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Mourning the passing of Holocaust survivor Mayer Schondorf

I was shocked and very saddened to learn of the sudden passing of one my most distinguished constituents in District 2,  Mayer Schondorf at the age of 81. Born in Slovakia,  Mayer was a Holocaust survivor of Auschwitz and Buchenwald and he dedicated most of his life after escaping death at he hands of the Nazis to educating youngsters about his experience and those of others.  He was a frequent visitor to schools and worked closely with the Montreal Holocaust Memorial  Centre.

Municipally, Mayer was in touch with me on a regular basis – by telephone, email and in person. He and his wife Rena took long walks in the neighbourhood, keeping up a pace those half their age would envy.   After many of these walks Mayer would contact me to report a problem he spotted, He and Rena regularly attended my District meetings, which focus on very local issues. Mayer is pictured at te very left with other residents in discussion with me at one of the meetings.  

The Schondorf condo on Rembrandt Avenue faces Rembrandt Park. We have made many improvements there the last few years, but a major  project is planned beginning next summer which will see us add new tennis courts and remove the basketball courts. Mayer was very eager to be consulted on this. When we last spoke just a few weeks ago I promised him that there would be a meeting in the spring.

Mayer’s death is a tremendous loss to the Jewish community and society in general. He affected so many lives, notably the thousands upon thousands of non-Jewish students he spoke to over the years. For this is the best vehicle for combating anti-Semitism. Get to the kids who have never seen or met a Jew. Provide them with first-hand history. It leaves a tremendous impression upon them. I had the privilege of watching Mayer work his magic. He was just so good at it because what he said came from the heart.

Rest in peace Mayer. And to your family, my most sincere condolences.

Mitchell Goldbloom's brother shares eulogy and photos

A few weeks ago I wrote about the tragic passing of Mitchell Goldbloom, 42, from cancer. A native of Côte Saint-Luc and the son of my dear colleague on city council Sam Goldbloom, Mitch had everything going for him. A successful law practice in Toronto, a loving wife and two adorable young daughters. Less than two years ago he was stricken with a rare form of cancer. He fought hard, but lost the battle in October.

Mitch's brother Mark was kind enough to share a copy of his eulogy and some photos of Mitch and his girls.   Here it is:

I want to thank you for being here today to honour my brother.

I could not have asked for a better big brother. Mitch was 7 years older than me and growing up he was my idol and role model

. As a child, I would follow him everywhere and he was always there for me, to play with me and give me advice. I believe some of my best qualities are the result of Mitch’s influence on me. Even though he remained my role model, as we got older the age difference became insignificant and we became best friends.

Mitch wasn’t only a great brother, he was a wonderful son, bringing enormous joy and happiness to our parents throughout his life. Mitch was also a tremendous grandson, nephew, son-in-law, brother-in-law¸ uncle, cousin and a great friend to all of us. Most of all Mitch was a devoted husband and loving father.

Everyone who knew Mitch, knew he had a big personality.

He had a real joie de vive. Mitch was extremely gregarious, loved to laugh and had an amazing sense of humour. One of the most unique qualities about my brother is that when Mitch entered a room everyone seemed to get happier. He always brought joy and happiness to others. Mitch was a good person, a unique person and it was a privilege to know him.

My brother lived 42 years and left us far too soon. However, Mitch lived life to the fullest. Mitch accomplished in 42 years what many people would not accomplish in 82.

For instance, when Mitch was younger he told me of his dream to have a beautiful wife, children, a golden retriever and an SUV. Well, he met his beautiful wife Dana, his partner and love of his life, and after a long courtship they got married 15 years ago. A few years into their marriage along came their beautiful daughters Talia and Jordan. Along the way Mitch even went out and got Katie, their golden retriever and his SUV.

