HARRY BRESLAW

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HARRY BRESLAW 1905 - 2002 Harry Breslaw often said "Its a changing world" and he couldnt have been more correct, as Harry lived through almost the entire tumultuous 20th century. He was born into a world of horse-drawn carriages and died at 97, decades after man walked on the moon. Harry talked frequently about his love for Dauphin, MB and the people in and around it who shaped his long and eventful life. He spent more than 50 years in Dauphin, half a world away from Chernovitz, a city in what was then Austria, where he had been born in 1905. The family had moved from Russia to Austria on its way to Canada. Harrys father Jacob, his wife Nachama, their daughter Dorothy and Harry arrived in Winnipeg in 1907. They settled on Lisgar Street and Jacob soon established a shoe repair shop. Harrys other siblings, Molly, Morris, Florence, Ben and Beulah, were born in Winnipeg. As a young teenager, Harry sold newspapers. He once said that his best sales day was November 11, 1918, Armistice Day, which marked the end of the First World War. He loved the local theatres, where vaudeville stars such as George Burns and Bob Hope performed. Harrys friend, an usher, let him into many of the shows. When Harry was 17, his father sent him to Dauphin to open a small store. His father died suddenly less than a year later and Harry assumed responsibility for the family. He was forced to close the store and went to work for menswear retailer Eli Bay, where he honed his retail skills and developed a love for people from all walks of life. In 1930, Harry married Sadie Isa, and subsequently went into business with her father, I. Isaacovitch, in The Peoples Store. And so began a journey that brought Harry into contact with thousands of people, and came to define him as a trusted friend and neighbour in the Dauphin region. He was a lifetime Mason (Vermilion Lodge, Dauphin) and a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks (Dauphin Lodge). But his charitable works were primarily one on one. The stories that illustrate Harrys kindness and generosity are simple, but powerful. A barefoot child whose father couldnt afford shoes was fitted and sent on her way with a smile. A friend whose business had burned to the ground answered his door at home to find Harry standing on his steps with money in a paper bag. Harry was respected, admired and esteemed. Some of his customers claimed that he had a "schaslyva ruka" - Ukrainian for a lucky hand, one that would bestow good fortune on all who shook it. Harry and Sadie raised two sons, Ian and Jerome. In 1969, after nearly five decades in Dauphin, Harry and Sadie moved to Winnipeg. But Harry commuted between Dauphin and Winnipeg until he closed the store in the mid 1970s. Sadie passed away in 1983 after a loving and laughter filled 53 years together. A new phase of Harrys life began in 1984. While on a trip to Palm Springs, Harry was introduced to Esther Tessler, a widow who lived around the corner from him in Winnipeg. Esther and Harry were married in Winnipeg, and began a life together that lasted more than 18 years. Harry treated Esthers daughters, Shelley, Debby and Susan, as his own and took pleasure in being a part of their lives. He was known to his grandchildren as Deeda, an affectionate name that his first grandchild, Shelley, coined when she was unable to pronounce Zaida. Harry loved his family, and he loved a lot of other things too - herring washed down with a schnapps, spicy foods, soup too hot for anyone else to swallow ("Is it hot enough for Deeda?"), a clear blue Manitoba sky, the sound of childrens laughter. In fact, everyones laughter. And everyone who knew Harry loved his laughter. It had little sound, but his body shook, his face reddened and tears streamed from his eyes. His ability to laugh at himself, and to make others laugh with him, was "unique". Harry died on September 23 and a service was held on September 25 at Shaarey Zedek Cemetery in Winnipeg, officiated by Rabbi Weizman. Pallbearers were his grandchildren, Shelley Breslaw-Wynne, Susan Robson, Curtis Breslaw, John Breslaw, Kevin Wynne and Tom Robson. Harrys memory is cherished by his loving wife, Esther; Ian and Mee Yien Breslaw; Jerome Breslaw, Dorothy Privensal; daughter-in-law Claire Breslaw; Shelley and Peter Robertson; Debby and Jim Davis; Susan Tessler and David Gillies; grandchildren, Shelley Breslaw-Wynne and Kevin Wynne; Susan and Tom Robson; Curtis Breslaw; John Breslaw; Jennifer and Andy McKiel; Jonathan Davis; Joseph Gillies; Laura Gillies; and his great-granddaughter Sophie Wynne. He is also missed and remembered by his brother-in-law Dr. Jay Isa; his sister-in-law Ruth Breslaw and numerous nieces and nephews. For those wishing to commemorate Harrys life, a contribution may be made to the Dauphin and District Community Foundation or to a charity of their choice. A distinctive life, full of variations, different and unique. A-1!

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Oct 05, 2002