By Zanna Linskaia
I don’t know anyone his age who remains as sharp-minded, intelligent, and full of life as Bill Gruenthal, nor do I know anyone else who has dedicated as much time, energy, passion, and financial support to the Jewish non-profit organizations of Greater Vancouver as Bill Gruenthal.
Here is a glimpse of his extensive community involvement:
Bill served as president of the Burquest Jewish Community for five years, a role he took on at the encouragement of his dear friend Max Jacobson, one of the community’s founders, who passed away last year. Since then, Bill and his wife, Noemi, have been dedicated long-term supporters of BJCA.
He also served as president of the Jewish National Fund for three years and was actively involved with the Vancouver Board of Trade. In 2001, Bill became president of the Jewish Historical Society, as well as the Jewish Museum and Archives of BC. Today, he continues to contribute as a member of the Council of Governors and has joined the Board of Directors at Temple Sholom.
Believe it or not, Mr. B. Gruenthal’s commitment extends beyond Jewish organizations. He served as a director of the Nikkei Place Foundation for 15 years and the Canadian Japan Society of BC for 20 years. In addition, he dedicates countless hours to the Food Bank and has been a long-time donor to Burnaby General Hospital.
Is the secret to his longevity—or the meaning of his life—to give rather than take? A lesson he learned from his parents.
Bill was born in 1935 in Netanya, then part of Palestine under the British Mandate. This means he, like anyone who lived there at the time, could call himself a Palestinian. His family emigrated from Germany in the early 1930s when the Nazis came to power. In 1947, they moved to Canada, settling in Silverdale, a small hamlet in Mission, BC, where Bill later completed high school.
He began his career in the insurance business in 1953—and remarkably, he’s still working in the industry today! He met his beloved wife, Noemi, at the JCC. Throughout their long and happy marriage, they raised three daughters and now cherish the joy of their grandchildren.
Another facet of Bill’s personality is his keen interest in mass media and politics. His letters and comments in the National Post and on various websites are sometimes even more compelling than the articles themselves.
It came as no surprise to learn that he ran for political office in Burnaby in 1976, though he was not elected. Who knows what Bill Gruenthal might choose to pursue next after his platinum jubilee? For us, he will always be a mensch…
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