Mitch did not stop there. Mitch built up a successful law practice working with people he loved at Landy Marr Katz, making partner. He maintained lifelong friendships and developed new ones. Despite having an incredibly busy career, volunteering on the board at Bialik and other responsibilities, Mitch always found time to pursue his passion in sports, playing basketball and baseball. Most importantly Mitch always made time for what mattered most to him, his family, especially making sure to spend as much time as possible with his beloved children. Family vacations were the utmost priority for Mitch and he became a foremost expert on planning vacations to Disneyworld.

My brother was by far the strongest person I have ever known. Over the past 18 months, with the cancer occurring three times, Mitch endured radiation, chemotherapy, a 13 hour surgery, a stem cell replacement and other invasive procedures. True to his incredible strength of character, Mitch never gave up.

While composing this eulogy, I was looking for insight and wisdom on what to write about and about the future, and it occurred to me to do what I have done in the past, look towards my brother for guidance. Three points of wisdom that I learned from Mitch occurred to me:

 The first is that Mitch had a very long memory for happy occurrences and a very short memory for difficult ones. Mitch would want us to celebrate his life, not mourn his death. After the requisite shiva period Mitch would want us to quickly begin to enjoy life again; the second is that when Mitch saw a problem he would always help try to solve it.  When Mitch was struck with a rare and vicious form of cancer, my brother fought courageously against it and was adamant that he did not want to leave us. Well, we will help Mitch not to leave us by keeping him alive in our hearts and minds.

I know my brother has influenced everyone who has known him in a way that will stay with them for the rest of their lives. While visiting with Mitch in the hospital I heard so many wonderful stories about him from friends and family, particularly about his sense of humour, his accomplishments and his kindness. It is important that these wonderful stories continue to be told. Most of all Mitch continues to live on in his remarkable children, not just in their DNA, but with his spirit, personality and sense of humour in them.

 Lastly, I looked to Mitch for guidance on how to express how much we truly love him.  When tucking his children into bed each night, he would tell them how much he loved them with a unique and special phrase. It sounded like hyperbole, but it truly wasn’t. It is with this phrase that I think I may express how much we love Mitch. That we love him to the moon, to the stars, to the whole wide world.

Mourning the passing of Mitchell Goldbloom

Some 30 years ago I served as the coach of the Côte Saint-Luc PeeWee "AA" Avengers, a baseball team where the players were only about five years younger than I. They were a good group of kids and our team did fairly well in the standings.

Mitchell Goldbloom  (pictured at the right) was a talented left handed hitter who could play most positions. What I remember most about Mitchell at the time was his good humour and absolute politeness. Like other players on that team, after the season ended and I concluded my coaching career, I would run into Mitchell from time to time. I lost track of him until four years ago when, after being elected to Côte Saint-Luc City Council, I got to know one of my co-elected officials Sam Goldbloom. This was Sam’s first term in office, like me, and the two of us hit it off from the start.

When Sam’s mother-in-law passed away I went to the shiva and there was Mitchell Goldbloom, my former player. He was Sam’s son. Now a successful lawyer in Toronto, he was married to Dana Soroka and the father of two young girls. Mitchell and I reminisced that day. I also met his younger brother Mark, he too a Toronto attorney.

Mitchell graduated from McGill University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology in 1989 and then Queen's University Law School in 1992. He then articled and worked as an associate in Ottawa for a national law firm. After moving to Toronto, for a number of years prior to joining the firm of Landy Marr Kats LLP, he acted as Enforcement Counsel for the Ontario Motor Vehicle Industry Council. Accordingly, he acquired a unique experience with respect to the litigation before administrative tribunals, specifically the License Appeal Tribunal and the Divisional Court. At Landy Marr Kats his practice focused strictly on civil litigation and eventually was named a partner.

