Charles Emmanuel Newman

CHARLES NEWMAN
     
   On Saturday, May 27, 2017, Charles passed peacefully at Health Sciences Centre with family by his side, after an extremely long and hard-fought battle with cancer, at the age of 77 years.
   Left to mourn Charles’ passing are his partner of 40 years, Barbara; sons Chaka and Joel; daughter-in-law Marissa; sisters Charlotte and Esther and brothers, Kojo, Kwesi and Opiah. He also leaves to mourn dozens of nephews; nieces; grandnephews; grandnieces; cousins as well as other extended family in Canada, Africa, the United Kingdom and USA. He was predeceased by his siblings, Martey, Esi and Florence.
   Charles was born in Kumasi, Ghana in 1940 to Hannah Baker Newman and Charles Emmanuel Newman. He attended Methodist Primary School in Kumasi, Osei Tutu Boarding School in Akropong, Ghana, and Mfantsipim School in Cape Coast, Ghana, before completing his A levels in the United Kingdom. Charles came to Canada in 1964 and attended the University of Manitoba for a degree in microbiology. He joined the Science Department at Daniel McIntyre High School, teaching grade 10 and 11 Science, Biology and Chemistry. Charles made many wonderful long-term friends in Canada and inspired the respect and admiration of many of his students, who continued to contact and spend time with him for many years after their graduations. He was invited to and attended many of his students’ weddings as an honoured guest. Few students who had him as their teacher ever forgot him. It is difficult to go anywhere in Winnipeg without meeting up with someone who will come up and remind him that they had him as a teacher even decades later. Charles spent many hours freely giving his time to tutor any student who asked, most of whom were not his own. In his own student days and on, well into his teaching career, he worked summers on the CN railway which allowed him to enjoy other parts of Canada and meet many people.
   Charles was active in the African community, helping to establish the Ghanaian Association of Manitoba. He volunteered for many years with the Ghanaian Pavilion in Folklorama and was sought out by many students in the African community when they needed advice or extra help. His interest in youth extended to coaching soccer for many years and unwavering interest in everyone's children and their futures. He was the first to greet new Ghanaian families when they arrived in Winnipeg.
   His greatest loves were tennis, cycling, running, participating for many years in the Manitoba Marathon and jazz. He never missed a concert of the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra or the Asper Jazz Series until the last year of his life. Charles loved all sports, favourite teams being Tottenham and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, attending every home game including the first of the season game a month after his son Chaka was born. From the age of one month, Chaka attended every Bomber home game with his dad until his teenage years when he continued the tradition with his own friends to the present. Following this Charles continued attending all home games as a volunteer on security.
   Politics and education were always his first choice of topic of conversation. Charles spent many, many hours on the phone with his sisters and nieces in Africa and United Kingdom talking world politics, the future of Ghana and soccer. He was able to return to Ghana on a number of occasions to spend time with family and also to take his son Chaka to visit family in Ghana and England so that he would have connection with his African roots and family.
   Following his retirement from Daniel McIntyre Collegiate, Charles began his very long battle with cancer. He never stopped fighting and was still talking politics and following sports until the day before his passing.
   Charles’ Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, June 10, 2017 at 1:00 p.m. in Westwood Community Church, 401 Westwood Drive, Winnipeg.
   The family would like to thank Charles’ surgeons and all the staff on GD-3 and GA-3 at Health Sciences Centre who did so much to care for Charles and make him comfortable in his last hours. Also, to the staff at Victoria Hospital who assisted Charles in his long battle.
   In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society, 193 Sherbrook Street, Winnipeg, MB R3C 2B7 or Never Alone Foundation, 1700 Church Ave, Winnipeg, MB R2X 3A2.
 Wojcik’s Funeral Chapels & Crematoriums, Winnipeg, 2157 Portage Avenue, 204.897.4665 www.wojciksfuneralchapel.com