PROSSIN, Dr. Albert “Albie”

The family of Dr. Albert “Albie” Prossin regrets to announce his passing on Tuesday, April 9, 2024, in North York General Hospital, North York, ON. He was 94 years of age at the time of his passing.

Albie, as he was known to his friends, was born on November 23, 1929, in Brooklyn, New York. He was a son of the late Samuel and Rebecca “Becky” (Blackman) Prossin and was a gift for his father on his father’s 34th birthday.

When Albie was a few months old his parents decided to move to Glace Bay, Nova Scotia, Canada, a small fishing town on Cape Breton Island, where his mother’s family immigrated to from Lithuania in the 19 teens when his mother was about ten years old, in order to escape Jewish persecution during the Russian revolution. His father had come to New York by himself as a 13-year-old, on a boat from Belarus, in 1908. Albie was always a proud Cape Bretoner and always told stories about his life growing up in Glace Bay and his years working as a doctor, that he looked at so fondly, prior to moving to Ontario in 1985.

Albie lived a very long life full of achievement and challenge. He loved people and always strove to help people in his professional life as well as in his spare time. As a 16-year-old, Albie entered Dalhousie University where he earned his Bachelors’ degree. He then moved to Toronto where he earned his Masters’ Degree before entering Dalhousie University Medical School in 1951. He also entered the Medical Officers Training Corps to provide medical care for military personnel while stationed at the Shaughnessy Hospital in Vancouver, BC. After completing his medical studies in 1955, Albie moved back to Cape Breton with the goal of providing medical care to those in underserved areas. First, he was employed by his mentor, Dr. Abie Gaum, in the Gaum Clinic in Whitney Pier, a largely minority community near Sydney, for two years until he decided to start his own medical practice across the harbor in Westmount, to serve a community that, until that time, never had their own doctor. During his time in Westmount Albie was very involved in the growth of the community. He was one of the founding members and later one of the early Commodores of the Dobson Yacht Club, which he helped form to provide a yacht club for everyone, including Jews and other minorities who were barred from membership at all of the other local yacht clubs at that time. It was located directly across the street from Albie’s 1st and 2nd homes. He also helped found the local Westmount Volunteer Fire Department and was very involved with the growth of the local area throughout his years spent in Westmount. Albie also helped create an ambulance service.

Albie’s medical practice was a general service medical practice, including urgent care, OBGYN, labor and delivery, surgery, oncology, and other areas. However, he was also a pioneer in many medical fields including addiction, obesity treatments, mental health counselling, occupational health and safety and emergency care. To his children, it seemed like their dad delivered just about every person they knew while growing up in Westmount. Everyone knew their dad. Albie was very well loved by the community that he served for many years as their only medical doctor.

Dr. Prossin then went on to develop a full medical service for the coal mines located throughout Cape Breton while employed by The Cape Breton Development Corporation (DEVCO). As a professional Albie was on the NS Human Rights Commission, he was given the distinction as a Knight of the Royal Order St. John, he was a supernumerary Constable with the RCMP and he also received many other awards and recognitions throughout his lifetime. While operating the Atlantic Foundation for Occupational Health and Safety, Albie organized an international convention on Occupational Health and Safety at what was then known as the University College of Cape Breton, that gathered over 150 of the foremost world experts in the field and then he established a Chair in Occupational Health and Safety at the university. He was an adjunct Professor at the University for many years and had the same role for a few years at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Ontario.

Albie was a Senior VP of two of Canada’s largest corporations after moving to Ottawa in 1985 with Canada Post and then to Montreal in 1990 with Canadian Pacific Railways and hotels.

Albert Prossin’s family were longtime members of the Temple Sons of Israel Synagogue in Sydney and were the initial members of the Chabad of Nuns Island congregation, near Montreal, that Albie helped establish and grow, over the past several years, into a thriving congregation.

Albie left the world with a very full heart after living a very full and happy life. It was incredible. Last Saturday he was lying in bed with his hands crossed smiling and saying what a wonderful life he had and that he was ready for what comes next. He said, “I love my family”.

Albie is survived by his lovely wife, Andrea (Mombourquette); daughters, Anneliese “Lisa” Fiala (Martin “Marty”), Tennessee and Aviva MacKenzie (JeanMarc), Toronto; sons, Adam, Seattle, Andrew (Kate), Ottawa and Alan, Houston; grandchildren, Austin Fiala, Taylor MacKenzie, Connor MacKenzie, Hannah Prossin, Marina Prossin, Jonah Prossin, Ari “AJ” Prossin; and sister, Sylvia Brown, New York.

He was predeceased by his sister, Rita Aronson (Hy), New York, Molly Mallman (Don), San Diego; brother, Benjamin “Benny” Prossin, Toronto and his parents.

He also loved and was loved by many nieces and nephews and many friends from all over Canada, the USA and various other countries.

Albie was the patriarch of the family, and he was very proud of all of his children and grandchildren. He loved his wife dearly and recently said that the best thing that ever happened to him in his life was marrying Andrea and her providing him with such a wonderful family and life. He will be missed immensely by all of them.

A graveside service will be held in the Hebrew Cemetery, Whitney Pier on Sunday, April 14th at 11 a.m. with Mr. Barry Carnat officiating.

Words of comfort can be sent to the family at: www.sydneymemorialchapel.com