Aug. 2019
Switzer Family News - The Summer Edition... Roadtrips, Holidays & Cousins!
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Registration Now Open
An email went out earlier this summer with a registration form for next year's family reunion.
If you didn't receive it please email Mike at
[email protected]
.
Donations are also being accepted to help offset the costs for cousins who might not otherwise be able to attend. If you would like to contribute please do so online through our GoFundMe campaign (the link is below) or feel free to mail a check to Mike Sommers made out to:
Switzer Reunion
C/O Mike Sommers
229 Somerside Close S.W.
Calgary, AB, Canada
T2Y4B6
Please stay tuned to your email and the
Switzer Reunion Facebook page
for more reunion info to come. We have also created a
Switzer Family Reunion 2020 website
where you can find the schedule of events (updated as things are planned), information about accommodations and the venue, and other pertinent information regarding the reunion planning.
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Lior Abel has provided us with a graphic of some of our Israeli family. Thanks Lior!
If you have questions or want to update the family tree, please email Mel and Deanna directly -
[email protected]
.
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Ida Antflick -
Ida Helena Bleviss Antflick, (Hycka Hinda), passed away on August 14, 2019 in her sleep. She had just turned 99 1/2 years old on August 13. The funeral was held in Edmonton on August 15th.
"Mom was a remarkable woman who was greatly loved, respected and cherished by not only her 4 children and their spouses, but also her 10 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren.
She was our Matriarch, our guiding light and the strongest advocate and cheerleader any person could ever want. Mom lived on her own up until a few months before her passing before moving into her son's house.
She still had Shabbat dinner and made prayers and did all the cooking herself. Her mind was as sharp as could be. She knew each of bills, when they were due and how much it would be. The only problem is she needed someone to take her to the bank so that she could take care of business. She lived in today's world and faithfully watched the news each day so she could converse with people about that was happening in the world. She did not dwell in the past. But, if you asked, she could talk about her family and all her cousins from Calgary--how they all grew up and the stories she told. Wow!! She even remembered crossing over from Poland, in 1925, the depression and the war years. She may not have had the formal education that she insisted each of her children, especially the girls, have but she was smart and worked in each of our father's businesses side by side with him. She will be missed by us all for her wisdom and the important talks and encouragement she gave to each of her children and grandchildren to be a mensch, to try your best, and, no matter what, do what's right and kind."
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We have a number of volunteer opportunities available for family members ANYWHERE in the world!
Website Support:
Sarah Bleviss has been updating our website and is looking for someone to help her with maintaining and upgrading it. If you have a few hours a month to help her out we would really appreciate it.
Please email Sarah directly and she can tell you more about what type of support she needs -
[email protected]
.
You've Got Talent!
We are looking for folks who have special skills and talents to add to the Reunion experience. Some examples - Yoga instructor to lead a class on one of the days of the reunion; make-up artist to do face-painting; magician to put on a show; musician to perform a set... you can see the list is endless. To share your idea please visit the
website and scroll down to the Family Help section
.
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Summertime is Roadtrip time!
I recently met Donnie Stern and her daughter Marlene while I was working in Winnipeg. Donnie shared a story of a family trip to California on a refurbished bus A LONG TIME AGO. This got me thinking about family holidays and cousins getting together. If you have such stories to share please send them. In the meantime, if you were part of the magical mystery bus tour that Donnie was talking about, please send some pictures.
Below: Marlene & Donnie Stern, Gena Rotstein
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Steinberg Family Road Trip
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I
n July Ron & Rosie Steinberg traveled to Calgary with their grandchildren from Israel to explore their family roots and take in the Calgary Stampede. Ida Switzer and Gena Rotstein caught up with them at OEB where stories of family ties were shared.
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Where in the world are John & Christine?
You can always count on John Switzer to send pictures of their latest adventure. Most recently they were hiking in Zion, running in Central Park and grabbing a meal in Las Vegas! Here is just a smattering of their latest adventures.
Below: Christine Switzer with her
daughters Erica, niece Sarede, and daughter Juliana on Broadway
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The Yan Clan Gathering
Joel & Toby Yan's kids and their spouses and children got together at Josh and Ali’s place in Toronto
Photo below (L to R):
Gavi, Ali, Meira holding her son Adam, Toby, Gidi Aviram, Gladys, Avi, Joel, Josh holding Avi’s son Max, twins Ashira and Eliana sitting on the patio.
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Greetings from Mumbai, India!
"Hi, my name is Sydney Switzer, from Calgary. I've spent the past two years working at the JCC in Mumbai, India, leading Jewish programming for the local Bene Israeli community. This photo is taken in Szarvas, Hungary, where I led a delegation of Indian Jewish young adults to the Jewish summer camp there.
