JOHN POLLOCK

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JOHN POLLOCK After a brief illness, John Pollock passed away at the age of 87 on Thursday, May 3, 2001, at Seven Oaks General Hospital. He was predeceased by his father Nuchum; his mother Tamar Gittel; his brothers, Sam and Jack; and his sisters, Tabl and Chayka. He is survived by his wife Anne; his sister Chana; his children, Zailig and Didi, Nathan and Jennifer, and Shmee and Terry; and his grandchildren, Joshua, Daniel and Gabriel, Asa and Jonathan, and Jennifer and Michael. Johnny (as he was affectionately known by friends and family) was born on December 25, 1913 in Ukraine. His formative years were marked by the tumult and suffering of the Russian Revolution and its aftermath, and by the early death of his mother, whom he always remembered with great fondness. In 1928, he and his father joined his older brothers in Winnipeg where, like many immigrants of his generation, he heroically faced and overcame the unfamiliar challenges and obstacles which the New World presented. These early years of struggle helped him to develop the strength and compassion which his family and friends came to know so well. He always had a great love of learning, and quickly mastered the English language, one of five languages which he spoke with perfect ease and fluency. He was a man of broad culture with an abiding interest in music, theatre, and literature. Russian poetry, which he learned to love in his youth, always held a special place in his heart. As an adult he developed great proficiency in Hebrew, and it was a source of immense pleasure to him that others sometimes assumed that Hebrew was his first language. But his deepest love was for the Yiddish language and Yiddish culture. One of the great pleasures of his later years was the Mama Loshen Yiddish Club whose meetings he attended regularly. To the very end of his life he was always eager to discuss his beloved Lermontov or Agnon or Sholem Aleichem. To many people Johnny was best known as the owner of Cliffords Ladies Wear, first on Selkirk Avenue, then on Portage Avenue and at other locations. The business gave him great satisfaction throughout his life: it enabled him to support his family, both immediate and extended, and to contribute generously to Jewish community institutions such as the Talmud Torah, Joseph Wolinsky Collegiate, Camp Massad, and the Jewish Public Library. But the business was more than that to him. It provided him with the intellectual and emotional stimulation which was important to him throughout his life. In business, as in the rest of his life, he was a creative problem solver and a man who welcomed challenges. As a businessman he was known for his integrity and fairmindedness. He was loved and admired by his many colleagues and customers over the years, and he was a particularly loyal and generous employer. Many customers, business associates and employees became lifelong friends; their care and concern in his final days were much appreciated by his family. But it was family that meant most to Johnny his immediate family and his extended family in Winnipeg and throughout the world. Perhaps because his family life had been so disrupted in his early years, Johnny always emphasized the importance of family bonds. He played a central role in arranging for members of his family who had remained in Russia to immigrate to Canada, and he offered them substantial moral and material support as they settled in their new homeland. However, his closest bond was with Anne, his wife of 53 years. They complemented each other perfectly and formed an inseparable team both in business and family life. They provided a loving and supportive home for their three sons and warmly welcomed them and their wives and grandchildren on their regular visits to Winnipeg over the years. One of the great pleasures of Johnnys later years was these visits and the opportunity they gave him to spend time with his grandchildren who were an unceasing source of delight for him. Johnnys accomplishments and expectations set high goals for his children and grandchildren. His love and generosity have helped them to achieve those goals and will continue to do so. Johnny will be sorely missed by his family, his friends and the wider community. His passing has left a painful gap in all our lives. Our family wishes to express our deep appreciation to Dr. Hechtenthal and to the caring staff of Seven Oaks General Hospital. Shiva is being observed at 265 Seven Oaks Ave. until Wednesday, May 9. Donations may be made to the John Pollock Fund for Yiddish Culture, care of the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba (phone 477-7525).

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on May 09, 2001