ELI MAX ROSS (ROSENBAUM)

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ELI MAX ROSS (ROSENBAUM) AFC July 25, 1914 - February 11, 2001 There is so much to say about this remarkable man that one does not know where to begin. Perhaps the best way is to tell you that he was a decent, honourable, highly principled, generous and trustworthy human being. He was handsome, debonair and a prince of a man. He lived life to the fullest with few regrets, always engaged, always full of life, always a pleasure to be with. Eli Ross was born on July 25, 1914 in Winnipeg, the son of the late David and Anna Rosenbaum. He was raised in the rich culture of the Jewish community of Winnipegs North End. He cherished the memories of his youth throughout his life. He began his business career at the age of 12 by delivering newspapers, adding in his own small way to the family income. Self educated after high school, he was an omnivorous reader, loving the classics, history, philosophy, mythology, humor and current events. In the 1930s jobs were hard to come by in Winnipeg and off he went in 1933 to Flin Flon, Manitoba where he found work albeit for very low wages. He had a variety of jobs from clerking to construction; he was young and healthy and his love and feeling for the North was then well established. In 1941 he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force, receiving his wings in Fort McLeod, Alberta and served until the fall of 1945. In early 1944, the Flying Fortress mail plane he co-piloted collided with a Wellington Bomber on a flight from Gibraltar to Britain over the Bay of Biscay. The Wellington Bomber and its crew hurtled into the water but the Fortress, on the verge of breaking up, struggled back to England and landed two hours later. Eli and the entire crew were awarded the Air Force Cross on May 5, 1944. Eli always joked about having received a medal for saving his own life. Of his original squadron of forty-eight men, only five survived the war. From then on, Eli considered his life to be a gift, and he lived his life as though it were indeed a gift to be savored daily, laughing, joking, hugging, always singing and whistling - just happy to be alive. His positive attitude to life could be expressed by his oft repeated motto "Rather than curse the darkness, light a candle." He was rarely harsh; his wife Malca would argue that he never was. He was a man of lifelong friendships. Many will recognize themselves among that group and many more have gone before him. In 1945 Eli returned to Flin Flon and opened Ross Style Shop, initially with his brothers. He loved Flin Flon and the community life of the north. He married his first wife Evelyn in 1949. One of the greatest joys of Elis life was his lead role as Professor Harold Hill, the glad handing salesman in Meredith Willsons "The Music Man" which he performed with the Flin Flon Glee Club in 1962. The stage suited him and so did the role. We can hear him yet, "Well, youve got trouble my friend, trouble right here in River City". He lived in Flin Flon until 1966. Eli left Flin Flon in 1966 and returned to Winnipeg and at the age of 52 he joined Investors Group, a company he held in high esteem, and began a new and successful career. He retired from Investors Group in 1999 at the age of 84. Shortly after returning to Winnipeg, he met and married Malca Shnier and gained stepdaughters Joan and Barbara Shnier and a new set of in-laws, Malcas parents Maggie and Charlie Brownstone, and Malcas siblings, Faye and Bert Settler, Jack and Lorraine Brownstone, Buddy and Maxine Brownstone and Billy Brownstone and their families. Malca and Eli lived a blessed life marked by simple shared pleasures and unfailing devotion to each other for twenty-eight years. Malca says "He promised me a rose garden and he kept his promise. Life together was a ball. We laughed and loved and lived life to the fullest, and he made me promise that there would be no moaning at the bar when he put out to sea. He courted me every day of his life until the last. Isnt it fitting that such a romantic man should be laid to rest on "Valentines Day." Elis legacy is the impact he had on others in his life and the ripple effect of that impact. Although essentially a very private man, he was in contact with literally hundreds of people. His daughter Susan comments that being with him in Winnipeg sometimes felt like walking at the front of a parade. Unclaimed acts of kindness, generosity or just good humor changed the world a little bit and many will consider their lives improved because of his presence. He taught those closest to him by his example, to live with optimism, enjoy - always enjoy, be a decent person, sing to your children, seize the day, be moderate in your desires and leave some for others, marry someone you respect and then esteem your spouse. Take whatever hand youre dealt and play it to the fullest. These lessons were learned and passed on. That is his legacy. Our last lesson was to watch Eli play his last hand with such grace and dignity. Thank you, Eli. Susan and Gordon would like to thank Malca for the grand life she made for Eli and for her love and devotion to him right to the end. Joan and Barbara would like to thank Eli, for that same wonderful life he made for Malca. Eli was predeceased by his parents, Anna and David Rosenbaum, his brother Harold Ross and sister Hattie Margolese. He is survived by his loving wife Malca, his son Gordon and wife Carol, their children, Gordie, Billy and James, by his daughter Susan Ross and husband Scott Hopley, their children Kate and David, his stepdaughter Joan Shnier and husband Jake Chazan and their daughter Kate Chazan, and stepdaughter Barbara Shnier. He is survived as well by his sister Sima Kay and husband Harvey, their children, Neil, Ian and Robin Kay, his brother Irvin Ross and his children, Arthur and David Ross and Mindy Heppner, nieces and nephews Bebe Sherbecoe, Sandra Kussin, Arnold and Gary Ross, Patty Margolese and Karen Dankwerth and many grand nieces and nephews. The family wishes to thank the Doctors and Nurses at the Palliative Care Ward, 8th floor of the St. Boniface Hospital for their kind and considerate care and a special thank you to Dr. Paul Daeninck for his long time care of Eli and his patience and support for the family. Funeral services were held at the Shaarey Zedek Synagogue on February 14, 2001 with interment at Shaarey Zedek Cemetery. Rabbi David Cantor and Rabbi Louis Berkal officiated. Active pallbearers were Ian Kay, Joe Kay, Dr. Louis Ludwig, Gary Ross, Zachary Walsh, Lev Eli Zentner. Honorary pallbearers were Sam Arenson, Gil Cloutier, Harvey Kay, Art Kroeker, Gerry McIsaac, Bert Settler and Al Walder. "To live in the hearts of those left behind is not to die" Gifts in memory of Eli Ross may be sent to the "Malca and Eli Ross Fund" at the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba, 123 Doncaster St., Winnipeg, MB, R3N 2B2. PRIVATE SHIVA

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Feb 17, 2001