Signalman David Abramson, Royal Canadian Corps of Signals, of Ansonville, Ontario, was reported dangerously ill on September 26, 1944 (Casualty List M-616). He served overseas before he was discharged.
Leading Aircraftman Sidney Acker, of Guelph, Ontario (R.C.A.F. Casualty List No. 416, November 6, 1942), was killed when the Anson bomber in which he was flying crashed at Dorchester, Ontario.
Copy of letter sent to Mr. H.M. Levine from A.L. Joliffe at the Department of Mines and Resources - Immigration Branch, Ottawa, confirming the admission of both Cantor Nathan Mendelson and Cantor Herman Semiatin into Canada from the United States to be employed by Congregation Shaar Hashomayim. Copy of letter stamped by Congregation Shaar Hashomayim and signed by Executive Secretary M. Hirsch.
Recipient's address: Gdynia America Line, 740 Windsor Street, Montreal, Quebec.
OBITUARIES:
Evening Times Globe, August 31, 1993, Obituary also appeared Wednesday, September 1, 1993.
Lionel (Lee) April born February 2, 1917, in Lithuania, son of Michael and Lily (nee Leopold) passed away on Wednesday, August 25, 1993, at Toronto General Hospital, following a courageous struggle after several years of illness. Lionel immigrated to Canada as a young child with his parents, settling in Montreal. He enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1940 in Toronto, serving in active combat in Europe and North Africa as a decorated flying officer earning the rank of Flight Lieutenant. Following his Honourable Discharge in 1945, Lionel joined Garson-Odeon Theatres in Saint John, New Brunswick, where he was Regional manager until 1959. From 1960 he was owner/operator of Robbins Drug Store in Saint John until selling the business in 1971. From that time, he concentrated his efforts on the development and management of a residential real estate portfolio. Due to poor health, he retired in 1986 and moved to Toronto. Lionel was an active member of the business community in Saint John and was a former Commissioner of the Fundy Region Development Commission and a former Co-Chairman of the United Fund of Greater Saint John. He worked diligently for the Saint John Jewish Community and served on the board of Congregation Shaarei Zedek (Saint John) for many years, where he retained life-long membership. He also worked actively for many Jewish organizations.
Lionel is survived by his wife, Freda Lee April (nee Garson), daughter Lorie Beth (Toronto), son Michael (Halifax, N.S.), and two grandchildren. Funeral service and interment took place on Friday, August 27, 1993, in Saint John. Shivah is being observed at the family residence in Toronto. Charitable donations may be made to the Canadian Friends of The Hebrew University or the Heart and Stroke Foundation.
The Evening Times Globe
Thursday, August 26 / Friday, August 27, 1993
April - The death of Lionel J. April of Toronto, Ont. and formerly of Saint John, occurred on Wednesday, August 25, after a lengthy illness. He was in his 77th year. He is survived by his wife Freda April, a daughter Lori Beth of Toronto, and a son Michael of Halifax, and two grandchildren.
The funeral will be held from Castle Funeral Home (Hillsley), 91 Leinster Street, on Friday August 27, at 2 p.m. Internment will be in Shaarei Zedek Cemetery.
Gravestone reference code(s): JM 998.61.368. Memorial plaque in synagogue: Nathan and Mary Meltzer - E4. Additional notes: former Saint John resident
Leading Aircraftman David Axler, of Brantford, Ontario, was killed in an air accident in Canada when his training plane crashed 15 miles from Windsor, Ontario. He had won his wings and was about to receive them formally when the accident occurred. He had trained at Regina and Brandon before being posted to Windsor in November 1940. A major in the cadets before entering the services, Leading Aircraftman Axler was the first of the Jewish men from Brantford to enlist in the R.C.A.F. (Source: Canadian Jews in World War II)