KARSHENBAUM, Ilya July 23, 1940 - April 4, 2004. It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Ilya Karshenbaum on Sunday, April 4, 2004 at the age of 63 after a courageous battle with cancer.
Ilya will be greatly missed by his wife Esmeralda of almost forty years; his daughter Irena; his mother Esfir Tsigelman; and sister Svetlana (Gennadiy) of New York; his nephew Lanny (Gabrielle); grandnieces, Julie and Jane Geller and many other relatives and friends in North America, Europe and Israel.
He was predeceased by his father Isaac Karshenbaum in 1984. Ilya was born in Kharkov, Ukraine on July 23, 1940 and immigrated to Canada with his wife Esmeralda, and daughter Irena, in 1979.
Thanks to his strength and hard work, he helped many family members and friends seek a better life in the West. Ilya worked as an engineer in the oil patch, particularly enjoying the years he spent on assignment in Russia. He was a man of great vision, unquestionable integrity, wisdom, boundless generosity, infinite kindness. Ilya had a pure heart, a wicked sense of humour and tremendous insight. He had a sharp mind, was a voracious reader and had an insatiable appetite for adventure, while being deeply committed to his family. He excelled in fencing as a teenager, was ranked second in Ukraine in table tennis in his twenties, played soccer on a team with eighteen year olds until the age of forty-five and rollerbladed until last summer. In quieter moments Ilya enjoyed numismatics and philately.
Special thanks to Dr. Scot Dowden, nurses “Carlusha”, “Rikochka”, Vadim and other staff at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre and Home Care.
If desired, tributes may be made to Canadian Cancer Society, Second Floor, 215 - 12 Avenue S.E., Calgary, T2G 1A2.
Funeral Services will be held at the Jewish Memorial Chapel (1702 - 17 Avenue S.W.) on Thursday, April 8, 2004 at 11:00 a.m. Interment to follow in the Jewish Cemetery (30 Avenue and Erlton Street S.W.). Arrangements in care of the CHEVRA KADISHA of CALGARY, 1702 - 17 Avenue S.W. Phone: 244-4717. 083565.