LES ROME

Condolences & Memories (8 entries)

• We share your grief. Accept our condolences. - Posted by: Gideon Eppstein, Israel (Les was the grandson of Emil Behr. I am a grandson of lully Behr, Sister of Emil.) on: Oct 24, 2020

• I was fortunate to meet Les and many other dear Canadian friends about 30 years ago at our "international" golf tournament. Over the years, the friendships grew stronger as well as the number of friends. I thank Les for being a key participant in helping put this event on every year. I will miss his participation and friendship. Even his input, which was sometimes met with a grunt and walk away when not in agreement, though he'd always be back a few seconds later for clarifying input! :-) Rest in Peace, Les, and know we'll always be ready to toast your friendship and memory, as we do for those gone before you. - Posted by: Scott Iverson (Friend) on: Oct 05, 2020

• Shocked and saddened with the news of Les' passing. I've known, worked with and socialized with Les starting back in our early Ferry Rd TC days. Can't say that I will miss his cantankerous side, but I will certainly miss his presence. - Posted by: T Woo (friend/co-worker) on: Oct 05, 2020

• I met Les at Grant Park school when I was 14. We forged a lifelong friendship through all the rights and wrongs of passage that teenagers and twenty-somethings have to endure. A bobby-pin opened a cabinet with a treasure trove of all sorts of alcoholic delights, one-half ounce each of which when mixed together resulted in a memorable cocktail that only a 14-year-old could find palatable. We only did that once. We would crawl out of Les's basement bedroom window at 2 AM during one of my countless sleepovers at his house to visit a couple of girls who would meet us in William Osler Park for a wee hours discussion on politics, or some similar topic that is of interest to adolescents. We shared so many wonderful times together and a few sad times together and also some times together that I ought not to tell anyone about, even if I had the time. We did everything together for what seemed then like so many years, but feels now like far too short a time. We agreed on most everything, mainly because he hated to be wrong and I didn't have the heart to tell him when he was wrong. In 1973 Les was instrumental in creating the Peoples' Athletic Association Baseball League. He was a perennial all-star second baseman for our team, which included me on the pitching mound and another all-star and close friend of Les, Jim Crawford at shortstop. We were almost unbeatable. Sadly, the league folded after two seasons when, despite a heroic effort on his part, Les was unable to renew the league's contract with Winnipeg's Public Access TV, losing out to the more popular shows "Math With Marty" and "The Pollock and Pollock Gossip Show". If you are lucky you will have a few, or even just one friend with whom no time or distance can lessen the shared friendship, love and history that runs so deeply between you. Les was such a friend for me. I left Winnipeg quite a few years ago and only was able to see Les occasionally. But even after not seeing each for a while, and it didn't matter how long a while, all it would take was just a few words with the appropriate inflection or body language from one of us about some memory we shared and the other knew immediately what we meant. Les sometimes seemed to have a gruff, even cantankerous exterior, which was one of the characteristics that I loved about him. He was always quick with a Winnipeg compliment. The definition of a Winnipeg compliment, by the way, is any personal sarcastic remark. Les saved some of his best for me. This also allowed me reciprocate and try to pierce his tough exterior. But beneath that tough exterior was a loving, compassionate spirit that was always ready to step up and help out someone in need. By the time my dad passed away, my two older brothers and I had long left Winnipeg. My mom was essentially alone in Winnipeg but wanted to continue living in her home. Les knew that my mom would be needing assistance in continuing to live in her house and it was his instinct to begin helping her without being asked. For over ten years, Les helped my mom with grocery shopping, household chores, trips to Winnipeg Beach and more. He truly was like a brother to me. Winnipeg has always been home for me. My mother came to live in Toronto when she could no longer live in Winnipeg and when her house was sold, I felt a door closing on my Winnipeg home. The loss of Les has closed one more door. Thank you for your lifelong friendship, Les, I miss you more than I can say. - Posted by: Sam Broverman (Friend) on: Oct 04, 2020

• I got to know Les through work, primarily through the CRA/IRS Hands Across the Border (Don Haines Memorial) Golf Tournament in Bemidji, MN, that he helped promote with his USA counterparts (Don and Scott) for many years. He looked forward to attending this event every year to see both his Canadian and American friends. He always was in a good mood and had a great sense of humour. After his retirement, I still would see him in Bemidji, at Winnipeg Jet games and local rounds of golf with friends. I was surprised to hear of his passing as a few of us had just golfed with him in early July of this year and he was still the same old Les. Condolences to his family and friends. - Posted by: Brian Kushka (Friend/Co-worker) on: Oct 04, 2020

• Another Angel - Fly cancer free Les ... until we meet again. - Posted by: Cindy Schmall (Friend/co-worker) on: Oct 03, 2020

• Les will always be in our hearts and missed dearly. His his sense of humour, his quick and witty comebacks, and all said with the grin that was a part of Les. Most of all Les was a true friend and gentleman. We will miss you and we love you Les. - Posted by: Janie Bass (Dear Friend) on: Oct 03, 2020

• I was shocked and heartbroken to hear of Les’s passing. Les and I worked together for many years and I considered him a very dear friend. For a while we shared adjoining desks and cubby space where I’m sure I drove him crazy. He was so neat and tidy where my desk was organized chaos and my things were always encroaching on his desk He had a great sense of humour and loved practical jokes (as long as he wasn’t on the receiving end). Since retirement I only got to see him a couple of times a year but when we did get together it was like old times. I will miss him dearly. My deepest condolences go out to his family and friends and to his girlfriend Joann Douglas and her children - Posted by: Heather Kay-Rimmer (Friend and coworker ) on: Oct 03, 2020