As Sam and I became friends he would often talk about his two boys. He and his wife Beverly looked so forward to their frequent trips to Toronto. But for the Goldblooms, just less than two years ago, their lives came crashing down. Mitchell had been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer of the sinus. All looked very grim as doctors explained the disease was in such a difficult spot, seemingly impossible to reach. Mitchell was a fighter and he looked into every possible treatment imaginable. Initially he underwent a risky 13 hour operation which would end up causing him blindness in one eye and bad effects to his hearing. Work stopped and stays in the hospital were uncomfortable and long. When a stem cell transplant was performed Mitchell’s diagnosis turned around. Doctors told him he was in remission and plans were underway for him to return to the law firm. He even got to go on a nice holiday with his family. In July he called Sam from his cell phone to announce there was a suit sale at Harry Rosen and he was off to buy a few new ones.

Throughout this whole ordeal, Sam was a rock. He travelled to Toronto regularly, yet rarely missed a city council meeting or function. In addition, he kept busy in his day job as a sales representative for Cruise Ship Centres. Bev was a teacher in the adult education system. Since she was spending so much time in Toronto it was becoming increasingly difficult for her to meet those demands.

In August Mitchell became ill again. The cancer had spread to his brain. A new series of radiation and chemotherapy was initiated. Seizures ensued. Bev moved to Toronto full-time.  Sam went back and forth. Through all of this, as Sam stood by his bedside, Mitchell gathered all the strength he could and asked his dad for a promise. Sam was up for re-election in Côte Saint-Luc and Mitchell wanted to make sure that his illness would not interfere in that process. "Win that election for me dad," he asked.

On October 2, Sam was acclaimed to office in District 1. Soon after, Mitchell’s condition became more critical. Sam and Bev were off to Toronto, this time for an extended stay. Mitchell was suffering from terribly painful seizures and while he was fighting to stay alive it became clear that he was losing the battle. One day he squeezed his dad’s hand, thanking him for fulfilling his promise and returning to council for another mandate.

Last week Sam shared with his colleagues the news we all feared. There was no saving Mitchell. It was now only a matter of time. Our hearts broke when we were told that Mitchell’s two little girls, aged six and eight, would come to the hospital for the final time and say their good-byes. Sam and Bev understandably could not bear to witness this. Dana, Mitchell’s wife, was strong. Not only is she a physician herself, but sadly she watched her own brother Seth die of heart complications just a few years ago.

On October 21, at the age of 42, Mitchell died at the Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto. "He was brave kid," said Sam. "He never gave up. Over the last while, when he realized what probably would occur, he made a series of video recordings which will be shown to his daughters at different stages of their lives. I am proud of Mitchell and equally proud of his brother Mark, who was there with him and his family every step of the way. Life will go on for us. But it will be different. It will never be the same. This just is not fair. I often asked, ‘why not take me?’ I have lived a good life. Why take my son?"

I reached Keith Landy, the managing partner of the law firm Mitchell worked at.  I go way back with Keith from our days at Canadian Jewish Congress together. Mitch was an inspiration to us all of us," he said. "He put up this incredible fight. In spite of being 'knocked back' at almost every turn, he was determined to fight this awful disease.  From the time he got sick in February 2008, his focus was to get well and get back to work. We assured Mitch that his position was secure and his office was waiting for him as soon as he was ready. 

"Mitch will be missed by all and especially by his clients who loved him. Not a day went by, during these past months without someone inquiring how he was doing. Mitch lived for his family and his work as a lawyer. He was devoted to Dana,Talia and Jordan. He would often leave the office in time to put the kids to bed, and then return to work on the file for the next day in Court. He loved being a lawyer. He loved the 'cut and thrust' of advocacy in Court, and if he had a difficult case he would try to win the Judge over with his great sense of humour. At the firm, we all loved Mitch. He will be sorely missed. "

For Mitchell Goldbloom the suffering is over. Tragically, his daughters spent far too short a time with him. But they will always be able to remember what a special person he was.

"Everyone he came into contact  always remembered his zest for life, sense of humour,devotion to his family and loving nature," said Sam. "It is so painful - there is a terrible void - but we will always remember Mitch and honour his wishes that we resume living."

Rest in peace Mitchell!

