John Gottfried Explained

John Charles Gottfried (October 13, 1917 in Welland, Ontario – July 28, 1980) was a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He was a New Democratic member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1969 to 1977.[1]

The son of Anthony Gottfried and Lena Hoffman,[2] Gottfried came to Winnipeg at a young age with his family; they later moved to Gimli. He was educated at the University of Manitoba, and worked as a teacher for 25 years.[3] Gottfried married Fjola Josephine Johnson in 1942. From 1946 to 1955, he served as President of the Manitoba Teachers' Society in Gimli.[2]

He wrote his thesis A history of education in the Evergreen School Division as part of the requirements for an MEd degree in 1965.[4]

He was elected to the Manitoba legislature in the 1969 provincial election,[1] defeating Progressive Conservative candidate Eric Stefanson Sr. by 223 votes.[5] In the 1973 election, he was returned[1] over PC candidate Ted Revel by 56 votes.[5] During his time in parliament, he was a backbench supporter of Edward Schreyer's government. Shreyer and Gottfried were, in fact, cousins.[3]

He did not seek re-election in 1977, and did not return to provincial politics thereafter.[1]

Gottfried died in Winnipeg at the age of 62.[6]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: MLA Biographies - Deceased . Legislative Assembly of Manitoba . https://web.archive.org/web/20140330155427/http://www.gov.mb.ca/hansard/members/mla_bio_deceased.html . 2014-03-30 .
  2. Book: Normandin, Pierre G. Canadian Parliamentary Guide . 1975 .
  3. Web site: Hansard . March 10, 1981 . Legislative Assembly of Manitoba . 2014-01-07 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140407073558/http://www.gov.mb.ca/legislature/business/hansard/31st_5th/hansardpdf/34a.pdf . April 7, 2014 .
  4. Master . A history of education in the Evergreen School Division . Gottfried . John C . October 1965 . University of Manitoba . 1993/8063 . free.
  5. News: Gimli . Manitoba Votes 2003 . CBC News . 2014-01-07.
  6. Web site: John Charles Gottfried (1917-1980) . Memorable Manitobans . . 2014-01-07.