Memorable Manitobans: Benjamin “Ben” [Pope] Popeski (1913-1995)

Educator, actuary.

Born at Transcona on 3 June 1913, son of Nathan Popeski and Rose Popeski (?-1957), he graduated from the Central Normal School in Winnipeg and did in-classroom practise teaching at Cecil Rhodes School (1938). He taught at Great Falls School (1938-1941) and attended classes at the University of Manitoba where he earned the Gold Medal in Education (1941), by which time he had attained a Bachelor of Science degree.

On 13 August 1941, he legally changed his surname to Pope and continued with his teaching career as Principal of Oakville School (1941-1942) and Sanford School (1942-1943). He then changed careers and joined the Great West Life Assurance Company as an actuary, working there for over 40 years. Later in life, he resumed the use of his birth surname. Around 1940, he married Lillian “Lil” Yaren (1917-2012) and they had two sons.

He died on 1 April 1995 and was buried in the Shaarey Zedek Cemetery.

See also:

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Popeski House (277 Burrows Avenue, Winnipeg)

Sources:

Birth registration [Bore Popiski], Manitoba Vital Statistics.

“School of education,” Winnipeg Tribune, 18 May 1935, page 28.

“Secretary of Fur Workers’ Union jailed,” Winnipeg Tribune, 21 September 1936, page 3.

“Graduation [University Gold Medals],” Winnipeg Free Press, 13 May 1941, page 8.

“Awarded gold medals,” Winnipeg Tribune, 13 May 1941, page 13.

“Certificate of Change of Name,” Winnipeg Tribune, 23 August 1941, page 23.

Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 7 April 1995, page C7.

Obituary [Lillian Popeski], Winnipeg Free Press, 14 July 2012.

Shaarey Zedek Cemetery burial transciptions, BillionGraves.

Obituaries and burial transcriptions, Manitoba Genealogical Society.

This page was prepared by Nathan Kramer.

Page revised: 10 April 2023

Memorable Manitobans

Memorable Manitobans

This is a collection of noteworthy Manitobans from the past, compiled by the Manitoba Historical Society. We acknowledge that the collection contains both reputable and disreputable people. All are worth remembering as a lesson to future generations.

Search the collection by word or phrase, name, place, occupation or other text:

Custom Search

Browse surnames beginning with:
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | Y | Z

Browse deaths occurring in:
1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024


Send corrections and additions to this page
to the Memorable Manitobans Administrator at biographies@mhs.mb.ca

Criteria for Memorable Manitobans | Suggest a Memorable Manitoban | Firsts | Acknowledgements

Help us keep
history alive!