in Winnipeg on February 22, 1928, Dad grew up in River Heights, attending Queenston School, Robert H. Smith School, and Kelvin High School. He received his Bachelor of Arts in 1948, Bachelor of Laws in 1952, and Master of Laws in 1957, all from the University of Manitoba. Among the highlights of a distinguished legal career, Dad was a founding partner of the law firm Buchwald, Asper, Henteleff (now Pitblado); appointed Queen's Counsel (1966); President - Manitoba Bar Association (1970 to 1971); President - The Law Society of Manitoba (1975 to 1976); Honorary Doctor of Laws - University of Manitoba (1994). Some of Dad's many affiliations include: Chair - Canadian Consumer Council (1971 to 1973); President - YMHA Winnipeg Jewish Community Centre (1974 to 1976); Chair - Canada-Israel Committee (1979 to 1983); President - Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra (1984 to 1986); Chair Canadian Scholarship Trust Foundation (1986 to 1988); President - Jewish Foundation of Manitoba (1987 to 1991); Chair - Health Sciences Centre Foundation (1989 to 1992); Chair - Ethics Committee, Health Sciences Centre (1991 to 1997); Chair - Ethics Committee, Winnipeg Regional Hospital Authority (1997 to 1999); Chair - Winnipeg 2000 (1995 to 1997); Chair - City of Winnipeg Cultural Policy Review Panel (1996 to 1997), and Chair - Winnipeg Winter Cities Host Committee (1996). In recent years, although Dad had stopped actively practicing law, he never slowed down. He helped found the Business Council of Manitoba as well as Arts Stabilization Manitoba, and continued to serve both as a director. Just a few of his other involvements: Chair - Board of Trustees, University of Manitoba Students' Union Scholarship Bursary Awards and Endowment Fund Foundations; Chair - Jury Panel, Manitoba Business Awards, Manitoba Chambers of Commerce; The Friends of Upper Fort Garry; writing a newspaper column; proudly serving as a board member for the Arthur V. Mauro Centre for Peace and Justice; and relentlessly pursuing the fruition of his dear friend Izzy Asper's dream of building the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. Dad was passionately proud of being a Winnipegger, a Manitoban, a Canadian, a Jew, and a Zionist, all being equally important to him. He has served in an active or leadership capacity within so much of the organized Jewish Community, both locally and nationally. He served to further relations between all ethnic groups and was a strong believer in the richness of the multicultural mosaic that is Canada. One charitable involvement in particular must be singled out. Our father was a lifelong supporter of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. A local President and national Vice-President of the Canadian Friends of the Hebrew University. A member of the International Board of Governors and an Honorary Fellow. Dad lived out a dream, teaching for a semester at the Faculty of Law in Jerusalem in 1978. Dad was so touched, so proud to be honoured by the establishment of the Harold Buchwald Lecture Series in Human Rights. The inaugural lecture will be given by his great friend and colleague, Yude Henteleff, in Jerusalem this coming June. Along with this honour, Dad was most proud of receiving the honorary doctorate from his beloved University of Manitoba, as well as the Order of Canada (1993). They represent his contributions to the greater good locally, nationally, and internationally. None of this meant anything compared to the love he showed to his family. It didn't matter how busy he was, he was always there for us. We would like to thank the doctors, nurses, and staff at Grace Hospital Emergency and I.C.U. departments for their efforts, support and compassion. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba, the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, the Canadian Friends of the Hebrew University, or the charity of your choice.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Apr 26, 2008