BARNETT I. (BARNEY) YELLEN

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BARNETT I. (BARNEY) YELLEN Barnett I. (Barney) Yellen, aged 63 of New Haven, Connecticut died of complications from cancer on July 25, 2008. Barney was born in Los Angeles on August 11, 1944 and graduated with an MSW from UCLA in 1968. He began a flourishing career in Social Work in Toronto where he worked at the Jewish Family Services and where he met his wife Penny. Shortly after their marriage they moved to Winnipeg where he lived most of his adult life. Barney was Executive Director of Jewish Child and Family Service of Winnipeg for 27 years. Previous to that, he worked for the Family Bureau, had a private family and marriage counseling practice, wrote an advice column in the Winnipeg Free Press and was host of a radio call-in show. The family moved to New Haven, Connecticut in 1996 when Barney was appointed Executive Director of Jewish Family Service of Greater New Haven. As a member of the Council on Accreditation he was a peer reviewer of family service agencies throughout North America. Barney is survived by his loving wife of 39 years, Penny (Divinsky), daughters Elana of Toronto, Abby and her partner Paul Armstrong of Vancouver, nephew Neil Gross, his wife Jessica and their son Lucien also of Vancouver. He was predeceased by his parents Rose and Abe Yellen and sister and brother-in-law Sonya and Herb Gross of California. Barney was a loving and caring man. He was a kind, gentle and incredibly devoted person who was loved by everyone who knew him. He was generous and giving of himself to anyone needing help. An irrepressible punster , Barney had a unique and subtle sense of humour. He participated passionately in numerous creative interests including art, music, fine wines and gourmet foods. The family requests donations be made to Jewish Child and Family Service C200-123 Doncaster, Winnipeg, MB and Jewish Family Service of Greater New Haven, 1440 Whalley Avenue, New Haven, CT. The family wishes to thank the staff of Hospital of St. Raphael's for their caring. Graveside services will be held on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 at 1:00 p.m at Shaarey Zedek Cemetery in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Shiva will be observed in Winnipeg on July 30 and 31, 2008 and at the Yellen home, 35 Hobart Street, New Haven on Saturday August 2, 2008 at 8:00 p.m. and on Sunday August 3, 2008 from 2:00 to 4:00 and from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jul 29, 2008