Remembering a global genealogist, a Romanian survivor, B'nai Brith's CEO and more community builders recently lost

On the second Honourable Menschen of 2025, we pay tribute to five Canadians from four provinces who left a mark on our community and who passed away in recent months. Dianne Kipnes, an Edmonton clinical psychologist and philanthropist who, together with her husband Irving fought to find and fund better treatment for people with cancer-related conditions. Sandy Keshen, executive director for 41 years of Toronto’s Reena organization, which was created to help her own daughter and other persons with disabilities find facilities and inclusion in the community. Michael Mostyn, the former CEO of B’nai Brith Canada, a Toronto lawyer who revitalized the Jewish advocacy organization to fight antisemitism on a national stage, while also assisting seniors, youth and the poor. Lou Hoffer, a Holocaust survivor from the less well known area of Transnistria in Romania, who became a tireless advocate for the victims of the Nazis murdered in that part of Europe. And Stanley Diamond, a Montreal genealogy expert whose quest to learn more about his family’s genetic blood disease, Beta thalassemia, helped so many Jewish people find their lost European relatives roots after the Holocaust, including Douglas Emhoff, Gwyneth Paltrow and Alan Dershowitz. On this episode of The CJN Daily‘s Honourable Menschen, we’re joined by our obituary writer Heather Ringel and also by Lila Sarick, The CJN’s News Editor, for more insights into the community leaders we have lost.     Credits

• Host and writer: Ellin Bessner (@ebessner)
• Production team: Zachary Kauffman (producer), Michael Fraiman (executive producer)
• Music: Dov Beck-Levine

Support our show

• Subscribe to The CJN newsletter
• Donate to The CJN (+ get a charitable tax receipt)
• Subscribe to The CJN Daily (Not sure how? Click here)