(provided by Rita Botkin Bomher)
There was very little sadness at the funeral for sports icon Max Winter. Instead, it was a celebration of a life lived 93 years.
''Max Winter's imprint on our community is greater than any dome or team and more lasting than any championship ring,'' Rabbi Joseph Edelheit said at Monday's funeral at Temple Israel in Minneapolis for the man who brought the Lakers and Vikings to the Twin Cities and eventually made sure his football team had a place to play indoors.
''Any reasonable person would take the life Max lived: 93 years; a wife, Helen, of 56 years; three lovely children; nine grandchildren; six great grandchildren, plus all he accomplished and all the lives he touched.
''We're here today to celebrate what he did, but even more important, who he was.''
Max Winter was an Austrian who came to the United States on the last ship to leave Europe before the start of World War I. He became part owner and president of the Lakers in the National Basketball Association and the Vikings in the National Football League.
He died Friday, and on Monday gathered friends and family, people who worked for him and people whose lives he touched.
''Max Winter was a kind, considerate man, a gentleman,'' basketball Hall of Fame player George Mikan said on his way into the temple, a thought that was repeated during the morning service and beyond.
''Once he gave you his word, that was it. I never signed a contract in all the years that I played basketball for the Lakers. All I had was a handshake with Max; that was enough. Can I imagine doing that in the NBA today? I wouldn't have a problem if I was dealing with Max.
''He treated me like one of his family. I am honored.''
Mikan was among a group of former Lakers that included Hall of Fame teammate Vern Mikkelsen, their coach, John Kundla, and Don ''Swede'' Carlson.
Carlson, the second player to sign with the Lakers - former Gophers teammate Tony Jaros was the first - collapsed at the end of the funeral and was taken to Abbott Northwestern Hospital by paramedics. He was later released.
''Max Winter was a great businessman, a promoter,'' Kundla said. ''He played a big part in making Minneapolis a big-league city.''
Winter was eulogized by Nick Cohen, one of his grandchildren, and Susan Diamond, one of his three daughters. Each spoke with considerable emotion about their memories.
''We know the public man,'' Edelheit said. ''He leaves an even greater legacy as a private man.
''There are no more Max Winters. That generation is over. The next time you see someone who began with nothing and built something, think of Max Winter. Remember what he gave us and what he leaves us. We are better because our paths crossed.''
Winter was buried at Adath Yeshurun Cemetery in Edina.
*******************************************
MAX WINTER, 93, who ran the Minneapolis Lakers, founded the Minnesota Vikings and led both to league dominance, died Friday night after a long illness. Under Mr. Winter's guidance, the Lakers became the NBA's first dominant franchise and the Vikings became the first NFL team to reach four Super Bowls. In 1960, just after the Lakers moved to Los Angeles, Winter and two partners founded the Vikings. He built the club that went to Super Bowls after the 1969, 1973, 1974 and 1976 seasons, losing all four times.
*******************************************
MAX WINTER, who ran the Minneapolis Lakers and founded the Minnesota Vikings, died Friday in Minneapolis. He was 93.
Under Winter's guidance, the Lakers became the NBA's first dominant franchise and the Vikings became the first NFL team to reach four Super Bowls.
The Lakers won titles in 1948 and 1949 before the NBA was created, when the team won six more titles in seven years. He resigned after the 1954-55 season.
In 1960, just after the Lakers moved to Los Angeles, Winter and two partners founded the Vikings. He built the club that went to Super Bowls after the 1969, 1973, 1974 and 1976 seasons, losing all four times.
There was very little sadness at the funeral for sports icon Max Winter. Instead, it was a celebration of a life lived 93 years.
''Max Winter's imprint on our community is greater than any dome or team and more lasting than any championship ring,'' Rabbi Joseph Edelheit said at Monday's funeral at Temple Israel in Minneapolis for the man who brought the Lakers and Vikings to the Twin Cities and eventually made sure his football team had a place to play indoors.
''Any reasonable person would take the life Max lived: 93 years; a wife, Helen, of 56 years; three lovely children; nine grandchildren; six great grandchildren, plus all he accomplished and all the lives he touched.
''We're here today to celebrate what he did, but even more important, who he was.''
Max Winter was an Austrian who came to the United States on the last ship to leave Europe before the start of World War I. He became part owner and president of the Lakers in the National Basketball Association and the Vikings in the National Football League.
He died Friday, and on Monday gathered friends and family, people who worked for him and people whose lives he touched.
''Max Winter was a kind, considerate man, a gentleman,'' basketball Hall of Fame player George Mikan said on his way into the temple, a thought that was repeated during the morning service and beyond.
