Morley Rosenberg
April 18, 1937 – May 28, 2024

It is with profound sadness that we mourn the loss of Morley Abraham Rosenberg, age 87. Surrounded by family, he died peacefully on May 28th, 2024. He will be greatly missed by his three children, Alyse, Jill (Cihan), Jordan (Annie), their mother, Arei Bierstock and grandchildren, Sophie (James), Isaac, Janel, Jayda, Aliye, Jackson, Zoe and Sophie. A loving father and “Zadie”, Morley had a generous heart that matched his courage, determination and many accomplishments as a lawyer (QC) and politician. A man of strong values and many talents he was a true leader who not only believed in himself, he always stood up for what he believed in.

Born in Montreal in 1937, Morley grew up in Hamilton surrounded by his extended family. A star athlete, he attended Waterloo Lutheran University (now Wilfred Laurier University) and played, amongst many other sports, varsity football and basketball. He also paid for his tuition by singing professionally on the CKCO live musical show “Sunday Serenade” – a fact his children found hard to believe as he never seemed to remember the complete lyrics of any song!

Although Morley never considered himself an academic, he managed to get into Osgood Law School as well as marry and have his first child, all before graduating in1963. While an articling student in Kitchener he ran in his first provincial election as a candidate for the NDP at age 26. Although he was defeated – he was not daunted! And thus began Morley’s passionate and life-long interest in politics.

While Morley ran a solo law practice in Kitchener, he continued to run in provincial and federal elections every chance he got. Despite being unsuccessful in these races, at age 31 he was elected to Kitchener City Council as an alderman, where he served for 9 years while also being Chair of the Waterloo Reginal Planning Committee and a member of the Waterloo Regional Council for 10 years.

Morley was elected the Mayor of Kitchener for 3 consecutive terms from 1977 – 1982 where he proudly continued to serve the people of Kitchener and, as he would say, “Fight for the little guy”. In 1983 Morley moved to Toronto and was a member of the Ontario Municipal Board for 20 years and, in retirement, on the North York Committee of Adjustment.

Morley championed many causes. When his attempts to save the historic Kitchener City Hall and Farmer’s Market failed, he helped the Mennonite community start the St. Jacob’s Farmer’s Market. An early environmentalist, he helped start the first recycling program in Canada and went to the Supreme Court of Canada with the Grand River Conservation Authority to prevent a traffic bridge from being built over the Elora Gorge.

Despite being terrible at French himself, Morley saw the importance of bilingualism. With a group of like-minded parents, he founded the K-W Bilingual school in the mid 1960’s as well as Temple Shalom, a reform Jewish congregation, in the same community. He was also involved in the K-W Little Theatre and supported many artists – some of whom he provided free legal advice in exchange for their work and even a family dog! Somehow, Morley managed to still run most mornings, work out at the YMCA, play tennis and hang out with his kids on the weekend. He loved skiing, playing bridge, jazz, action movies and anything chocolate.

Morley’s biggest passion was his family. He always put his children first – never missing a game or performance. Saturday was reserved for lunch with his kids at the Plaza restaurant – a standing date that continued for almost two decades. He had the same unwavering love for all his grandchildren, encouraging them to pursue their dreams and reminding them, as he did his children, that they could “Be whoever they wanted to be in the world”. He stressed the value of knowing yourself and what you stood for as the foundation of one’s inner strength along with the importance of loving one’s family, doing work that engaged you and giving back to your community. For Morley – these were the values he relied on when facing opposition, heartbreak and adversity.

In 2018, at age 81, having battled cancer and encountering new mobility issues from Parkinson’s, Morley was determined to continue living his best life. He ran for Toronto City Council, launching an enthusiastic campaign in the Beaches-East York riding. Despite being unsuccessful, he inspired all who loved him, and everyone on the campaign trail, with his incredible knowledge, progressive platform and renewed zeal to make a difference.

While Morley will be remembered for his many accomplishments, he will be most remembered for his strength of character, integrity and generous, loving spirit. His favourite poem, “IF” by Rudyard Kipling and song, MY WAY, by Paul Anka and sung by Frank Sinatra, embody the essence of his incredible, magnificent life. He will live in our hearts forever – his memory a true inspiration and beautiful blessing.

And now, the end is near
And so I face the final curtain
My friend, I’ll say it clear
I’ll state my case, of which I’m certain
I’ve lived a life that’s full
I traveled each and every highway
And more, much more than this
I did it my way.

A funeral service was held at Benjamin’s Memorial Chapel on May 31st and condolences can still be expressed on their website: https://benjaminsparkmemorialchapel.ca in the archives under the name Morley Rosenberg. Memorial donations in honour of Morley can be made to Parkinson Canada www.parkinson.ca

Morley on the set of Sunday Serenade  ~  Morley with Larry McIntyre