JOSEPH BELLAN

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JOSEPH BELLAN It is with great sadness that the family of Joseph (Joe) Bellan announces his passing December 18, 2003 at St. Boniface Hospital at age 91. Joe was predeceased by his loving wife, Ziona on July 23, 2003; and his brother Alec, of Toronto. He is survived by his four children, Ruth (Professor Fred) Cooperstock of Victoria, BC, Judi (Murray) Waldman, Matt Bellan and Bernie (Meachelle) Bellan; and six grandchildren, Professor Jeremy (Vinita) Cooperstock of Montreal, Ramona (Mitch Mosten), PhD, of Toronto, Suzy (Professor Brian Johnson) Waldman, PhD, of Edmonton, Sherri (Steve Grewing) Waldman of Vancouver, and Shira and Jordy Bellan. He is also survived by his brothers, Dr. Sam and Professor Ruben Bellan. Joe Bellan and his brothers, sons of Lilly (Lipke) and Haim (Chaim Boruch) Belapolsky (the name was later changed to Bellan), were born and raised in Winnipegs North End, and they and their parents lived for much of that period at 400 Aberdeen Avenue. Joe began his schooling at Strathcona School. From there, he moved on to Ralph Brown School, Faraday School, and Isaac Newton School. He then attended St. Johns High School, where he served as president of the students council and won the governor-generals medal. He next attended the University of Manitoba, then located at what is now Memorial Park; he walked to and from university, daily, from the family home on Aberdeen, beginning a lifelong habit of walking several miles, twice a day. During his university years, Joe worked as a miner during the summer at the gold mines in Bissett, MB, travelling much of the way to and from the mines, on foot. After getting his BA, he received a scholarship for law school, and received his law degree in 1940. The same year, he married Ziona Greene, and they moved to Beausejour, MB, where he became a founding partner in the Lindal and Bellan law offices. He joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1943, and was first sent to a base outside London, ON. He continued his training at Aylmer, ON, and earned his wings as a flight sargeant and navigator. In Beausejour, over the years, Joe served as secretary of the local branch of the Royal Canadian Legion, was an active member of the Beausejour Lions Club, and secretary and president of the Brokenhead Agriculture Society. He also became secretary of the provincial Liberal Party. Joe was famous in the Beausejour area for organizing and hosting the annual Dominion Day celebrations for 12 years, which drew as many as 10,000 visitors to the town. One of the most memorable involved a wrestling bear. Joe sent a telegram to the Kremlin, inviting then-Soviet premier Nikita Krushchev to wrestle the bear, but did not receive a reply. Joe was appointed a Queens Counsel in the late 1950s. He continued his law practice until age 84, commuting back and forth weekdays to Beausejour, and the firm he co-founded, Bellan, Wasylin and Associates, still bears his name. Joe was an ardent supporter of Israel, and followed current events in the Jewish state to the very end of his life. He was deeply devoted to his wife and family, and always had a welcoming smile for anyone who knew him. He will be deeply missed. His funeral was held December 21 at Chesed Shel Emes Funeral Chapel with Rabbi Ari Enkin presiding. Pallbearers were Matt and Bernie Bellan, Professors, Fred and Jeremy Cooperstick, Murray Waldman and Brett Steiner. Donations in Joe Bellans memory may be made to the charity of your choice.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 10, 2004