Montreal philanthropist Renata Hornstein died Friday at the age of 88.
The patron of fine arts died peacefully at home, less than three months after the passing of her husband, Michal Hornstein, who died in April at the age of 95.
The Polish couple, who moved to Quebec and settled in Montreal in 1951 after fleeing the Nazi regime, gave hundreds of artworks to the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. Together, they amassed a vast collection of Renaissance paintings and raised millions to restore and expand the museum. In 2012, they donated a collection of 80 works of old masters worth more than $70 million dollars.
The new Michal and Renata Hornstein Pavilion for Peace will be inaugurated at the museum this coming November.
The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts will launch the Michael and Renata Hornstein Pavilion for Peace this coming November. The museum entrance is located at 2075 Bishop Street in Montreal, on Tuesday, June 7, 2016.
The scale and scope of Hornstein’s philanthropic works mean that her death is one of a prominent Montrealer, Mayor Denis Coderre said in a press release addressing her passing.
“The life of Mrs. Hornstein and her late husband Mr. Michal Hornstein is characterized by a great passion for the areas of health, education and the arts,” said Coderre. “The commitment of the Hornsteins demonstrates the exceptional generosity of these outstanding citizens for the city.”
Hornstein and her husband also made significant donations to several hospitals and universities in the city.
They were benefactors of the Montreal Heart Institute, the Montreal General Hospital, Hôpital Notre Dame and the Jewish General Hospital.
Thanks to their generosity, the Université de Montréal superhospital, CHUM, in particular, was able to create a centre specializing in Parkinson’s disease, known as the Renata Hornstein Evaluation Centre.
A funeral service will take place at Paperman & Sons (3888 Jean-Talon St. W.) Sunday, July 24 at 3 p.m. Contributions in Hornstein’s memory can be made to the Renata Hornstein Evaluation Center at the André Barbeau Movement Disorders Unit.
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