GERALD NEMIROFF

Condolences & Memories (10 entries)

• Socrates: "Let us examine the question together, my friend, and if you can contradict anything I say, do so and I will be persuaded." I have been so lucky to have been able to learn from so many gifted and talented teachers and Professor Nemiroff was at the top of that talented list. I should have thanked him more often than I did for the foundational learning that he imparted during his one year tenure at the U of C Law School. His lessons and method served me well thoughout my career. Thank you Gerry. - Posted by: Rusty Miller (Student) on: Aug 06, 2024

• I worked with Gerry during year 1 of the U of Calgary law school. He was a terrific colleague and I always enjoyed his wit and sense of humour. We were disappointed when he decided to return to Winnipeg. His passing is sad news indeed and I offer condolences to his family. I know he had a huge impact on more than one generation of law students. - Posted by: Connie Hunt (Former colleague) on: Jul 18, 2024

• Gerry Nemiroff was my contracts professor in law school, and also supervised my directed study in third year. He was a rarely gifted teacher; the only professor who taught with the Socratic method. I learned a great deal from him. I fondly recall his mischievous grin as he would pose hypothetical scenarios to the class to challenge us to articulate the application of contract law to the facts as he presented them. Most of his imagined scenarios ended with a “rogue absconding with the funds to Pago Pago.” Thirty-five years later, I still jokingly tell my partner to beware of rogues bound for Pago Pago. His classes were challenging and fun. From my perspective, I’m not sure he lived up to his nickname. I didn’t find him that scary. He was a nice man with a natural warmth and sense of humor. I am saddened to learn of his passing and send sincere condolences to his family. - Posted by: Michael Elliott (Former student (Class of 1990)) on: Jun 14, 2024

• It is with deep sorrow that I learned of the passing of Professor Gerry Nemiroff. As a former law student, I was profoundly impacted by his professionalism, kindness, and unparalleled intellect. Professor Nemiroff was more than just an educator; he was a mentor and a true inspiration. The world has lost an exceptional person, and I will always cherish the lessons he imparted and the warmth he shared. My heartfelt condolences go out to his family and all who had the privilege of knowing him. Professor Nemiroff was truly a class act, and he will be dearly missed. - Posted by: Alisa Mazo (Former Student) on: Jun 13, 2024

• From Nick: Gerry meant so much to me as a friend and a mentor. I started teaching at the Law School at the University of Manitoba in 1975. Right from the start, he took me under his wing and looked after me. He heavily influenced the way that I taught then and for the next 40 years. I am eternally grateful. Also, of course, he kindly agreed to be my best man in 1981 and I could not have thought of anybody better. Both Anne and I are very sorry that he is gone. Love to Leita and all the family. - Posted by: Nick Rafferty and Anne Stalker (Friends) on: Jun 13, 2024

• Gerry always smelled great - do other former students remember that? He taught me Contract Law and years later when I joined the faculty at Robson Hall, I adopted his Socratic style in my Tort Law class. I considered it the highest of compliments when a student told me, "you teach like Nemiroff, just less scary!" My sincerest condolences to his family. - Posted by: Jennifer Schulz (Former student and colleague) on: Jun 13, 2024

• Gerry and I were friends when we both lived in Outremont (Montreal). He was a quick witted guy, warm, a good friend. He introduced me to classical music and golf. I recall him starting his relationship with Leita, an aspiring nurse. He was an usher at my wedding 58+ years ago. Then he went on to be a lawyer and a professor of law in Winnipeg and we lost touch. Still, I am so saddened by his passing. To Leita and his family, my wife, sandy and I extend our deepest condolences. May he rest in peace - Posted by: Peter silver (Friend since 1957 in montreal) on: Jun 10, 2024

