RONALD SILVER

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RONALD SILVER It is with heavy hearts and great sadness that we announce the sudden and unexpected passing of Ronald Earl Silver at the age of 62 on November 15, 2009. He passed away surrounded by those who loved him. Ron was predeceased by his mother Gertrude. He leaves to mourn his loving wife of 42 years, Rita, his father Dave, children Norman (Heather), Shane (Mara), Michael (Yael), grandchildren Tyler, Zoe, Naomi, Mattie, Izzy and Ben, sisters Barbara (Harry), Carol (Sid) and many close extended family members. Ron was born in Winnipeg on July 19, 1947. He grew up in Winnipeg's North End graduating from St. John's High School. He served as an officer in the Canadian Air Force while obtaining his Masters in Physics and Bachelor of Education at the University of Manitoba. Ron's passion in life was teaching. He was loved by many of his students and colleagues. He taught at Kelvin, Elmwood, St. Johns, and Sisler High Schools. His dedication to teaching was remarkable. He taught summer and night school and only missed one day of work in his first 30 years of teaching. He retired in 2006 but his love for teaching prevailed and he resumed substitute teaching in 2007 until his last days. Ron pioneered the use of computers into the school system in our city. He used to painstakingly assemble them in his basement with his bare hands. Due to lack of funding, the first computers used in the Winnipeg School Division were those very ones assembled by Ron at home. His passion for computer education motivated him to start the Manitoba High School Computer Science Competition. Ron had a passion for learning, having read most of the encyclopaedia and countless other books; he was a wealth of knowledge. He was a true genius, yet he was the most unassuming, modest and humble man anyone could ever know. Life was an adventure for Ron. He had a quirky, unique sense of humour. He had an endless supply of jokes and invariably, he was the loudest one laughing. He was able to take the simplest pleasures in life and turn them into something wondrous and meaningful. Ron was also known as the man who could fix anything. He would always lend a helping hand because he did things purely for the joy of assisting others. Most important to Ron was family. He and his wife, Rita, were married for 42 years and they were true soul mates. He had unconditional love for his children and grandchildren and they were the center of his universe. He was a selfless man and sacrificed much to ensure the happiness and well-being of his family. He will be profoundly missed. Donations can be made in Ron's name to Jocelyn House or the Manitoba Heart and Stroke Foundation. The funeral was held at Shaarey Zedek Synagogue on November 16. We would like to thank the pallbearers Marshall Maslovsky, Rael Ludwig, Arnold Silver, Jea Guertin, Jeffrey Jerome, Harry Jerome and Ashley Leible. Love is that condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Nov 21, 2009