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Marvin Baskin

Marvin Baskin

Marvin Baskin

Marvin Baskin, father of Rabbi Eliot Baskin, passed away Feb. 14, 2017, at North York General Hospital in Ontario, Canada. The service was held Feb. 17 at Benjamin’s Park Memorial Chapel. Interment followed at Holy Blossom Memorial Park. Benjamin’s Funeral Service in Ontario made the arrangements.

The following comes from the eulogy Rabbi Baskin wrote with his sister Amy and delivered at the service.

“We knew it was fitting that our Dad had died on Valentine’s Day — the day that celebrates love,” Baskin said. “For the past 87 years, our father truly celebrated love: love of family, friends, and most of all, life.”

Mr. Baskin was born in 1929 in Chicago, Illinois to Kate and Arthur Baskin. He grew up poor, planting vegetables in a tiny Victory Garden in WW II and selling shoes to help out the family (and also buy a bicycle).

He earned a bachelor’s degree in commerce from Roosevelt University in Chicago.

After graduation, Mr. Baskin moved to Toronto and accepted a job opportunity in sales.

On a blind date, he met Gloria — smart, beautiful and charming. Married in 1955 the couple honeymooned at the Fountainbleau Hotel in Miami. Mr. Baskin, who loved cars, drove his bride around the city in a red convertible.

“As Amy and I grew up, our parents had more time for their own fun, becoming expert bridge players and escaping to Florida for the winters.”

Mr. Baskin adored his four grandchildren. “He’d take us all out to dinner, never allowing us to pay, and would look around the table at his gorgeous grandkids,” his son said. “ ‘Wow,’ he’d say, ‘look at what Gloria and I started!’”

Mrs. Baskin passed away after 43 wonderful years of marriage.

Mr. Baskin met Irene Cohen 17 years ago while playing tennis, a sport he loved with a passion. They enjoyed the opera, bridge, theater, movies, dinners with friends and cruising the world. He also loved getting to know her children Marla and Lawrence.

“We almost lost our Dad when he suffered a major heart attack at 42,” Baskin said. “Since then, he endured countless medical crises, surgeries and illnesses. But he never complained. He just carried on with life.

“Our friends called him the cat with nine lives.”

Baskin said his father lived life to the fullest, playing tennis, Ping Pong, bridge and golf. “He won both trophies and friends. And he won our hearts.”

Mr. Baskin is survived by his children Rabbi Eliot (Dr. Hilary) Baskin and Amy (Jack Kesselman) Baskin of Guelph, Ontario, Canada; brother Bernie (Audrey) Baskin of Los Angeles; and grandchildren Jonah, Gabriel, Leah and Talia.

He is mourned by Irene Cohen and her family.

Contributions may be made to the Marvin Baskin Memorial Fund, c/o The Benjamin Foundation, 416-780-0324 or www.benjamins.ca.

Copyright © 2017 by the Intermountain Jewish News




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