FRED BLANKSTEIN, MD

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FRED BLANKSTEIN, MD June 26, 1921- July 13, 2018 Dr. Fred (Ingy) Blankstein, passed away peacefully in his sleep at his home of 59 years in Whittier, CA on July 13, at the age of 97. He was born June 26, 1921 in Winnipeg, Manitoba to architect Max Blankstein and Leah Blankstein (nee Golden). He was the last surviving sibling in his family which included sisters, Eva and Evelyn and brothers, Wolfe, Cecil and Morley. In 1940, at age 19, he joined the Canadian Army. Fred served in the First Canadian Army which was part of the British Army under the command of the famous Field Marshall Montgomery. He served as an artillery spotter and saw action in Sicily and Italy. He was with the first Canadian troops that liberated Amsterdam in 1945. Fred was overseas for four years and seven months. Fred returned to Winnipeg after the war, finished high school and pre-med then began his medical education at the University of Manitoba. While in med school, he married his precious wife, Pearl Margolis, in 1948. Fred completed his medical degree in 1951 and started his professional career in general practice which eventually led to the Los Angeles area. Fred was a true renaissance man with many hobbies and a deep intellectual curiosity. He had a passion for jazz music and adored Duke Ellington, Count Basie and Louis Armstrong. He was also a self-taught trumpet player. He loved the game of golf and was on an endless search for the "secret" to master the game. Fred was a voracious reader of history and could recite historical tidbits like an encyclopedia. He was also one of the co-founders of Temple Beth Shalom in Whittier. Fred is survived by his sister-in-law Marjorie Blankstein of Winnipeg, Manitoba and many beloved nieces and nephews all across Canada. He cherished his children and their spouses, Maxine, David (Andrea), Gary (Barbara), Joel and Leon (Mary). Fred was blessed with eight grandchildren: Sara, Paul, Mark, Ashley, Rachel, Joshua, Adam and Karina and his seven great-grandchildren. Funeral services were held at Mount Sinai, Hollywood Hills, CA on Monday, July 16 at 12:30 p.m.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jul 21, 2018