WINNIPEG — Matt Bellan, who had been the longtime editor and co-owner of the Jewish Post & News, died suddenly last week at age 58 after having retired a little more than four months ago.

“Matt was found dead in the swimming pool of his apartment building Tuesday morning [April 13]… he used to swim regularly, and his body had been in the pool overnight before he was found,” said his brother Bernie Bellan, business manager and co-owner of the Jewish Post & News.

Bellan was notified of his brother Matt’s “shocking” death by police on the morning of April 14.

Matt Bellan had been diagnosed with diabetes early in life.

“He had a history of diabetic seizures, and he died most likely of a heart attack or a diabetic seizure,” said his brother, who noted that an autopsy was performed.

“The coroner’s office has told us [the family] that he had a 75 per cent blockage in an artery,” Bernie Bellan said.

On the day he died, Bellan, who continued as an occasional writer for the Jewish Post & News, attended a Passover luncheon put on by the Canadian Friends of the Hebrew University and appeared to be well.

Bellan, who especially liked to read, had been enjoying the newfound time he had to do so since his retirement as editor.

Bellan began editing the Jewish Post & News in 1982 after working for the Regina Leader-Post.

Tove Silver, office manager at the Jewish Post & News since 1989, remembers Bellan as a “very generous” man.

“My son-in-law had a liver transplant in 2007 when he was 30 years old. Matt kept asking about him and even gave them [him and her daughter] a little money to help them out,” Silver said.

“Matt also used to help a blind women out by giving her rides and helping her regularly,” she said.

But she noted that Bellan had not been well. “It was difficult for him [Matt] to control his diabetes,” Silver said.

“He was very devoted to the newspaper when he was editor… and he used to like covering the arts, including many plays and concerts in the [Jewish] community,” she added.

“Matt will be remembered for his distinguished service to our local Jewish community,” Alan Yusim, midwest region director of B’nai Brith Canada, wrote to Bernie Bellan and the Jewish Post & News on learning of Matt’s death.

“He was a passionate and valuable contributor to the Jewish and greater communities,” wrote Jeff Morry, senior programmer for the Asper Foundation.

Matt, who was born and raised in Winnipeg, was openly gay and left behind his partner of more than 30 years, Guy Frobisher.

Bernie Bellan said Frobisher “was quite shaken up by Matt’s death when notified on Tuesday morning.”

Bellan said his brother was determined to give the Jewish Post & News an online presence, and he took courses in web design and singlehandedly created and maintained the paper’s website.

“Matt would do this every Wednesday afternoon when the paper was published, and it’s something I will have to take over,” Bellan said. He added that his brother will also be remembered as a “very talented reporter” and observer of Jewish life.

In addition to brother Bernie, Bellan is survived by two sisters, Judi Waldman  in Winnipeg and Ruth Cooperstock in Victoria.