Benjamin Bedzow's Obituary
BEDZOW, Benjamin,78, passed away at home in Bal Harbor, Florida, on December 12, 2011.Benjamin was born in Lida, Poland on November 11, 1933 and survived the Holocaust in the forests of Belorussia, one of the youngest members of the Bielski Partisan Resistance as portrayed in the film “Defiance”.Benjamin began his new life in Montreal, Canada in 1948 with the determination and vision of a young maverick launching a 50+ year career in real estate development that spanned North America in cities across Canada and the United States, focusing in Miami after moving there in 1978. He was most proud of his role as Building Chairman of the Shul of Bal Harbour, a structure to replicate and resurrect three of the many synagogues destroyed by the Nazis.Benjamin was a charismatic, energetic and optimistic friend and colleague to all who knew him, but above all else, he was a loving and devoted husband to his beautiful bride Bessie nee Eichler for 56 years, and exceptional father to his three girls, Hannah, Sarah and Marlene. As the family grew to include new “sons”, grandchildren and great grandchildren, Benjamin extended his capacity to attend to each and everyone a brand of emotional support, bottom line advice and tenacious love, uniquely Benny.He will be forever respected, admired and immensely loved, by his beloved Bessie, his champion, who lovingly cared for him with exceptional courage and dignity; by his children, Hannah and David Shear, Sarah and Marc Sheridan, Marlene and Louis Weisleder, and by his grand and great grand-children, Matthew, Amanda, Ryan, Laura, Alexander, Carly, Chelsea, Joshua, Lindsay, Zachary, Holden and Armie. He will also be missed by his sister,Leah Johnson, brother, Charles Bedzow, sisters and brothers-in-law, many nieces and nephews and extended family and good friends. The family wishes to express our deep gratitude to his devoted care-givers, Marilla and Rachel and to Veronica from Vitas Hospice.Services will be held at the Shul of Bal Harbour9540 Collins Avenue on Wednesday, December 14th at 12:30 p.m. The internment will follow at Levitt Weinstein Beth David, 3201 NW 72 Ave., in Hollywood.Those wishing to honor Benjamin’s memory may make a donation either to the: National Parkinson Foundation, www.parkinson.org Shul of Bal Harbour, www.theshul.org Jewish Partisan Educational Foundation, www.jewishpartisans.org
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