Albert Winnikoff

Winnikoff, Albert
July 22, 1930 - May 14, 2010
Albert Winnikoff was born in Vancouver, British Columbia to Eva and Morris Winnikoff on July 22, 1930 and passed away peacefully in Santa Barbara, California on the morning of May 14, 2010. Albert was predeceased by his brother, Sam, and son, Joel.
Albert and his elder brother Sam, sons of recent Russian immigrants, grew up in Vancouver until 1937, when the family moved to Los Angeles. In Los Angeles they went into the grocery business and resided in an apartment above the store. Albert learned a great deal about human nature and the human condition from the patrons of his family's store. With an early zest for learning, Albert would walk from the store at Bixel and Court all the way to the public library on 5th and Flower. He forged close bonds with the librarians and thus began his lifelong love of books and literature.
While still in Vancouver Albert's mother befriended a co-worker. On Sunday afternoons the families would visit. During these visits Albert met the love of his life, his future wife Lillian. They were separated when Albert's family moved to Los Angeles, but became reacquainted as teenagers during Albert's summer visits to Vancouver. Determined to marry each other, they eloped without the blessings of their parents and were wed on July 9, 1952. They settled in Berkeley where Albert was attending Cal. In 1953 their first son, Joel, was born and that same year Albert earned his B.A. in English from UC Berkeley. During his time at school he worked as a shoe salesmen at Leeds Shoes learning, that, "a successful sale was one where all parties were satisfied."
After college Albert and Lillian moved to Los Angeles where Albert went into the laundry business with his father. During this time Albert studied to become a technical writer. He quickly gained employment at Douglas Aircraft Corporation. There he became well recognized as someone with a rare talent who could explain what engineers intended to the assembly and maintenance workers. From Douglas Aircraft Albert moved into the pioneering field of computer technology where he worked at Packard Bell, Litton Industries and Scientific Data Systems. In the computer business he developed a tight-knit coterie of co-workers, many of whom became lifelong friends.
Albert was always intent on moving ahead and seeking new opportunities. In the mid 1960's he earned his real estate broker license and began creating partnerships buying vacant land in Southern California. In the early 1970's Albert left the technology field, and with his wife Lillian opened a residential real estate firm in Malibu. From their kitchen table they conducted an admirable volume of business selling and leasing homes, condominiums and land.
During this time Albert pursued his passion for writing and published his first book, "The Land Game." He went on to publish three other business books, "Sell, Sell, Sell," "The Number One Best Seller" and "Millionaire." At the time of his passing Albert was working on a novel borne out of his childhood experiences in his downtown Los Angeles neighborhood.
Albert's family and friends will always remember him for his irrepressible optimism, stalwart integrity and abundant generosity. He shared his spirit with those around him through some of his favorite phrases:
Go your own way, do your own thing.
If you are going to do it, do it right.
When making a deal, always leave something on the table.
Don't be greedy.
Always be humble.
Slow and steady.
If you are going to get rich, get rich slow.
You can move ahead, or you can go backwards, but you can?t stand still.
Next.
In addition to his successes in real estate, business and writing, Albert was an accomplished chess player, a talented guitarist and balladeer, and a recognized college instructor. His proudest accomplishment of all, however, was the family that he helped create and nurture. Albert is survived by his wife of nearly 58 years, Lillian, his son, Marc, daughter-in-law, Meryl, grandson, Jacob and granddaughter, Sophia.
Albert's care was complex and difficult at times. We would like to thank Dr. Robert Shafa, Dr. Leia Nghiemphu, Dr. Fred Kass, Dr. James Moghtader and Dr. Michael Kearney for their heroic efforts and compassionate care. We would also like to thank the entire staff at Santa Barbara Visiting Nurses and Hospice Care as well as Albert's caretakers, Mimi, Jorge, Irshad and Ruth for making him comfortable. The family also thanks Rabbi Steven Cohen and Cantor Mark Childs, who provided Albert and his family with thoughtful and compassionate spiritual guidance.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Albert's name to Visiting Nurse & Hospice Care, 222 E. Canon Perdido Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101.