''Once he gave you his word, that was it. I never signed a contract in all the years that I played basketball for the Lakers. All I had was a handshake with Max; that was enough. Can I imagine doing that in the NBA today? I wouldn't have a problem if I was dealing with Max.
''He treated me like one of his family. I am honored.''
Mikan was among a group of former Lakers that included Hall of Fame teammate Vern Mikkelsen, their coach, John Kundla, and Don ''Swede'' Carlson.
Carlson, the second player to sign with the Lakers - former Gophers teammate Tony Jaros was the first - collapsed at the end of the funeral and was taken to Abbott Northwestern Hospital by paramedics. He was later released.
''Max Winter was a great businessman, a promoter,'' Kundla said. ''He played a big part in making Minneapolis a big-league city.''
Winter was eulogized by Nick Cohen, one of his grandchildren, and Susan Diamond, one of his three daughters. Each spoke with considerable emotion about their memories.
''We know the public man,'' Edelheit said. ''He leaves an even greater legacy as a private man.
''There are no more Max Winters. That generation is over. The next time you see someone who began with nothing and built something, think of Max Winter. Remember what he gave us and what he leaves us. We are better because our paths crossed.''
Winter was buried at Adath Yeshurun Cemetery in Edina.
*******************************************
MAX WINTER, 93, who ran the Minneapolis Lakers, founded the Minnesota Vikings and led both to league dominance, died Friday night after a long illness. Under Mr. Winter's guidance, the Lakers became the NBA's first dominant franchise and the Vikings became the first NFL team to reach four Super Bowls. In 1960, just after the Lakers moved to Los Angeles, Winter and two partners founded the Vikings. He built the club that went to Super Bowls after the 1969, 1973, 1974 and 1976 seasons, losing all four times.
*******************************************
MAX WINTER, who ran the Minneapolis Lakers and founded the Minnesota Vikings, died Friday in Minneapolis. He was 93.
Under Winter's guidance, the Lakers became the NBA's first dominant franchise and the Vikings became the first NFL team to reach four Super Bowls.
The Lakers won titles in 1948 and 1949 before the NBA was created, when the team won six more titles in seven years. He resigned after the 1954-55 season.
In 1960, just after the Lakers moved to Los Angeles, Winter and two partners founded the Vikings. He built the club that went to Super Bowls after the 1969, 1973, 1974 and 1976 seasons, losing all four times.
(provided by Rita Botkin Bomher)
There was very little sadness at the funeral for sports icon Max Winter. Instead, it was a celebration of a life lived 93 years.
''Max Winter's imprint on our community is greater than any dome or team and more lasting than any championship ring,'' Rabbi Joseph Edelheit said at Monday's funeral at Temple Israel in Minneapolis for the man who brought the Lakers and Vikings to the Twin Cities and eventually made sure his football team had a place to play indoors.
''Any reasonable person would take the life Max lived: 93 years; a wife, Helen, of 56 years; three lovely children; nine grandchildren; six great grandchildren, plus all he accomplished and all the lives he touched.
''We're here today to celebrate what he did, but even more important, who he was.''
Max Winter was an Austrian who came to the United States on the last ship to leave Europe before the start of World War I. He became part owner and president of the Lakers in the National Basketball Association and the Vikings in the National Football League.
He died Friday, and on Monday gathered friends and family, people who worked for him and people whose lives he touched.
''Max Winter was a kind, considerate man, a gentleman,'' basketball Hall of Fame player George Mikan said on his way into the temple, a thought that was repeated during the morning service and beyond.
''Once he gave you his word, that was it. I never signed a contract in all the years that I played basketball for the Lakers. All I had was a handshake with Max; that was enough. Can I imagine doing that in the NBA today? I wouldn't have a problem if I was dealing with Max.
''He treated me like one of his family. I am honored.''
Mikan was among a group of former Lakers that included Hall of Fame teammate Vern Mikkelsen, their coach, John Kundla, and Don ''Swede'' Carlson.
Carlson, the second player to sign with the Lakers - former Gophers teammate Tony Jaros was the first - collapsed at the end of the funeral and was taken to Abbott Northwestern Hospital by paramedics. He was later released.
''Max Winter was a great businessman, a promoter,'' Kundla said. ''He played a big part in making Minneapolis a big-league city.''
Winter was eulogized by Nick Cohen, one of his grandchildren, and Susan Diamond, one of his three daughters. Each spoke with considerable emotion about their memories.
''We know the public man,'' Edelheit said. ''He leaves an even greater legacy as a private man.
''There are no more Max Winters. That generation is over. The next time you see someone who began with nothing and built something, think of Max Winter. Remember what he gave us and what he leaves us. We are better because our paths crossed.''