• Professor Nemiroff taught me Contracts during the 2000 - 2001 school year. He used the Socratic method and his clear expectation for students in his class meant that you always had to be prepared when called upon. He pounded into our heads the "objective test of reasonableness" and "give me the legal reason". He took his job seriously - wanting to mould students into competant lawyers. He would comment that none of us would think the same way once we had gone through law school - and he was right - in no small measure due to his very high teaching standard. He was an idealist, believing that judges want to do the right thing and that our job as lawyers is to give a judge a reason to do the right thing. That's always stayed with me. Following law school and because I knew Gerry loved golf, I began sending him a dozen Titleist golf balls from time to time - more as a way to stay in touch and connect with him periodically, as well as showing gratitude for all he had taught me in his Contracts class. I played a round of golf with him at his golf club next to the University some years ago. It was great to spend a bit of time with him outside of his classroom. He will be missed! A truly memorable and gifted professor! Thanks for everything! - Posted by: Paul McLennan (Former Student) on: Jun 08, 2024

• I am so deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Professor Gerry Nemiroff. Gerry was one of my favorite profs in law school. He had a well-deserved reputation for being tough, teaching using the Socratic method. He had a particular lack of tolerance for ill preparedness. He demonstrated, though never said, that students were already professionals; they wouldn’t show up for court unprepared so they shouldn’t show up for class that way, either. I really wanted to take Gerry’s Insurance Law class in second year, but had heard how rough Gerry could be in class. I’d had a negative experience in first year when Roland Penner lost it on me after I was the umpteenth student who hadn’t done the reading in Constitutional Law. Roland started at “A” and went down the line alphabetically, so you can imagine his frustration by the time he got to “H”- and I was the unlucky recipient of his much-deserved ire. I left in the class in tears. Later, I apologized for not doing the reading, but told him Keithen had been sick and I’d been tied up all evening and much of the night. He felt awful, we made up, and he was mentor for the rest of my time in law school. So in second year, I really wanted to take Gerry’s course, but wasn’t prepared to be raked over any coals in class. So, I registered, then (somewhat boldly in retrospect) went to him in advance. More bluntly than would be considered respectful for a law student to speak to a professor, I introduced myself, told him I really wanted to take his course but his reputation for being really hard on students in class preceded him.I told him that I was a single parent to a 2 year old, that I was prepared to learn, but that if my reading wasn’t done, there was an extenuating circumstance. I told him if he tried to embarrass me for not being ready in class, I wouldn’t respond well. If he was good with that, I would remain registered, but if not, I would register for another class. He looked at me for a bit, and I started to worry. Then he started laughing. He asked me if I was from his hometown of Montreal, because no one in Winnipeg was that direct. I stopped holding my breath, smiled, and said no, but I was learning to stick up for myself. He grinned, laughed some more, told me it was refreshing to have someone say what they were actually thinking. Thus, we had an accord. I took the class, saw that he actually wasn’t as hard on folks as people complained, and learned. I loved it so much I took Bills of Exchange just to be taught by him again (and did terribly - I couldn’t understand why anyone would want to engage with such dry material and it showed). That was the beginning of a mentorship and friendship that remained for much of my career. We chatted regularly long after graduation, and for many years we kept up on what he was up to, how his kids and grandchildren were doing and he asked me the same, kept tabs on Keithen as he grew up and advised me on my career whenever he had wisdom to impart. When he retired, we spoke much less frequently, but never without affection. I last ran into him a few years ago at Glendale, and he was the same Gerry Nemiroff, just older. Witty, a little caustic, and beneath it all, as caring as ever. Gerry was the best kind of professor - he lead by example, he taught not only course content but the “how” of being a lawyer. His methods were not always appreciated, but really he was giving us training for life and the practice of law. It was a lack of effort, of preparedness, that drove him nuts, not a student failing to fully understand a concept or principle. He could work with that and did. Gerry was a great guy, with great intellect, with even more wisdom, and refreshingly blunt. I don’t think my career would be what it is now without profs like him and Roland, folks who were rooting for my success even when I wasn’t always rooting for myself. His legacy and his impact should never be forgotten. May his memory be a blessing to his family, friends and all whose lives were touched by him. - Posted by: Laurelle Harris (Former student ) on: Jun 08, 2024

• I am so sorry, Leita. - Posted by: Lorene Chambers (Former neighbour and friend ) on: Jun 08, 2024