Maurice Jeroff

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/210008012/maurice-jeroff

Following written by Maurice taken from http://bookoflife.jewishfoundation.org/bookoflife3.cfm?id=478

Maurice (Minno) Jeroff

I am delighted to be a contributor to the Jewish Foundation’s Endowment Book of Life, as it fulfills my wish to serve the Jewish community in a meaningful and lasting way.

I was born in 1923 to Louis and Luba Juravsky, Russian immigrants who were direct descendents of the renowned Berdichev Rabbi. My parents first settled in the Clandeboye and Selkirk area before moving in 1924 to Garson, Manitoba, where they owned and operated a store, hotel and limestone quarry. In addition, my father served as a school trustee for 20 years and as Mayor of Garson from 1940-1950. They moved to Winnipeg in 1945. Nicknamed “Minno” because I was physically small, I was the eldest son of six children: four brothers (Curly, Abie, Sammy and Malik) and one sister (Lotte). With the exception of Lotte, the only girl (who was born in Rumania while our parents were en route to Canada), my brothers and I were born in Winnipeg. Growing up in the country was filled with hardships for a Jewish child, and at the age of six, I moved to Winnipeg and lived with my aunt, uncle and two cousins – the Lehmanns. I returned to Garson during summer holidays, but attended schools in the city (David Livingstone, Aberdeen). I graduated from Daniel McIntyre Collegiate and Talmud Torah night school in 1940.

I have very fond memories of my adolescence, especially Boy Scout training at the Talmud Torah and regular get-togethers at the Paragon Club, which, 65 years later, still meets bi-weekly. Every Yontiff, my parents, brothers and sister came to Winnipeg and stayed with the Lehmanns – 13 people in total, including my grandmother, in a two-bedroom apartment. Although we were very cramped, it was wonderful for me, and for all of us, to be able to celebrate the Jewish holidays together. After high school, I enrolled in the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Manitoba, but in 1943, interrupted my studies to join the Royal Canadian Navy, for World War II was being waged. I returned home safely in 1945, and in 1948, met Annis at MAC’s Bowling Alley. I was completely captivated by her. We dated and became engaged, and then I resumed my engineering studies - at the Indiana Institute of Technology, for it offered an accelerated academic program, which meant that we could be married earlier than if I studied at the U of M. I graduated as a Civil Engineer, and returned to Winnipeg in 1949. Annis and I were married in 1950 at the Shaarey Zedek Synagogue. Our life together has been blessed with three wonderful children. Hope, a teacher, lives in Winnipeg. Alan, a dentist, lives in Vancouver with his wife Debbie, who is a teacher. Shirley is a human resources specialist married to Lorne Balsam, a computer consultant, and they live in Toronto. Our children have given us 6 beautiful grandchildren – David and Brent Kideckel, Samantha and Abby Jeroff, and Ryan and Jenna Balsam.

As our children were born, I began a long and fulfilling professional career that lasted 35 years. I started with Dominion Bridge in 1950, and was promptly hired away by the Greater Winnipeg Diking Board to develop an urgently needed permanent flood protection system. From there, I joined the City of West Kildonan and spent the next 15 years as City Engineer. In the 1960s, I turned to housing development for the City of Winnipeg, co-ordinating the redevelopment of the Lord Selkirk Park Project. In 1970 I accepted the position of Director of Housing with the Province of Manitoba’s Housing and Renewal Corporation. I was seconded, after a national competition in 1975, to the City of Vancouver, to assume the position of Director of Housing, and our family relocated to B.C. for a very exciting year.

I retired from the provincial government in Manitoba in 1985, and decided to marry my academic/technical know-how with my professional experience, and began a land development project that was extremely successful. I was enormously satisfied with the outcome of this venture, and encouraged to design an entire community project. If the political will is there, I have a plan to establish a new community development in northwest Winnipeg.

Throughout my career, I was an active member of several professional organizations, including the Professional Association of Engineers. It was also important for me to participate actively in the civil life of my community, and in the late 1960s, was elected to the position of Alderman for the City of West Kildonan Council. I was involved in B’nai Brith and am proud to be a long-time member of the Rosh Pina (now Etz Chayim) Synagogue as well as General Monash Legion, Jewish Child and Family Service and the Jewish War Veterans of Canada. I was a founding member of the Big Brothers Association of Greater Winnipeg Inc., and as an avid hockey fan, became an owner and partner in the West Kildonan North Stars Junior “A” Hockey Club. I have been a member of the Masons for more than 50 years, and served as Master of the Lodge for two terms. In 1996 I was deeply honoured to receive the Masons’ “50 Year Jewel.”

All my life I have been extremely active, and played hockey, baseball and soccer during my youth. In 1991, at the age of 68, I began having back problems, and following my doctor’s advice, took swimming lessons for the very first time. To my surprise, I discovered that I enjoyed swimming very much, and began to practice seriously. I entered the Senior Olympics Competition in Palm Springs, which takes place every February, and won various medals in 1994, 1996, 1999 and 2001 (3 Gold, 2 Silver, 1 Bronze). I continue to swim vigourously on a regular basis.

