Dr. Jack Yazer
Born In: Suprasl Poland
Born: April 7th, 1913
Passed on: August 5th, 2015
It is with sadness that the family of Dr. Jack Yazer announces his passing on Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2015.
Our father was born on April 7, 1913, in Suprasl, Poland, and immigrated to Canada at the age of 15. Arriving with nothing but the clothes on his back and only able to speak two words of English, he started his new life. He began peddling throughout rural Cape Breton with his older brother Mendle, who later opened Yazer Brothers Limited Friendly Clothing Store in Sydney Mines. At the outbreak of the Second World War Jack joined the Canadian Armed Forces and upon his return home the brothers opened the Sydney store. He was involved with Home and School, Rotary Club, Children’s Aid, Easter Seals, Salvation Army, Canadian Club, Kidney Foundation, Red Cross, Temple Sons of Israel, Jewish United Appeal and Bond Drives, Cancer Society, Police Boys Club, Social Housing, Nova Scotia Family and Child Welfare, and the Vanier Institute of the Family. He inaugurated the building of the Centennial Rink and was the founding chair of the Cape Breton Regional Hospital Foundation. He also found time to coach the Yazer Juniors hockey team, counsel small business for the Federal Development Bank, was a member of the Board of Trade Council, worked to promote new industry in Cape Breton, and was always available to provide help to individuals in need. He was especially determined in his drive to establish a Graduated Licence Merit Plan for Nova Scotia. He was a Clerk of the Court, swearing in new Canadian citizens, began the Youth Speaks Up program for grade six students, and sat on many boards and committees. Over the years he received many community awards, two honorary doctorates (St. Francis Xavier and College of Cape Breton), the 125th Commemorative Medal, Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal, Member of the Order of Canada, the Order of Nova Scotia, and was inducted into the Cape Breton Hall of Fame. He received the Kinsmen’s “Citizen of the Year”, CHER Radio “Man of the Year”, CJCB Radio “Citizenship Award”, Federal Department of Manpower and Immigration “Man of the Year”, Paul Harris Fellow, life membership in the Nova Scotia Family and Child Welfare Association, life membership in the Bricklayers, Masons and Plasterers International Union, Special recognition for Outstanding and Selfless Commitment for the establishment of the Cape Breton Regional Hospital and for his exceptional leadership in the area of community development and health care. He was recognized with a Cancer Symposium Award and was honoured to have the Cape Breton Regional Hospital Foundation’s Caring Spirit Award, renamed the Dr. Jack Yazer Caring Spirit Award.
He was predeceased by his loving wife, Zelda; his son, Brendon; his mother, Kayla(Spinner); brothers, Abram, Hershel, Mendle; sister, Fannie; and his father, Samuel Jezernicki, stepmother and half siblings who perished in the Holocaust.
He is survived by his son, Harold (Myrna); daughters, Celia and Karin (Tony); grandchildren, Murray (Julie), Joanne, Joseph, Erika (Ryan), David, Michael, Kyle and Jonathan; and great-grandchildren, Alex, Miriam and Jackson.
The family wishes to extend sincere thanks to the staff of Harbourstone Enhanced Care and to Jack’s devoted caregivers, Leona Hamper, Jackie Bonnar and Cindy Selvet for their excellent care.
The funeral will take place at Sydney Memorial Chapel today (Friday) at 2:30 p.m. Interment to follow at the Hebrew Cemetery on Lingan Road. A reception will be held at 4 p.m. in the ballroom of the Holiday Inn on the Esplanade.
In lieu of flowers, Jack’s request is that you go out into your community and perform a random act of kindness in his memory, making it a better and a kinder place to live. In Jack’s own words, “It has been my pleasure to have given to a community and a country that have given so much to me.”
Memories, stories and condolences may be sent to www.sydneymemorialchapel.ca or emailed to sydneymemorialchapel@ns.sympatico.ca.
