How They Lived
Benita Cohen helped the vulnerable.
Cohen, who died of melanoma on Nov. 17, at 65, worked for social justice and the rights of the vulnerable and, as associate professor in the College of Nursing, she taught her students to use a social justice lens in public health education, research, policy and practice. Read more about Benita.
Dr. Andrew Robertson helped people who battled cancer or survived fires.
Robertson, who was 80 when he died earlier this month, was born in India and sent to England for school. He received his medical degree in 1964 and later specialized in plastic surgery.
He came to Winnipeg to the Health Sciences Centre in 1977 and specialized in reconstructive head and neck surgery of cancer patients. He also served as director of the Hand Program and director of the Burns Unit.
It was that latter position which resulted in him being a founding member of the Fire Fighters Burn Fund. Read more about Andrew.
Trevor Smith did many things in life.
Among other professions, Smith, who died on Nov. 12 at 68, was a rocket scientist at both Bristol Aerospace and Boeing, he taught at the University of Manitoba’s department of mechanical engineering, and he wrote a monthly column in the Sou’Wester.
But Smith, with tongue in cheek, always said his most exhausting job was serving as quality control manager for Serta Mattresses. Read more about Trevor.
Grant Nerbas helped many vulnerable seniors get dinner.
Nerbas, who died on Nov. 14 at 89, was a past president of Meals on Wheels here. He was also a president of the local Kiwanis.
He worked as general counsel for CN Rail and it was through that connection that he was able to save an iconic CN clock from leaving Winnipeg. It now sits in the lobby of the Hotel Fort Garry. Read more about Grant.
Armando Brambilla had a day job with Winnipeg Transit, but after hours he was underwater.
Brambilla, who was 70 when he died on Nov. 12, was active in the scuba diving community.
Brambilla was a master instructor trainer and taught hundreds of people to scuba dive over the course of three decades. Read more about Armando.
A Life’s Story
Bob Mart was known for always wanting to be the first one through the door at a crime scene or some other incident.
Mart, who died in March at age 86, was the longtime chief of the Altona Police Service and while in that role he made it clear to all the officers in his command to wait for him to get to a location, even though it was never made official policy.
SUPPLIEDBob Mart had the tough, gruff exterior one might expect of a law enforcement agent, but he had a heart of gold and made friends for life.
“Whenever we had to go through situations that might be questionable or even dangerous we were to call Bob,'” said Norm Carter, a former police service member there.
“I guess he never wanted to deliver bad news to spouses and their families so he always went in ahead. It’s something I carried with me the rest of my career.”
Read more about Bob.
Until next time, I hope you continue to write your own life’s story.
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