MAXWELL, Martin (Max Mayzel) - Peacefully in his 97th year at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre after a valiant battle, his last on Thursday, December 3, 2020.
Captain (Retired) Martin Maxwell, beloved husband of Eleanor.
Devoted father and father-in-law of Randy & Vivian Maxwell and Brian & Wendy Maxwell. Loving Zaidy Max to his grandchildren Harris Maxwell & Trisha Nakagawa, Carly & Jakob Marszowski, Bram Maxwell, Perri Maxwell and Loni Maxwell & Trevor Grohman, and great-grandfather of Nicole, Zoe and Lauren Marszowski.
Special uncle to Ruthy Kaiser, Allan Lunenfeld & Loraine St Louis, Susy Lunenfeld & Hector Nunez, Aron Posen, and Lauren Posen & Jason Cherney. Great-uncle of Jonathan Kaiser & Connor Sullivan and Jeffrey Kaiser & Peter Murphy, Emi Nunez and Eren Nunez.
Loving brother and brother-in-law to the late Berta & Joe Lunenfeld, the late Leo & Luba Majzels, and the late Josephine Meisels and Erna Meisels.
After the Nazis invaded Austria in 1938, Martin was evacuated to England on the Kinder Transport which offered safe haven to Jewish children. He was adopted as a son by the Webbers, a Jewish family in Manchester, and always remained close with their descendants.
In England, once he came of age, Martin joined Britain's Army Air Corps and trained as a glider pilot. A few days before the D-Day invasion, he was encouraged by a high-ranking officer to change his birth name from Max Meisels to Martin Maxwell to conceal his Jewish identity, were he to be captured.
At age 21, Martin flew a glider plane and was among the first to land in Normandy, France the day before D-Day, to capture Pegasus bridge and prevent Germans from sending reinforcements from the rear.
Three months later he flew into battle again, this time at Arnhem, Holland, where, after safely landing troops he was wounded and captured. As a POW he was to witness Nazi atrocities. Martin was liberated at the end of the war in May, 1945.
Following Germany's capitulation on V-E Day, May 8, 1945 he was tasked, as a German-speaking British officer, with investigations in Washington, D.C. relating to war crimes.
Martin retired from the Army Air Corps with the rank of Captain. He was awarded some of the highest honours, including the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal and the Legion of Honour from France.
He has been involved in numerous community organizations including B'nai Brith and Jewish War Veterans of Canada. Eleanor was always by his side.In referring to the millions of soldiers killed in the Second Word War, Martin often quoted a famous inscription: "Tell them of us and say: For your tomorrows, we gave our today".
Heartful thanks to Dr. Steven Shumak, Dr. William Silverstein and the extended team members at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre for providing world class care, comfort and respect to "Max".
Due to Covid-19 restrictions, a private graveside service will be held on Friday, December 4, 2020 and there will be no shiva visitation.
Donations in Martin's memory can be made to the Sarah and Chaim Neuberger Holocaust Education Centre of Toronto. 416-631-5689.
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