Shirley Ray FISHMAN

SHIRLEY RAY FISHMAN Of Toronto, Ontario passed on Saturday, May 8, 2021 after a lengthy illness. Beloved daughter of the late Max and Naomi Fishman, sole sister to brothers Nathan and Caleb (Judi) Fishman, all of Halifax, Nova Scotia. She graduated BBA from Mount Saint Vincent University (1973) and soon after joined Aliant MT&T for what would become a full career in the telecom industry and human resources management over some 27 years. By 1981 she was at Bell Canada HQ in Montreal and in 1993 transferred to the rising star Nortel in Toronto as a senior compensation and benefits executive for the UK, Europe and southern USA. At the pinnacle of the telecom boom in 1999 she joined Arthur Anderson in a similar capacity and retired in 2002 to pursue travel and some 'leisure'. Soon after she became a volunteer at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehab Hospital working with children with severe neurological impairments; only her illness barred her devotion to these children. Proxy auntie to numerous cousins and three nephews she was also a fine communicator with friendships across two continents and a veteran traveller-tourist between them too. A witty, happy lady will be deeply missed. Special thanks to her staunch family doc, many specialists and the long serving Dr. David Spaner, and all the dedicated Sunnybrook nurses who helped ease her time there. Thanks also to Emily Rayson and Michael Sherman who restored her to a normal life many times over a decade. Miracles were seen. In lieu of flowers, please donate to Holland Bloorview or The Odette Cancer Centre at Sunnybrook Hospital. Burial will be in Halifax, NS, at the Baron De Hirsch Beth Israel Cemetery.