The death of Leslie "Cham" Paine, beloved husband of Shirley Jo, father of Matthew, Nancy and Patricia, occurred peacefully at home on January 1, 2003. The funeral service will be held at St. Mary's Anglican Church, 401-1st Street on Saturday, January 4, 2003 at 1:30 pm. The Rev. Garry MacDowall will officiate. Interment will follow at the Brandon cemetery. No flowers by request. Donations in memory of "Cham" may be made to the Brandon University School of Music, the Andrew Inglis Memorial Scholarship Fund. Complete obituary information will follow. Arrangements are with Memories Chapel & Pre-Planning Centre, 727-0330.


The death of Leslie "Cham" Paine occurred Wednesday, January 1, 2003 at his residence. Leslie was born in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, son of Leslie and Ruby (Earing) Paine on November 28, 1929. His schooling took place in Prince Albert. At the age of eight, someone decided that young Les should take piano lessons. He tried them for a couple of years, but like most boys, growing up on the prairies, was torn between the keyboards, the hockey rink and other interests. He absorbed enough in those few years of formal training to start him on a career as a composer, arranger and multifaceted instrumentalist. At the age of sixteen, Cham was playing trumpet at summer gigs up at Waskesiu and by the time he was a student in the University of Saskatchewan's Faculty of Agriculture, he was lead trumpet in Gordie King's "Bop City Big Band" and for a small group known as the "Intensely Vigrous College Nine". During this time, he met Shirley Jo Tomlinson, a student at the College of Nursing of the University of Saskatchewan. By 1953, Cham and Jo had graduated and then married on December 28, 1953. This period also awakened another and lesser known artistic talent, painting and drawing. This led to a move to Winnipeg, where Cham enrolled in the University of Manitoba School of Fine Arts. After graduating in 1959, he taught fine art for the Portage la Prairie School Division and the University of Manitoba summer school. Cham also maintained his music interest, picked up the odd gig with his trumpet and valve trombone, taught himself vibrophone, and continued to develop arranging and piano skills. In Portage, he played vibes and trumpet with ?okers Bombshells? popular dance band. Three children were born to Cham and Shirley Jo; Matthew (1959), Nancy (1961), and Patricia (1963). In 1964, the family moved to Brandon where Cham managed Black Bond Books by day and became a member of ? Continentals?laying at such nightspots as ?ney??d the North Hill Motel. By 1966, Cham realized his real love was music, and so, with the support of his family, became a full time performer, arranger and composer, and a ?se husband? generation before it became a yuppie phenomenon. Jazz performance continued as his first love ?ough Jazz in the Round at the Evans Theatre and the Brandon Winter Carnival. The musical production of ?Years of Music?ponsored by the Kinsmen Club in 1969, brought out the very best of Brandon? musical talent and was enhanced by orchestral arrangements done by Cham. Also during the late sixties, Cham took to the road with the ?ie Castle Four?d added bass guitar to trumpet and trombone talents. After two years in London during the early 70?, where Jo completed a Master? Degree in Nursing Education, Cham supported the family with his playing. They returned to Brandon and the ?m Paine Trio?me into being, with Doug Sullivan on drums and Andrew Inglis on bass. They delighted dinner and concert goers throughout the 70?, at Francos and what is now the Royal Oak Inn. He was a founding member of the Jazz Society of Brandon, as well as the B.I.G. Band ? Brandon Inter-Generational Band which brought together musicians of all ages and delighted jazz fans. Cham has taught Jazz History at Brandon University and the Nelson Campus of the University of British Columbia. He was considered a valuable resource person and an inspiration for high school teachers. He has also worked as a mentor for a number of students and always enjoyed the teaching and learning he experienced. He continued to play and devote his time to the music he loved through all his life and to pass on this love to the community. Cham was predeceased by his parents, Leslie and Ruby Paine. He is survived by his loving wife Shirley Jo; son, Matthew (Tatiana) Paine; daughters, Nancy (John) Miller and Patricia (Patrick) Boggs, as well as grandchildren; Linden Paine, Emma Collins, Christine Boss, Alexander Paine, Stephan and Tommy Miller, Tyler, Josh and Zachary Boggs. Cham is also survived by, his sister, Norma Cornwell; sisters-in-law, Grace Funk and Marion Kingston, as well as several nieces and nephews and their families. Cremation has taken place. The funeral service will be held at St. Mary? Anglican Church, 401 ?Street, Brandon, on Saturday, January 4, 2003 at 1:30 pm with Reverend Garry MacDowall officiating. The service will be followed immediately by a reception at St. Mary? Anglican Church. A private service of committal will be held following the reception at the Brandon Cemetery Columbarium. Donations in memory of Cham may be made to the Andrew Inglis Memorial Fund, School of Music, Brandon University, 270-18th Street, Brandon, MB, R7A 6A9. Arrangements are with Memories Chapel & Pre-Planning Centre, 727-0330. Memorials
Bdn.University Andrew Inglis Scholarship