Letter for the Memorial Service

Re: Melvin C. Zwaig
Memorial Service, March 29, 2009, 2:00 PM
Temple Sinai, 210 Wilson Avenue, Toronto


Dear Friend,

Thank you so very, very much for your loving support as we honor the memory and the life of my dear, dear brother Mel.
As everyone knows he was an exceptional, kind, loving, hard working and responsible human being.

No task was too big nor too small for dear Mel to undertake. He did all he could and was available to everyone and at all times too!!
We come from a special family…a dedicated, spiritual, kind and loving family. He, as my older brother, was very protective of me and wanted to make sure that everything was as perfect it could be. We delighted in each other’s joys and we were able to share our inner ideas with one another.

When Mel was about sixteen years of age he felt that he should help our parents support the family. Finances were very limited. Mel took it upon himself to decide to quit school and go to work to be of help. He was preoccupied with how he could help the family. Our parents would not hear of this decision but they agreed that he could work for the summer and then, of course, go back to school.

Mel excelled at University and was on his way to a very successful career. He excelled in every aspect of his chosen work which he just loved. Mel received so many, many honors and awards for his contribution to the fields of his expertise.

From early on there was a deep bond between Mel and myself.
Some of the ways in which Mel was there for me was to “show up” regularly during my early years of lecturing publicly in the field of special education.
For me Mel was more than a brother. We always knew that we would be there to listen, to encourage, to share, to suggest, to respect and to understand our ways, interests and ideas.

July 15, 1974 when I married my husband, Dr. John Rossner (Anglican priest and professor of comparative religion), it was Mel who walked me down the aisle at Christ Church Cathedral. What a precious moment that was.

Our parents knew that they could expect a call from Mel and me every day no matter where we were. After they made their transition (1996), Mel called me at least once each day. When my husband had a challenge with his back last winter and ended up at the hospital, Mel called several times daily asking how he could help.

Even when he had his own financial challenges he still did all he could to help others who were in need. Mel knew my passion for our SSF-IIIHS African mission project. He tried to find ways to help us raise funds for these precious children.

Mel never wanted to disturb anyone! He considered other people’s needs and he was there for them. Even in the hospital when he needed help he said to me “I’m okay. Maybe the nurse is busy. Don’t bother her.”

Toronto became his place of residence for about thirty years. So many of his colleagues, clients, associates and friends have spoken with me. They all said what a wonderful person he was and how he was there to help others achieve the best in life.

This was my brother…my very dear brother Mel.
It was a privilege to be with him as he peacefully and with a gentle smile on his face took his last breath. I will cherish that moment forever.

Mel’s life and work gave him the opportunity to meet thousands and thousands of people from all walks of life. For Mel, these people became a part of his family, his true spiritual family. How loved and treasured and cherished he was by all.

The last words that Mel shared with me were “Be strong. Have faith. We’ll make it somehow. God will always be with us to help us.”
Daily I think of what he said, how he lived, how much he did, how much he cared, how honest and forthright a person he was.
Certainly I will miss his physical presence, I will miss his daily phone calls, but I know that he has gone on to the higher life and that we shall still be able to communicate with each other from his Heavenly dimension of life.
I’m sure that as he crossed the veil and entered the Eternal Kingdom of Life he heard the words “Well done my faithful servant, well done.”

My husband, Dr. John Rossner, and Sr. Leona Hartman join me
in thanking you for your support.

Marilyn Rossner

Telephone: 514-937-8359
E-mail: iiihs@iiihs.org
Website: http://www.iiihs.org/