Obituary of Henryk Tannenbaum

March 28, 1950 – Łódź, Poland

September 21, 2024 - Calgary, Alberta

Henryk Tannenbaum, beloved husband of Jessica Tannenbaum (nee Bechtel), of Calgary, AB, very suddenly passed away on Saturday, September 21, 2024, at the age of 74 years.

Henryk was born in Łódź, Poland, on March 28, 1950. With his parents and two younger siblings Maria and Marek, he moved between many different countries and lived through an overall happy and very loving childhood, despite many challenges. He eventually became fluent in even languages. Most of his adult life was spent in Regensburg, Germany, with his first wife, Brigitte Ott, and his son, Patrick.

He married Jessica, his second wife, in 2006 and together with their two daughters, they moved to Calgary, Alberta, Canada, in 2016, where he enjoyed long walks along the Bow River, sipping a coffee in Café Beano on 17th Avenue, and the views of the Rocky Mountains.

Henryk graduated from the Heidelberg Medical School in 1975 and was awarded the title of Neurosurgical Specialist in 1983. Already during his neurosurgical residency, it became clear that Henryk was a truly outstanding physician with exceptional surgical abilities. He would become one of the best of his country and generation. He radiated love, humanity, care, confidence, and professionalism.

Henryk had a passion for photography and travel. He especially loved Costa Rica and France and brought home boxes of photonegatives. His cell phone has documented the amazing colours of Southern Alberta in all its seasons, and he would have loved to take pictures of the current leaves turned golden.

He loved Donald Duck comics, and the Netflix show Lucifer. French chansons, for example by Charles Aznavour, were among his favourites. The one song that stands out is “Emmenez-moi au bout de la terre” (“Take Me to The End of The World”)—a song full of longing and melancholy.

He will be most remembered for his sweet tooth, never letting the family supply run dry on Nutella, as well as his broad, warm smile, his sharp wit, and his kindness.

Besides his loving wife, Henryk is survived by his two daughters, Nikita and Layla of Calgary, AB; one son and one daughter-in-law, Patrick and Cathy Tannenbaum of Sens, France; and his grandchild Luc Tannenbaum of Lyon, France.

Henryk is also survived by his brother Marek, his sister Maria and his brother-in-law Abi; as well as his five nephews and one niece, all of Munich, Germany; and numerous friends in Germany, France, Italy, Canada, and the US.

Henryk was predeceased by both his parents.

Funeral Services will be held at Temple B’nai Tikvah, (900 - 47 Avenue SW, Calgary, AB) on Friday, September 27, 2024, at 11:00 a.m.

If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Temple B’nai Tikvah, 900 - 47 Avenue SW, Calgary, AB T2S 3C8, Telephone: (403) 252-1654, http://templebnaitikvah.org/.

Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed with Henryk’s family here.

In living memory of Henryk Tannenbaum, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Park Memorial, 5008 Elbow Drive SW, Calgary, AB T2S 2L5, Telephone: 403-243-8200.