THE HONOURABLE A. AUBREY (OZ) HIRSCHFIELD, Q.C.

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THE HONOURABLE A. AUBREY (OZ) HIRSCHFIELD, Q.C. On Monday, April 28, 2008, A. Aubrey (Oz) Hirschfield passed away at Riverview Health Centre. Oz was at peace and with his family. Oz is survived by his wife Margaret (his beloved Maglet); his son Paul Hirschfield and his wife Claudette and grandson Jack; his son Kurt Saunders and his wife Cindy and grandson Denison; his son Michael Hirschfield; his daughter Laura Saunders and granddaughters, Larissa and Amy; his son Mike Saunders and his wife Beth and grandchildren, Rayden and Avery; his son Jeffrey Hirschfield and his wife Sarah and grandchildren, Sadie, Lena and Keevyn; his daughter Margie Woodman and her husband David and grandchildren, Sydney and David; and his son Richard Hirschfield. Oz was predeceased by his first wife Anne. Oz was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba on January 10, 1924. He joined the R.C.A.F. on his 18th birthday and served overseas in the Second World War. After his discharge in 1945, Oz enrolled in the Manitoba Law School and obtained his law degree in May 1951. He went on to establish law firms in Benito (1951), Swan River (1953), Dauphin (1954 to 1969) and Brandon (1969 to 1985). Oz was appointed a Queen's Counsel on January 1, 1963 and a judge of the Court of Queen's Bench on August 22, 1985. He retired from the bench on his 75th birthday in 1999. During his years practicing law, Oz was active and held office in The Law Society of Manitoba, The Manitoba Bar Association and the Canadian Bar Association as well as being active in community affairs. In Swan River, Oz was coach of the first high school football team and manager and coach of the juvenile hockey team. In Dauphin, Oz was Secretary President of the Dauphin Bar Association. He directed a number of junior and high school theatre productions and was an active member of the Dauphin Little Theatre and Dauphin Agricultural Society. During his years in Brandon, Oz was Secretary and President of the Western Bar Association, Chairman of the Brandon Area Foundation, Head of Western Manitoba Legal Aid, and Chairman of the Membership Committee, Manitoba Branch, of the Canadian Bar Association. He was a bencher with the Law Society for nine years, Chairman of the Justice Committee and the Discipline Committee and lectured the Bar Admission students in Civil and Criminal Procedure. On the bench, Oz was regarded as a fair and even handed judge with a solid knowledge of the law gained from years of experience. He treated everyone who appeared before him with courtesy and respect. Oz's love of the law and presiding on the bench made retirement a challenge. Oz adjusted to the transition, enjoyed his continued involvement with the Lions Club and began to teach English as a Second Language. He also enjoyed his bridge groups, The Dinty Moore Bridge Club and his Tuesday afternoon club. For his years of volunteer work with the Winnipeg Police Service, Oz was awarded the Winnipeg Police Citizen Appreciation Award this April. Oz and Marg were truly each other's best friends. They enjoyed spending time together and traveled to many places in this world, all with great fun! They valued their winter vacations in Sarasota, Florida with their many friends. A year after retirement, Oz was able to fulfill his dream of traveling through China, a trip he took with his friend Peter. Oz and Marg loved spending the summers at their second home at Victoria Beach where their children and grandchildren overflowed the cottage (at times, Dad found it best to turn down his hearing aid in an effort to quiet the deafening crowd!). How Oz loved to barbeque for his family and dear friends at the cottage. Oz had the ability to enthrall all of us with a story. He could also sing any show tune by heart and often did, without request. Those who knew Oz well will remember his favourite quotes, Be still my heart , Time is on our side or, if it suited him better, Time waits for no one . Every one of us was told to Chop Chop at one time or another. Maglet, you've outdone yourself again was our favourite. Oz loved and enjoyed his family and all his friends and we are all extremely fortunate to have had him in our lives. Oz spent the past six weeks on 3E at Riverview Health Centre and his family expresses their sincere gratitude to Dr. Fiona Crow, and all the exceptionally caring and gentle nurses and aides for their wonderful kindness, compassion and laughter. As Oz wished, cremation has taken place and there will be no formal service. If friends desire, memorial donations may be made to The CancerCare Manitoba Foundation or to The Winnipeg Humane Society. How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I love thee to the depth and breadth and height My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight For the ends of Being and ideal Grace. I love thee to the level of everyday's Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light. I love thee freely, as men strive for Right; I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise. I love thee with a passion put to use In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith. I love thee with a love I seemed to lose With my lost saints, --- I love thee with the breath, Smiles, tears, of all my life! --- and, if God choose, I shall but love thee better after death. Elizabeth Barrett Browning THOMSON IN THE PARK 925-1120 Send expressions of sympathy to www.mem.com

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on May 02, 2008