Memorable Manitobans: Samuel “Sam” Donen (1918-1990)

Educator.

Born at Tenby on 9 February 1918, one of eight children of David Donen (1881-1969) and Sarah Mandolewich (?-1963), he served in the Royal Canadian Air Force during the Second World War then returned to Winnipeg after the war. He attended the University of Manitoba and received a BA degree (1949) and Diploma in Education (1950). He worked as a teacher, including service at Lenore School (?-?), Rapid City School (1951-1952, Vice-Principal), Stonewall School (1952-?), Teulon School (1956-1957), Elkhorn Collegiate (1960-1961, Principal), McAuley Collegiate (1961-1962), Oak Lake Collegiate (1963-1964), Miami Collegiate (1964), Gimli Composite High School (1965-1966), Dauphin Collegiate and Technical Institute (1967-1968), and Swan River Collegiate (1970-1971). During the 1967 Canadian centenary, he did research and writing for the Jewish Historical Society of Western Canada. He died unmarried on 15 April 1990 and was buried in the Hebrew Sick Benefit Cemetery.

Sources:

Birth registration [Samuel Donen], Manitoba Vital Statistics.

“1,465 to receive ’U’ awards,” Winnipeg Tribune, 13 May 1949, page 7.

“U. Results [Diploma in Education],” Winnipeg Free Press, 17 May 1950, page 10.

“Expected DCTI enrollment of 1000; teaching staff to number 49 this fall,” Dauphin Herald, 23 August 1967, page 1.

“Grade XII instituted,” Rapid City Reporter, 30 August 1951, page 5.

“Teaching staff changes,” Rapid City Reporter, 3 July 1952, page 1.

“[The Manitoba Department of Education], Rapid City Reporter, 12 July 1951, page 3.

“Teaching staff changes,” Rapid City Reporter, 3 July 1952, page 1.

Obituary [Sarah Donen], Winnipeg Free Press, 27 August 1963, page 17.

Obituary [David Donen], Winnipeg Free Press, 19 February 1969, page 39.

Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 21 April 1990, page 53.

Hebrew Sick Benefit Cemetery burial transcriptions, BillionGraves.

Obituaries and burial transcriptions, Manitoba Genealogical Society.

We thank Gordon Goldsborough for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Nathan Kramer.

Page revised: 10 March 2024

Memorable Manitobans

Memorable Manitobans

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