Birth: February 5, 1925 in Poland
Death: February 17, 2008
Plot: Row H – Plot 7
Inscription:
פּ״נ
WALDMAN
Charles
יחזקאל בן יעקב ורייזל
1925 – 2008
Our Favorite
Clare
חייקלה בת שלום ופשאה
1927 – 2016
Precious Memories
ת׳נ׳צ׳ב׳ה
Biography:
He married Clare Wise in 1947.
His obituary published 20 Feb 2008 in The Times Colonist reads in part as follows
“WALDMAN, Charles (b. 1925 in Poland), the last of five sons of Yacov and Rose Waldman, died peacefully the morning of February 17, 2008 in Victoria. Chuck was cherished by his family and revered by the entire Jewish Community of Victoria in which he played a prominent role for the past 40 years. Earning his BSc. in Chemistry from the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, he first worked as a chemist for Cominco in Trail, where he met Clare Wise, his wife to be. After working as a hardware merchant in Rossland, B.C. for the next 20 years, he went back to university at the age of 40 to become a high school math teacher. He taught mathematics for several years at both Reynolds and finally Oak Bay Secondary schools until his retirement. He is survived by his wife Clare, his three children, Sharon (and husband Itzik), Miriam, and Ron (and wife Cheryl), beloved grandchildren, Aviva (husband Scott), Ben, Lainie, Callie, Riley, Elliott and great grandchildren Max and Roxy. Forever considerate of others, Chuck was the personification of the Yiddish word mensch” and will be missed by everyone whose path he graced.
Chuck also lead a discussion group on Sundays and was described by one of the members as “a patient moderator and helped lead many discussions of interest.”
Anecdotes provided by daughter Miriam:
Chuck Waldman was born the 5th of five boys in Berestechko, Poland on February 5th, 1925 but didn’t meet his father until he was 3 years old when the family rejoined Jack in Assiniboia, Saskatchewan in 1928. After five sons and no daughters, poor Rose had her hands full doing all the domestic work expected of the women and girls in those days. So the story goes that her youngest, Yecheskel Charlie (Ezekiel in English) was needed in the kitchen to help with the meal preparation – or maybe he just liked staying close to her apron strings. But with all that hanging around he developed a love of baking (bread, cinnamon rolls, pies). Whenever his kids and their families returned for visits, he put together the best pancake, waffles, eggs and turkey bacon breakfast ever.
Another story is told that at age 16 he wanted so badly to serve in the Canadian forces during World War II that he lied about his age in order to enlist. However, his protective older brothers turned him in so we went off to the University in Saskatoon to study Chemistry. As a testament to his love of country, whenever he attended Armistice Day gatherings at Rossland’s cenotaph cemetery and in Victoria, Chuck would often tear up – even crying openly.
Having learned his BS degree in Chemistry, Chuck came to work at Cominco in Trail, BC. There were only a few Jewish families in this small town in the West Kootenays. One day he came into Segal’s Confectionery Story, where Clare Wise happened to be working, to give regards from fellow acquaintances in Saskatchewan. Trail was a small town where everyone knew each other, played bridge and poker games. Someone had a party to which both Clare and Chuck were invited. Clare (20) had just graduated from Business College. Chuck (22) fell for Clare right away. Soon after, she went off to the big city, Vancouver, to spend time with her cousin, Adele Moscovitz. To woo her back to Trail, Chuck wrote Clare every day and sometimes twice a day!
Their wedding, as chronicled in a Jewish History of British Columbia, was the first Jewish wedding in the West Kootenays. Although Chuck’s first career was as a research chemist, soon after marriage he went into business in Rossland with his father-in-law, Sam Wise, in Wise’s Hardware and Furniture. Clare helped in all aspects of the business as well. They remained in partnership with Zaida Sam for 18 years. These Rossland years were ones in which Chuck and Clare raised their family and where precious family memories and traditions were generated. At age 40, with his children now teenagers, Chuck returned to college (UBC) to get his teaching credentials in Mathematics. He served as a dedicated high school Math teacher for 25 years, first in Castlegar, near Rossland, and then in Victoria where we moved in 1967.
Parents:
Rose Waldman (1888–1956)
Yacov Waldman (1884–1960)
Sibling:
Benjamin Waldman 1914-1989
Mel Waldman 1916-1990
Nick Waldman 1918-1980
Maurice Waldman 1821-1970
Spouse:
Clare Wise Waldman (1927–2016)
Child:
Miriam Waldman
Sharon Basman (née Waldman)
Ron Waldman
The Jewish Cemetery of Victoria, British Columbia 