Donations in his memory may be made to the Mitchell Goldbloom Fund at Mount Sinai Hospital's Max and Beatrice Wolfe Children's Grief Centre 416-586-8203 ext. 3936.

In Memoriam: A Constituent Looks Back at the Life of Sheila Finestone

During her years as the Liberal Member of Parliament for Mount Royal, I got to know the late Sheila Finestone quite well.

Sheila passed away this week at the age of 82, following a battle with cancer. She stepped down as MP in 1999, succeeded by Irwin Cotler, and served as a Senator for three years before formally retiring from politics.

 Born Sheila Abbey, she was prominent in women’s and Jewish community affairs before being elected as the successor to Pierre Elliott Trudeau in the Liberal stronghold of Mount Royal . That first election, however, was no easy task as it coincided with Brian Mulroney’s Conservative Party sweep of Quebec. She defeated her opponent, Sharon Wolfe, by a slim margin and went on to re-election three subsequent times before stepping down in 1999 and accepting the Senate post.

The highlight of Finestone’s Parliamentary career came in 1993 when, after nine years in opposition, she was elevated to the Privy Council and appointed secretary of state for multiculturalism and the status of women. Ironically, in her maiden Commons speech on November 15, 1984, she criticized the Mulroney government for not including the portfolio in the cabinet's own priorities and planning committee. "The government risks the charge that its attention to the significant concerns of Canadian women is little more than tokenism, for it excludes them from the heart of policy-making," she said at the time.

Finestone was a 1947 graduate of McGill University ( bachelor of science degree) Prior to entering politics she was an active member of the community, working for organizations such as Jewish Family Services, the Jewish General Hospital, the National Association of Women and the YM-YWHA. She was a founder of Project Genesis, which offered storefront legal services to seniors of limited means, and elected president of the Féderation des Femmes du Québec in 1977. Her parents, Monroe and Minnie Abbey, were active pillars of Montreal's Jewish community. She grew up with two sisters and a brother in a progressive liberal household where equality was the rule and intellectual integrity the ideal

Merle Margles, a District 2 constituent of mine, served as Finestone's executive assistant for many years. She provided me with these thoughts:

Sheila Abbey was born into a milieu that would have afforded her a life of ease, but she saw injustices in the world, particularly relative to womencand sought to change them. As far as I am concerned, they threw away the mold when she was born.

She never backed down from a challenge in the fifteen years that I worked for her. For example she accepted to become communications critic in the Turner opposition when women's issues were more her thing. She functioned in both the English and the French communities. She was the first anglophone president of the Federation des femmes du Quebec. She had energy to burn - I remember sitting in a restaurant with her, going over some constituency issues, when the owner started to shut the lights. I had to point out to her that I thought he wanted us out of there. It was eleven o'clock in the evening. If that doesn't tell you how hard she worked, I recall being in Ottawa for some meeting or other - I was staying at her apartment and went to bed towards midnight. I awoke at about 2 a.m. because the light was still on, to find her asleep, a briefing book in her hands, and yellow highlighter all over the place.

She was sympathetic to a fault when it came to the people in the riding. Constituency days which started in the morning always went into the evenin because she would become fascinated or outraged by what a constituent was telling her and would refuse to end the appointment within the allocate time. This would result in a waiting room full of people of varying backgrounds, each with their own story to tell. From the president of a large corporation who might have issues with the federal government, to aperson from outside Canada who was having a tough time with immigration,all were treated with respect. In terms of her work on the status of women, it seems to me that the young career women of today might not realize the extraordinary effort that went into achieving equality in the workplace for them. In her role as Secretary of State for Multiculturalism and the Status of Women, Mrs. Finestone was in her element. The workplace for women today would not be what it is were it not for people like her.

She was extremely devoted to her family - nuclear and extended. Notwithstanding her duties and obligations in Parliament, she spent as much time as she could with them, cherishing her times in the Laurentians and Jewish holidays with them. She will be sorely missed.