MURRAY STERN

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MURRAY STERN With great sadness, we announce the passing of Murray Stern, our dear and beloved husband, father, brother, zaida and uncle who left us on October 7, 2014 at the age of 91 years. Murray was born on Dufferin Avenue, June 4, 1923. He was the seventh of 10 children. He served in the Air Force during the Second World War as an aeroengine mechanic. After serving, he entered the education faculty at the University of Manitoba. Having disliked school as a child, he set out to be the teacher he had never had himself. He went on to be an innovator in the education field inspiring students with his quiet passion for learning. He started in Churchill, MB, then two years teaching in The Pas and finally spent most of his 35 year career in Winnipeg School Division #1 as teacher, vice principal and principal. He married the love of his life, Feiga Presma in 1957. They had two children and would have celebrated their 57th wedding anniversary this December. Murray's greatest joy was spending time with his two grandchildren. They, in turn, were blessed to be able to spend hours of quality time with their Zaida sharing the wonder he felt just being alive on this earth, discussing every topic imaginable, pouring over books and going to art galleries and great movies. Murray was a student of life, a researcher, a reader, an artist (at the Forum Art Institute), a movie aficionado, a photographer and an archivist. He purchased a MAC computer in his 80s and spent hours digitizing, cropping and playing with the contrast of his thousands of slides. His family, friends, students and co-workers who spent time with him, were enriched by knowing him. He was a quiet, gentle, passionate man. Murray was predeceased by his parents Joseph and Fanny Stern, siblings Sophie (Morris Berkle), Sirila Stern, Jennie (Harry Tennenhouse), Rena (Davie Rittberg), Cecile (Lennie Mushkat), and Sidney (Eleanor Stern). He is survived by his wife Feiga, children Rafi and Miriam (Ralph Neuman), grandchildren Ruel and Jenna Neuman, siblings Becky (Harry Rosenberg), Sam (Annette Stern) and Sali (Chaim Ben Ezra), as well as 21 nieces and nephews and numerous great and great-great-nieces and nephews. A funeral was held on October 13, 2014 to honour and commemorate his life at Etz Chayim Synagouge officiated by Rabbi Lander and Cantor Tracy Kasner-Greaves. Thank you to pallbearers Ron Rittberg, Mel Rittberg, Ruel Neuman, Ralph Neuman, Michael Tennenhouse and Ken Tennenhouse. Donations in Murray's memory may be made to a charity of your choice. We will always remember the words, true to your character that you wrote the day before your passing: "See you later, alligator...All my love". Love you too.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Nov 29, 2014