DR. FREDERICK GEORGE STAMBROOK

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DR. FREDERICK GEORGE STAMBROOK Peacefully and unexpectedly, at home in his sleep on July 15, 2005 Fred passed away at the age of 75. His memory will be forever cherished by his beloved wife and companion of 25 years Stella Hryniuk, sons, Michael (Cathy), David (Anne) of Ottawa, and Andrew; grandchildren, Krista, Megan and Kevin; first wife Beth and devoted mother of his children; Stella's children, Michael (Salt Spring Island) and Angela (Vancouver); brother Peter (Mary) and daughter Elizabeth of Cincinnati; Stella's siblings, Joe (Shauna), John (Marta), and Irene of Chicago; beloved cousin Marianna Hohenberg of London England, and numerous relatives, friends and colleagues in the US, UK, Austria, Switzerland, Israel and around the world. Fred was born (Frederick Sternberg) in Vienna, Austria on November 16, 1929. Following the untimely death of his mother (Edith, 1932) and while his father (Karl) managed various industrial concerns, Fred was raised by his maternal grandparents (Weiss) in Vienna, and subsequently in exile in 1939 in Prague. This situation was perilous (his grandparents perished in the Terezin Concentration Camp) and in 1939 he was sent alone by rail and ferry to the sanctuary of England, to the care of his eventual stepmother (Mimi) and joined by his father. He was evacuated from London in 1940 to the tranquility of Lincolnshire (Willoughby) where he attended the local village school, learned English, and won a scholarship to Alford Grammar School. He spent youthful summers with his parents and stepbrother (Peter) and performed his post-war military service as an Education Officer, Royal Air Force (1950 - 1952). His brilliant academic success led to scholarships at Oxford, St. Catherine's College (B.A. Hons-History) and the London School of Economics (B.Sc. Hons-Economics, PhD). While completing his PhD in International History in London, Fred worked in the British Foreign Office on the translation of captured German Foreign Office war documents at Whaddon Hall (Bucks). In 1955 he met and married Elizabeth Arnold of Melbourne, Australia. During this bucolic period, Fred was immersed in local village cultural activities, cricket, football (soccer), amateur dramatics and political (Liberal), and roles as husband and father. In 1960, Fred accepted his first academic appointment as Lecturer in History at Sydney University (Australia). In 1968 Fred was appointed Assistant Professor of History at the University of Manitoba, and Winnipeg became his spiritual home for the rest of his life. Fred was an academic historian who passionately loved teaching. At the time of his death he was preparing to teach two University of Manitoba history courses. His research interest in inter-war European diplomacy soon became secondary to his increasing administrative roles at the University of Manitoba where he served as Head of the German Department (1976 - 1977), Associate, Dean of Arts (1975 - 1977), Dean of Arts (1977 - 1982) and Vice-President, Academic (1982 - 1991). Following his administrative retirement , Fred was asked to fill-in as interim departmental head of Political Studies (1995 - 1997) and Native Studies (1998 - 1999). In May 2004 he was recognized as Dean Emeritus of the University of Manitoba. Former students consistently praised his teaching, and recognized him as a quietly soulful man of worldly knowledge. Fred loved sports. At college, he played cricket, rugby and football (soccer). He was actively involved with his sons in soccer, as supporter, coach and referee. His passion for soccer and his administrative talent were soon combined in his founding role with the Manitoba Minor Soccer Association. This led to his long-term contributions as President, Canadian Youth Soccer Association (1975 - 1979), President, Manitoba Soccer Association (1980 - 1986), and President, Canadian Soccer Association (1986 - 1992). His lifelong commitment to soccer was recognized with Life Membership, Canadian Soccer Association (1999), Life Membership, Manitoba Soccer Association (2002), and induction as sports-builder into the Manitoba Jewish Sports Hall of Fame (1999) and Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame (2003). Some of his many achievements in sports were championing of rural soccer in Manitoba, and of women's soccer in Canada, Host-President for the FIFA U-17 World Cup (Toronto, 1982), Chair of FIFA, Appeals Committees for soccer at LA Olympics (1984) and World Cup (1994), involvement in Winnipeg Pan-Am Games bid (1999), and Chef de Mission for numerous travelling Canadian National Soccer Teams. Fred loved and supported the arts: ballet, opera and theatre, especially the Prairie Theatre Exchange. He was a Board Member of the Jewish Heritage Centre, and with Stella had developed an active interest in the immigrant experience to Canada, and the multicultural diversity of Hapsburg-Galicia. Fred was an avid world traveller (both with Stella and during his various administrative roles). He had an inexhaustible capacity to regale friends with his colourful adventures. He had recently returned from England and Ireland with his eldest son Michael. Fred shared 25 happy years with Stella, both of them growing in strength and love. This bond blossomed and enabled them to make contributions to family, academic and community life and the world at large. Fred was a generous, caring and gentle man who will be greatly missed by his many friends, family and colleagues in Winnipeg and around the world. In accordance with Fred's wishes, a private cremation will be followed by a public memorial service and reception to celebrate Fred's life. The memorial service will be held at St. John's College Chapel, University of Manitoba from 11:00 a.m. to Noon, Wednesday, July 20. A reception will follow immediately at the University (Faculty) Club, also on campus, from about 12:30 p.m. to 2:00. In lieu of flowers, donations are encouraged to the Dr. Fred Stambrook Graduate Fellowship at the University of Manitoba, in care of Awards Office, 422 University Centre, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, R3T 2N2; 1-204-474-9531; awards@umanitoba.ca. THOMSON IN THE PARK Funeral Home and Cemetery 1291 McGillivray - 925-1120

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jul 18, 2005