| Obituary |
PANOFSKY, Saul 1941 – 2016 Peacefully on March 13, 2016, Saul slipped from life after a long and valiant struggle with Alzheimer's and heart disease. Devoted son of the late George and the late Laura Panofsky (Segal). Dear husband of Judy Macdonald. Cherished father of David and Sarah. Beloved brother and brother-in-law of Brenda and the late Marvin Panofsky, and brother-in-law of Cathie Macdonald (Brian Monrad) and Margie Macdonald (the late Larry Lamont). Treasured uncle of Ruth (Gary Gottlieb), Judy, and Laura (Joseph Mechali); Lisa Mason and Miranda Mason Lamont. Great-uncle to Bram and Liza Gottlieb; Josh and Lexi Mechali. Saul took pride in, and was passionate about, his career in social services, at first working as an administrator with Child Care and Child Development Centre, which provided services to people with intellectual disabilities. By 1980, Saul had become responsible for Centre Grande Ligne, a residential centre in Saint-Blaise-sur-Richelieu. Later Saul returned to Montreal as Director General at CLSC Saint-Louis-du-Parc, a centre he particularly valued, not least because it provided programs and services to the area where he had grown up, the former Jewish neighborhood of the Main. Saul's focus was his family and his friends. He adored entertaining, cooking delicious meals and then invariably engaging his guests in long discussions on politics, religion, books, films. He loved nothing so much as a good debate on the merits of communism, the state of Israel, early Christianity, etc. He was curious about everything and had a practical as well as intellectual side. His and Judy's great project was to lovingly restore an 1803 farmhouse surrounded by 200 acres of their own land in northern New York state. Saul's passion for the out-of-doors was his gift to his children. Travelling with Judy was his great love. Saul's challenges with illness lasted many years but the professional assistance of the Jewish General Hospital, CLSC Rene-Cassin, and, most recently, Jewish Eldercare Centre provided outstanding support. The family would especially like to thank Ilana Shiller of Rene-Cassin as well as all the warm and caring staff of Jewish Eldercare. The constant support of Ofelia Faelnar, as well as the help provided by Cecile Ruiz and May Rampersaud for Saul's last years were also much appreciated. Funeral service from Paperman & Sons, 3888 Jean Talon St. W., on Thursday, March 17 at 11:00 a.m. Burial at the Chevra Thilim Pinsker Congregation Cemetery, de la Savane. Shiva at his home ending Sunday evening, March 20. In lieu of flowers, charitable donations may be made to Jewish Hospital of Hope Eldercare Foundation, (514) 738-4500 ext.: 2124. |