When I reflect upon the things that I consider most important in my life, I must include regular lunches with a group of friends stemming back to my teenage years as a member of the Paragon Club. I take incredible joy from my close-knit family and friends, and especially from my beloved wife Annis, to whom I have been happily married for 53 years. For more than half a century, she has been my partner, confidante and best friend, and I can only hope that my children are as fortunate in their marriages as I have been.

Following obituary taken from https://passages.winnipegfreepress.com/passage-details/id-142279/JE...

MAURICE L. JEROFF July 22, 1923 - September 30, 2008 It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather Maurice (Minno) Jeroff on the first day Rosh Hashonah, September 30, 2008 at Seven Oaks Hospital at the age of 85. Dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2006, and for two years, fought a valiant and tireless battle, always carrying himself with dignity, courage and grace. Dad was born in Winnipeg, the second of six children, but lived in Garson, MB, where his parents owned a hotel, gas station, store and limestone quarry. At the age of eight, he came to the city and lived with his aunt and uncle, the Lehmanns, and their sons Irv (Itzik) and Maurice (Mossy), where he pursued both his Jewish education and engineering career. In 1950, he married the love of his life, Annis Oman, who remained his soul-mate for more than 58 years. In 1956, at the age of 33, when he was Engineer for the City of West Kildonan and the father of two young children (Hope and Alan), Dad became ill with testicular cancer. He underwent numerous surgeries in Winnipeg and at the Mayo Clinic, and believed, with all his heart, that it was his cousin, surgeon Dr. Mossy Lehmann, who saved his life. Months of cancer treatments followed the surgeries, and his recuperation took more than a year. His miracle child, Shirley-May, was born shortly afterward. Dad was a talented and brilliant engineer, loved by his staff and colleagues for his devotion and commitment to people and the public good. He held the position of Director of Public Housing for the Province of Manitoba for 15 years, during which time he felt privileged to build thousands of units of housing for low-income families. So respected was he across the country, that he was seconded to the City of Vancouver to establish, lead and oversee that city's public housing initiative. All his life, Dad gave unselfishly of his talents to his community. For more than 25 years, he served the City of West Kildonan as an alderman, hockey and baseball coach, scout leader, President of his children's home and school associations, and founding member of the Big Brothers Association of Winnipeg. He was a board member of the Rosh Pina Synagogue, Charter Member of the WK Kiwanis Club, Vice-President of the WK Memorial Community Centre, Life Member of the Gwen Secter Creative Living Centre, and member of the Garden City Community Centre. He proudly defended his beloved country during the Second World War as a sailor in the Royal Canadian Navy, and was Executive Director of the Moshe Dayan Branch of the Jewish War Veterans. For more than 50 years, he was an honoured member of the Masons, serving twice as Master of the Lodge. Possessed of a quiet strength and unwavering love of family, Dad led by example. He was loving and gentle, and always the one we turned to for help, support and wise counsel. He cherished his family and doted on his grandchildren, who were blessed with the gifts of his unconditional love and beautiful smile from the day of their birth. Above all, he was a loyal friend and confidante with the soul of a poet. He was a gifted artist, and created many breathtaking pieces in the mediums of stained glass, wood, and iron. His heart spoke many languages, all in the name of his love for us. He and Mom were devoted patrons of the arts, and they enjoyed symphony, theatre and opera all their married life. They shared a passion for travel and their spirit of adventure took them all over the world. Dad's love of baseball was legendary, and in addition to his unforgettable experience of watching Sandy Koufax pitch a World Series game, he loved attending Winnipeg Goldeyes baseball games with his grandson David. At the age of 67, Dad learned how to swim, and was extremely proud of the many gold and silver medals he won at the Palm Springs Senior Olympics over the years. The cottage he built in Gimli was a true labour of his love, and our family enjoyed many wonderful summers together there. Dad was predeceased by his parents, Louis and Luba Juravsky, his sister Lotte (Harold) Cohen, and his brothers Wilfred and Abie Juravsky. He is survived by his loving wife Annis, his children Hope (Tom Springman) of Winnipeg, Dr. Alan (Debbie) of Vancouver, and Shirley (Lorne Balsam) of Toronto. He will be forever missed by his precious grandchildren David (Sari) Kideckel and great-granddaughter Ora Miriam Rebecca, Brent Kideckel, Samantha and Abby Jeroff, and Ryan and Jenna Balsam. He is also survived by his brothers Sam Juravsky (Mona), Mal Juravsky (Ruth), sister-in-law Sue Juravsky, brother-in-law Norm Oman (Johanna Burns) and many nieces, nephews and cousins. Funeral services were held on Friday, October 3 at Etz Chayim Synagogue, with Rabbi Larry Lander officiating, followed by interment at Shaarey Zedek Cemetery. Pallbearers were Lorne Balsam, Martin Juravsky, Brent Kideckel, David Kideckel, Norman Oman and Howard Pitch. Honourary pallbearers were Dr. Sam Muchnik, Tom Springman, Eric Swirsky, Dr. Shayne Taback and Leo Weiss. For those who wish to make a donation, a special fund in Dad's name has been established at CancerCare Manitoba (787-4143) in support of prostate cancer research. Heartfelt thanks are extended to Dr. Robert Bard, Dr. John Moncek, and the outstanding nursing staff at Seven Oaks Hospital, who cared for Dad in a most compassionate and respectful manner. As published in the Winnipeg Free Press on Nov 08, 2008