BEN ZAIDMAN

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BEN ZAIDMAN The family of Ben Zaidman regrets to announce his death on June 5, 2008 at the Seven Oaks Hospital, after a short illness. He was predeceased by his wife of 59 years, Nellie, in November, 2006 and son-in-law Morris Chochinov in October, 2007. He is survived by his daughter Shelley Chochinov; son Paul Zaidman and wife Fraya, their children Elaine (Adelaide, Australia) and Dyanna; daughter Harriet Zaidman and husband Cecil Rosner, their children David and wife Beth Kettner and their daughter Alice Nell (Brussels, Belgium), Mark and partner Karelle Arbez (Kingston, Ontario), and Michelle; daughter Ellen Zaidman and husband Doug Sywake and Ellen's daughters Melissa and Jessica Schwarz. He is also survived by his brother and sister-in-law Jack and Shirley Zaidman (Indio, California), brother Paul Zaidman (Calgary, Alberta) and many nieces and nephews. Ben was born on Powers Street in the North End of Winnipeg on October 29, 1922 to Goldie (Sitner) and Harry Zaidman. His childhood was marked by poverty and destitution during the terrible years of the Depression. The indignities heaped upon people by governments for a situation they did not create left an indelible mark on Ben's outlook. As a small child he tried to help his family of six children. He delivered ice blocks, groceries, and sold The Winnipeg Tribune on downtown street corners for nickels, dimes and quarters. He left home at 15, working as a general store clerk in the Manitoba towns of Hodgson, Griswold and Virden, sending money home to his mother. Growing up in the North End, a vibrant milieu of European immigrants, Ben learned much about the world right in his neighbourhood. His stories about his childhood entertained his children and grandchildren and taught them valuable lessons. His streetwise education helped him develop good acumen about people, and he knew how to fix most anything - a talent his children took advantage of when they bought their first homes. In 1941 Ben joined the RCAF and served as a radio operator in Whitehorse, Yukon. He was discharged in 1946 as a Master Sergeant. He returned to his Flora Avenue home and in 1947 married his childhood sweetheart, the girl next door, Nellie Merkel. He had learned the electrical trade from his father and began working at the CNR Transcona Shops. He operated a crane, repaired equipment on the benches, worked as a foreman and finally retired as the Health and Safety Officer in 1987. Ben served as President of Local 409 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, and served on the Winnipeg Labour Council and the Manitoba Federation of Labour. During the 1950s he moonlighted on many projects, and wired many of the homes built in West Kildonan. Ben and Nell worked on Home and School Associations, and Ben served as president of the provincial association. He helped establish the library for the former City of West Kildonan. Elected to the Seven Oaks School Board in 1968, he served on every committee and position over the next three decades, including four terms as Chairman. He helped build many new schools and develop important new programs for students. The community recognized his contributions by naming the Educational Resource Centre in his honour in 1999. Always self-effacing, Ben thought it humorous that the acronym for the building was BZERC. Ben wanted to educate himself, too, and in the early 1960s he went back to school at night and on weekends, pursuing certificate courses in personnel-industrial relations. He then began a 20-year odyssey to obtain a BA in History, reading aloud to his children the essays he wrote at the kitchen table, asking for their criticism. He discussed politics, history and literature with his kids without regard for their age, exposing them to ideas and vocabulary beyond their years. He graduated from the University of Manitoba in 1989, all of us better educated from the process. Ben was also President of the Garden City Chapter of B'nai Brith, a member of the Royal Canadian Legion, General Monash Branch, and the Transcona Masons Lodge. He served on the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai Brith and chaired the Manitoba Public Schools Finance Board. He was Chairman of Monash Manor Housing and served on the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, resigning these positions only two weeks ago. He was a familiar sight at the Seven Oaks Wellness Centre every day for years. Ben was a fisherman who loved the silence of the wilderness. A loving father, he let his children pound endless nails into his tool bench, read them Dr. Seuss and the poems of Robert Service, and pointed out birds on walks through Kildonan Park. He was a spirited Zaida who made his grandchildren laugh with his oddball sense of humour and ribald stories. In the past few weeks Ben was delighted to meet his first great-grandchild and had great fun taking her on a shopping trip to buy baby clothes. He and Nell were a team. They built, decorated and redecorated their house, where friends had many laugh-filled evenings. Among others, they valued their lifelong friendships with Dorothy and Wes Basler and Harry and Esther Ginpil. Ben and Nell were the centre of an extended family who were all invited to their celebrations. They made delicious latkes at Chanukah and held memorable Passover seders. Ben had dashing good looks that turned women's heads. With his trademark mustache and wavy hair, he was compared to the television character Paladin as a younger man and a silver fox as he aged. But he loved only Nellie, and provided her with the best of care in her final years. His maternal grandparents and other relatives established a bond he cherished. Ben helped his mother and Auntie Jennie Stier, his sisters Janet Shaffer and Phyllis Serkin in whatever ways he could. His parents, sisters and brother Albert predeceased him. Ben was a man of character - a man of generosity, integrity, and immense intelligence. Colleagues and friends from his many years of community activity also mourn his loss. Ben worked to ensure equal educational opportunities for all. Donations are welcomed to the Seven Oaks Education Foundation, 830 Powers St., Winnipeg, MB R2V 4E7 or another charity of your choice. The family would like to express its heartfelt thanks to Drs. Wong, Stimpson, Harding and Anderson, and the staff in the Emergency Department, the 4th Floor and the ICU at Seven Oaks Hospital for the valiant efforts they made for our father and grandfather. The funeral will be 3:00 p.m., Sunday, June 8 at Shaarey Zedek Synagogue, 561 Wellington Crescent.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jun 07, 2008