Cyril Reitman, R.I.P.

Cyril Norman REITMAN
Obituary
At home surrounded by his loving family, after a courageous and lengthy battle with Alzheimer’s disease, on Wednesday, June 18, 2014. Beloved husband of Dorothy Reitman. Loving father and father-in-law of Joel and Jill Reitman. Proud grandfather of Sam and Richard Reitman. He will be sadly missed by his brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Allan and Dorothy Salomon, and by the many other relatives and friends who were so dear to him. Special appreciation to Cyril’s care-giving team, headed by Hector. In his career, Cyril was a Vice President of Reitman’s Canada Limited, and served on its Board of Directors until he retired. Cyril’s philanthropic involvements focused on three main areas: health, Jewish continuity and theatre. In the health area, Cyril served to inspire the “Cyril and Dorothy, Joel and Jill Reitman Alzheimer Support Centre” at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto, and the Jewish General Hospital Foundation’s Alzheimer’s Research Program in Montreal. He perpetuated the annual holiday luncheon at the Montreal Neurological Institute in honour of his late mother, Ruth, which continues to this day. Cyril served as President of the Golden Age Association of Montreal, currently called the Cummings Jewish Centre for Seniors, was a board member of the Maimonides Geriatric Centre and served as a Governor of the Portage Program for Drug Dependencies. His commitment to Jewish continuity led to his active membership in the Commonwealth Jewish Council, his strong support of Combined Jewish Appeal, and his Presidency of the Montreal chapter Canadian Friends of the Ben Gurion University. Cyril’s love for theatre motivated him to serve on the Board of the National Theatre School, and to support many other theatrical endeavours. These were some of Cyril’s special community involvements, but his most treasured involvement was his family. Funeral service from Paperman & Sons, 3888 Jean Talon St. W., on Friday, June 20 at 12:00 noon. Burial at the Congregation Shaar Hashomayim Cemetery, 1250 chemin de la Forêt, Outremont. Shiva at his home. Contributions in Cyril’s memory may be made to the “Cyril Reitman Memorial Fund for the Alzheimer’s Research Program” c/o the Jewish General Hospital Foundation, (514) 340-8251, or to “Cyril and Dorothy, Joel and Jill Reitman Alzheimer Support Centre” c/o the Mount Sinai Hospital Foundation of Toronto, (416) 586-8203 or (877) 565-8555.
Published in The Gazette from June 19 to June 20, 2014

8 September 2014
Letter to the editor, Montreal Gazette
Research on Alzheimer’s cure or treatment deserves support
I agree with and endorse Claire Webster’s comments on the need for compassion and support for Alzheimer’s patients and caregivers. Having recently been a caregiver for a close member of our family who passed away after suffering for 12 years from this debilitating illness, I am very aware of the pain, frustration and astronomical cost of patient care.
I am deeply concerned by the absence of treatment or cure for this devastating and costly disease.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common of the acquired degenerative brain diseases that affect cognition, termed the dementias. One in five Canadians has a member of his family touched by the disease. One in five baby boomers will develop Alzheimer’s in their lifetime.
Alzheimer’s already has a huge impact on our society both, in its economic and human costs.
My conviction in the vital importance of Alzheimer’s research has led me to become associated, as a volunteer, with the Alzheimer’s and Dementia Research Program at the Jewish General Hospital. Our ultimate goal is to eradicate Alzheimer’s disease. Our basic research has achieved international recognition and we are working in collaboration with researchers in other Montreal institutions including McGill, Montreal Neurological, Douglas Hospital, Université de Montréal and the Montreal Alzheimer’s Society. We are hoping to create a Montreal Alzheimer’s and Dementia Basic and Clinical research consortium to bolster fundraising for this research.
The most serious deterrent is the lack of sufficient research funding, whether from governments or private philanthropy. Research has had an impact on the severity of many diseases; an example being cancer, which has witnessed meaningful improvement in its treatment modes. This gives hope and real support to those affected. This is what we want to achieve with research on Alzheimer’s. Our goal must be to eliminate the hopelessness and despair that brought Gillian Bennett to kill herself.
Dorothy Reitman
Chair, JGH Alzheimer’s and Dementia Research Program