MAX GUSLITS

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MAX GUSLITS On Monday, November 22, 2004, we all lost a wonderful husband, father, grandfather and friend - Max (Gussie) Guslits. The previous night he had talked to his kids and complained that the Bombers should have been in the Grey Cup that day. The next morning after a few words with Shirley, his wife of 63 years, Max went back to bed and slipped away quietly, with no fuss and no muss - it was just like him. He had, a month earlier, on October 22 celebrated his 89th birthday with his whole family who were in town for the event. The family ate, joked, reminisced, played scrabble, watched TV and Max occasionally slipped away for a few puffs on one of his favourite cigars. He loved his family and friends and they loved him. He still drove his immaculately kept Cadillac up till the last day. He was a man of humour, commitment, strength, stoicism and tenderness when it was called for. His loves ranged from golf to bridge, and from shopping to opera. Max was born in 1915 in Winnipeg of Russian immigrant parents, Ben and Bella. He grew up with a sister, Lillian and a brother Izzy who both predeceased him, and leaves behind a brother Syd. The family owned a small general store in Elmwood for many years where Max grew up and attended St. Johns Tech. After serving in the air force radio technicians unit during the Second World War, he returned to Winnipeg and soon joined his father-in-law, George Shapera, in the wholesale luggage business. The two of them made U.N. Luggage on Albert Street into one of the largest and busiest wholesale luggage operations in Western Canada. After Georges death, Max went on to own and operate the business himself until his retirement in 1990. After that Max devoted his time to enjoying life with his wife and family. He and Shirley travelled to Hawaii every winter where they became part of a large, loyal, connected group of Canadians and Americans enjoying the warm breezes and white sand beaches. His children and granddaughter visited there often. They had a ball together. This past year saw Max slowing with age. He didnt like to be any less than at his best and seemed to decide that it was time to go. For all of us who thought Max would live for ever it came as an enormous shock. But he wouldnt have wanted to go any other way. At the end he was as strong and stubborn as ever. The end was made easier for his wife and family by the kind and gentle ministrations of Major Gordon Jarvis of the Grace General Hospital, and by Rabbi Pinsker of the Shaarey Zedek Synagogue in whose cemetery Max now rests. He leaves behind a family who loved him enormously. His beloved wife Shirley; his children Mark and Barbara, their partners Carolyn and Ken; and his most loved granddaughter Danielle. He will be missed.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Nov 29, 2004