Winter was buried at Adath Yeshurun Cemetery in Edina.
*******************************************
MAX WINTER, 93, who ran the Minneapolis Lakers, founded the Minnesota Vikings and led both to league dominance, died Friday night after a long illness. Under Mr. Winter's guidance, the Lakers became the NBA's first dominant franchise and the Vikings became the first NFL team to reach four Super Bowls. In 1960, just after the Lakers moved to Los Angeles, Winter and two partners founded the Vikings. He built the club that went to Super Bowls after the 1969, 1973, 1974 and 1976 seasons, losing all four times.
*******************************************
MAX WINTER, who ran the Minneapolis Lakers and founded the Minnesota Vikings, died Friday in Minneapolis. He was 93.
Under Winter's guidance, the Lakers became the NBA's first dominant franchise and the Vikings became the first NFL team to reach four Super Bowls.
The Lakers won titles in 1948 and 1949 before the NBA was created, when the team won six more titles in seven years. He resigned after the 1954-55 season.
In 1960, just after the Lakers moved to Los Angeles, Winter and two partners founded the Vikings. He built the club that went to Super Bowls after the 1969, 1973, 1974 and 1976 seasons, losing all four times.
There was very little sadness at the funeral for sports icon Max Winter. Instead, it was a celebration of a life lived 93 years.
''Max Winter's imprint on our community is greater than any dome or team and more lasting than any championship ring,'' Rabbi Joseph Edelheit said at Monday's funeral at Temple Israel in Minneapolis for the man who brought the Lakers and Vikings to the Twin Cities and eventually made sure his football team had a place to play indoors.
''Any reasonable person would take the life Max lived: 93 years; a wife, Helen, of 56 years; three lovely children; nine grandchildren; six great grandchildren, plus all he accomplished and all the lives he touched.
''We're here today to celebrate what he did, but even more important, who he was.''
Max Winter was an Austrian who came to the United States on the last ship to leave Europe before the start of World War I. He became part owner and president of the Lakers in the National Basketball Association and the Vikings in the National Football League.
He died Friday, and on Monday gathered friends and family, people who worked for him and people whose lives he touched.
''Max Winter was a kind, considerate man, a gentleman,'' basketball Hall of Fame player George Mikan said on his way into the temple, a thought that was repeated during the morning service and beyond.
''Once he gave you his word, that was it. I never signed a contract in all the years that I played basketball for the Lakers. All I had was a handshake with Max; that was enough. Can I imagine doing that in the NBA today? I wouldn't have a problem if I was dealing with Max.
''He treated me like one of his family. I am honored.''
Mikan was among a group of former Lakers that included Hall of Fame teammate Vern Mikkelsen, their coach, John Kundla, and Don ''Swede'' Carlson.
Carlson, the second player to sign with the Lakers - former Gophers teammate Tony Jaros was the first - collapsed at the end of the funeral and was taken to Abbott Northwestern Hospital by paramedics. He was later released.
''Max Winter was a great businessman, a promoter,'' Kundla said. ''He played a big part in making Minneapolis a big-league city.''
Winter was eulogized by Nick Cohen, one of his grandchildren, and Susan Diamond, one of his three daughters. Each spoke with considerable emotion about their memories.
''We know the public man,'' Edelheit said. ''He leaves an even greater legacy as a private man.
''There are no more Max Winters. That generation is over. The next time you see someone who began with nothing and built something, think of Max Winter. Remember what he gave us and what he leaves us. We are better because our paths crossed.''
Winter was buried at Adath Yeshurun Cemetery in Edina.
*******************************************
MAX WINTER, 93, who ran the Minneapolis Lakers, founded the Minnesota Vikings and led both to league dominance, died Friday night after a long illness. Under Mr. Winter's guidance, the Lakers became the NBA's first dominant franchise and the Vikings became the first NFL team to reach four Super Bowls. In 1960, just after the Lakers moved to Los Angeles, Winter and two partners founded the Vikings. He built the club that went to Super Bowls after the 1969, 1973, 1974 and 1976 seasons, losing all four times.
*******************************************
MAX WINTER, who ran the Minneapolis Lakers and founded the Minnesota Vikings, died Friday in Minneapolis. He was 93.
Under Winter's guidance, the Lakers became the NBA's first dominant franchise and the Vikings became the first NFL team to reach four Super Bowls.
The Lakers won titles in 1948 and 1949 before the NBA was created, when the team won six more titles in seven years. He resigned after the 1954-55 season.
In 1960, just after the Lakers moved to Los Angeles, Winter and two partners founded the Vikings. He built the club that went to Super Bowls after the 1969, 1973, 1974 and 1976 seasons, losing all four times.
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