Julian ROTTER

ROTTER, Julian (Julek) (February 12, 1912- July 8, 2008)
Born in Lvov, then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Julian Rotter lived through two world wars. His formal education came to an end early, as he left school at about 12 years of age to help support his impoverished family. He became involved in radical politics as a young teenager, and throughout his life remained committed to the struggle for social justice. When the second world war broke out in September 1939, Julian enlisted in the Polish Cavalry in their brief, ill-fated struggle against Hitler. Later that year, while working to organize a factory union, he met and fell in love with the late Natalie Strawczynski Rotter, who had fled Nazi- occupied Poland in autumn 1939. They married in Lvov on December 10, 1940, the day that the Soviets declared war on Hitler. Julian then joined up with the Red Army to fight the Nazis. At the end of World War II, Julian returned to Lvov, but was devastated to find that he was the only survivor in his entire immediate and extended family. He immigrated to Montreal with his wife Natalie, and baby Frederika, to join Natalie's late brothers (Zygmunt and Oscar Strawczynski) and their families. His younger daughter Pearl ('Pep') was born in Montreal. Julian will be remembered as a hard-working, devoted, loving husband, father, uncle and friend who fought intensely for all he believed in, worked tirelessly to provide for his family, and refused to accept defeat whenever he saw any injustice. He was shattered by the death of his beloved wife of sixty years in 2001. He is survived by their two daughters; Frederika and her husband, Philip Berger; and Pearl and her husband, Evan Splett; three adoring grandchildren, Pia and Joey Berger and Esther Splett; and numerous loving nieces, nephews, great nieces and great-nephews. The funeral service will be held at Benjamin's Park Memorial Chapel, 2401 Steeles Avenue West (3 lights west of Dufferin), on Thursday July 10, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. Shiva at 106 Riverdale Avenue. Memorial donations may be made to the Julian Rotter fund for Jewish Immigrant Aid Service c/o The Benjamin Foundation, 3429 Bathurst Street, Toronto, M6A 2C3, 416- 780-0324, www.benjamins.ca