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In Memoriam

 

Geoffrey Furman passed away on 29 January 1991 at the age of 38 years after suffering a heart attack. Geoff was admitted as an advo­cate on 1 April 1978 and after ser­ving his pupilage under Frank Kroon (now Mr Justice Kroon), proceeded to establish his practice at the Grahamstown Bar. On 1 December 1988 Geoff moved to the Ciskei and took up chambers as a member of the Bisho Bar and his practice con­tinued to flourish.

Geoff served as a member ofthe Ciskei Supreme Court Library Committee and also as a member of the Bar Council.

He leaves a wife Ros, and a three year old daughter Katie behind.

His warmth, sense of humour and willingness to share his not inconsiderable legal knowledge with his colleagues will be sorely missed.

 Naomi Perkel (Pollak) referred us to the Consultus April 1991 where the obituarywas published

 

 

Message from Roslyn ? late Geoff Furman?s wife:
Naomi Perkel (Pollak) was able to contact Geoffs wife who forwarded the following touching letter
 
 Many thanks for your kind words about Geoff.  It was, however, very unexpected to hear from you and something of a shock.I forwarded your message to Katherine,our daughter and she too was moved by what you said.  As she was only 2 1/2 when Geoff died, she obviously remembers very little about him and relies on what she is told about him to build up a composite picture of who he was and what makes her the person she is today.
It was fascinating to read about Geoff at school.I think he must have been as unique and special then as he was when I met him.  He told me that he and some friends used to play a game in which they would telephone and quiz each other on international affairs and world history.  Also,a teacher was reputed to have said to him that he could not decide whether Geoff was a genius or simply mad!  He certainly was the most intelligent man I had ever met.  He spoiled me for anyone else and I deeply regret that we had so little time together.

Our  daughter is very like him:  Grahamstown lawyers who had not met her before have actually approached her and asked if she is Geoff?s daughter.  She is ,at present at Rhodes where she is completing an MA in Politics and Philosophy,she is a Mandela-Rhodes scholar and has shortlisted for the Rhodes Scholarship for Oxford and we are awaiting the results.  She has represented South Africa in Debating and Public Speaking ,  has presented papers at international politics conferences,  is an activist with an international organisation called Glogal Pact.I think she is quite a chip off the paternal block and Geoff would have been proud of her.Life was never dull with him and never a day passes without my missing him.  It was his birthday on September 11.

Thank you for taking the time to contact us.
May your reunion go well.
Best wishes.
?Roslyn Furman
(Eric Stillerman)
I was friendly with Geoff for a while I think around Form 2 or 3 ? he lived in Highlands North in Athol Road opposite Waverley School.
He played some great music for me which few others had exposure to ? remember the Leadbelly album ? one song went:
?President Rooseveldt,,,
of the United States?.
trying to get England and Germany ?
to hesitate?.
about that War??    (Stillerman)
(Cramer)

I recall one Geoff Furman incindent which I believe was in Form IV during Latin with Elliot Woolf. For some reason, he stod up in the middle of class towards the back and started waving a piece of paper in the air. Elliott asked him if he had heard of the Machashevar of Ein Dor. Geoff replied, ?No, but have you heard of Neville Chamberlain?.He was in my class in the last couple of years at school and we were quite friendly. The last time I aw him was a few years later I bumped into him on the beach at Clifton. He didn?t even recognize or remember me.

Naomi Perkel (Pollak)
I once saw an obituary about Geoff Fruman who passed away suddenly in the Cape in the early 1990?s, a well respected young attorney. I am not sure whether or not that notice referred to Our Geoff, but as I said before , he had a sharp mind and was very well read and clued up on current affairs and international politics.

See also Bisho Socity of Advocates in this Bar in South Africa 2004 publication