In addition to my work I also traveled extensively across India and had an amazing time! I'm currently relocating to Glasgow, Scotland, where I will be leading programming for Scottish Jewish youth with the UJIA."
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Mazel Tov!
Lorne Switzer shared the news of a few new additions to the family.
Proud Grandparents are:
Lorne Switzer and his wife Nadine
and Marsha Switzer (aka Chaya-Miriam)
Grandsons:
Born to Lucille Naomi Rachamim (nee Switzer) and Yosef Rahamim (in Jerusalem) -
Chaim Asher Switzer – born on August 31, 2018
Ovadia Rahamim – born on August 9 2019
Granddaughter:
Born to Andrew Benjamin Switzer and Rachel Switzer:
Adina Henya Switzer: Born on September 4, 2018
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New Graduates!
Gabby daughter of Allan Switzer & Sandy Hazan graduated with BSc from UBC.
Picture below: Julia Eden , Allan, Gabriella Switzer, Sandy Hazan and Joshua Switzer
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The Next Generation...
One of the Switzer legacies is a trail of individuals who continually make our world a better place. The most recent honouree is Joshua Zev Switzer, recipient of the
Duke of Edinburgh Silver Medal
.
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Mazel Tov!
On Saturday, July 6th the Zarrabi -Yan family celebrated the wedding of their daughter, Nava, to Patrick Clendinning. It was a fun celebration full of laughter, new and traditional customs, and most importantly: LOVE!
The happy couple first met at Queen's University for Teacher's College, where they slowly but surely fell in love. After graduation they went off to Indonesia for three years to teach and travel; and, much like their adventures, their love continued to grow. Nearing their six year anniversary Patrick celebrated Nava's birthday with an elaborate scavenger hunt, taking her across Guelph and Rockwood, Ontario with clues full of rhymes, inside jokes, and important moments of their relationship. When Nava reached the final destination of the hunt she was greeted by Patrick with a prize of cupcakes decorated with the words "Nava Will You Marry Me?" Of course, Nava had the appropriate reaction, and pulled out a ring-pop from her purse and gave it to Patrick. After all, the girl doesn't have to be the only one to get a ring!
We are all so happy to have Patrick and his family join our own! Congratulations, Nava and Patrick!
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Mazel Tov!
Jack Huberman married Gordon Boyd under a Chuppah on June 1, 2019 in Vancouver. Rabbi Susan Shamash officiated. The Ketubah is on the right side of the photograph.
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Switzer Family Philanthropy & Legacy Program
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The next committee meeting for the Switzer Family Philanthropy program will be at 9am Calgary time on Aug. 29. If you are interested in joining the planning committee please log in to the call by following the instructions below.
Join Zoom Meeting
One tap mobile
+16465588656,,308476545# US (New York)
+14086380968,,308476545# US (San Jose)
Dial by your location
+1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
+1 408 638 0968 US (San Jose)
+1 647 558 0588 Canada
+972 55 330 1762 Israel
+972 3 978 6688 Israel
+61 8 7150 1149 Australia
+61 2 8015 6011 Australia
Meeting ID:
308 476 545
If you have questions or want to know more about how you can get involved -
[email protected]
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Memories, Mementos and Moments in Time
Over the past few months we have seen some posts on the family Facebook page of artifacts from our family's history. We would love to share some of these and keep a catalogue on the family website.
How this will work -
Just like with the photos, we ask you to please send an JPG or PNG image of the artifact, the story behind it and where it is now or how you came across it. Examples might be travel documents from Europe to Canada or birth/marriage/death certificates. Perhaps you have a set of candlesticks or a menorah that has special meaning because of who it belonged to, and how it ended up in your possession.
Please send the image along with the story to
[email protected]
. Please note, files that are not a JPEG or PNG cannot be used. As well, images without context cannot be shared (unless you are asking the family to help shape the story).
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A Hollywood Adventure!
From Deborah Sword -
Oct 30, 1932, my grandmother, Etta (Bleviss) Switzer, took her younger children, Billy, age 5 and Annie, age 4 to Los Angles to visit her brother Saul Bleviss. Both Uncle Billy (now 93) and Aunty Annie (now 92) remember the trip, especially the novelty of staying in a new concept of accommodation called a motel.
Cousin David Cooper of LA (Harry's son) found this document from the visit.
Our families remain close across the generations and the cross-border visits will continue, I hope, at the next reunion.
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Do you have news to share?
Please send your stories along with pictures. In order to help us share your news, please make sure you provide the first AND last names of the people in the photos, the dates and relevant info to share. We will do our best to pass along your stories.
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