MORLEY BLANKSTEIN FRAIC, MSA, RCA

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MORLEY BLANKSTEIN FRAIC, MSA, RCA March 30, 1924 - June 16, 2015 It is with great sadness that the family of Morley Blankstein announces his unexpected passing on June 16, 2015. Morley is survived by his wife, Marjorie (Rady), of almost 63 years; children - Carol and Barry McArton, Dan Blankstein and Sara Israels, Linda Blankstein and Mesut Senoglu, Leo and Mary Blankstein, and Max Blankstein; grandchildren - Ian and Stephanie, Sydney and Graham, Anna, Ben, Leah, Jack and Deniz; and his brother Dr. Fred Blankstein of California. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. Morley Blankstein was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba on March 30, 1924, the son of Max Zev and Lena (Laika Goldin) Blankstein. Both Max and Lena were born in Odessa; Max in 1877 and Lena in 1892. Max came to Canada in 1904. His first wife, Esther Goldin, and two children, Verna and Wolfe, followed shortly after. Esther passed away in 1906. Max then married Esther's sister Lena in 1907. They had five children together - Cecil, Eva (Dolgin), Evelyn, Fred and Morley. Lena tended their home while Max supported the family with a successful career as a prominent architect. Both were actively involved in many Jewish and Zionist organizations. Max was Western Canada's, and possibly Canada's, first Jewish architect. He was a member of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada and designed (among many others) the Uptown Theatre on Academy Road and the Zimmerman Building at 669 Main Street. He had his office in the family home and Morley fondly remembered opportunities to visit construction sites with his father. Morley attended Champlain, Machray, and St. John's Tech High School. He took pre-architecture courses at the University of Manitoba from 1941 to 1942, and then joined the Royal Canadian Air Force. He trained as a pilot and was placed on the R.C.A.F. reserve in 1945. He returned to the University of Manitoba and graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture in 1949. For two years, he did post graduate studies in Chicago at the Illinois Institute of Technology. He studied with Ludwig Mies Van de Rohe in Architecture and Ludwig Hilberseimer in Regional Planning, receiving a Master of Science in Architecture in 1952. The training, mentorship and experience he received in Chicago significantly influenced his philosophy of architecture and shaped his professional career. Returning to Winnipeg, Morley joined Green Blankstein Russell as an Associate and senior designer. He was responsible for, among other projects, the design of their office at 222 Osborne St. N., and Winnipeg's new General Post Office. Morley, with Isadore Coop, designed the firm's entry for the National Art Gallery competition in Ottawa. The entry received First Prize. In 1955, Morley started his own practice, and the firm eventually became known as "Number Ten Architectural Group". The firm won numerous awards including First Prize for the Mendel Art Gallery and Conservatory in Saskatoon, Second Award in the Alcan Architectural Competition, and Honourable Mention for the Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Vancouver. In 1962 they won a National Design Award from The Canadian Housing Design Council. Some of the major projects with which Morley was involved as a partner-in-charge of design and production include: The Zambia Institute of Technology in Kitwe, Zambia; the City of Winnipeg Transit Garage, Office and Maintenance Complex; Lions Manor Senior Citizen Residence Complex; Air Canada Maintenance Hangars and Stores; Sharon Home of Winnipeg; Peguis Pavilion in Kildonan Park; Pilot Training Building for the Canadian Forces Base in Portage-la-Prairie, and renovations and additions to the St. Amant Centre. Morley became a Fellow of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada in 1966 and was elected to the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts in 1975. He was awarded Honorary Fellow of the Technion - Israel Institute of Technology in 1981. In 1985 Morley retired as a partner in the firm but served as a consultant to Number Ten Architectural Group until 1993. A busy professional life did not preclude Morley from active community involvement. He served as President of the Manitoba Theatre Centre, President of the YMHA Jewish Community Centre, President of the Glendale Golf and Country Club, Vice President of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts and Vice President of the Age and Opportunity Centre Inc. Living Arrangements Committee, served on the Board of the Canadian Design Council, and was a Member of Council for the Community Planning Association of Canada. In 1966, Morley was appointed Honorary Aide-de-Camp (Civil) to His Honour, Richard S. Bowles, Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba. Morley also served on the Board of Governors of the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba, the Rose and Max Rady Jewish Community Centre, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, and The Sharon Home. He was a member of the Advisory Board of the Manitoba Theater Centre. The family wishes to extend appreciation to the staff on the 4th Floor South at the Victoria General Hospital for their warmth, kindness and care. If desired, contributions may be made to the Morley Blankstein Lectureship Fund at the Technion in Israel (Canadian office telephone number 1-800-935-8864), Canadian Friends of Ben Gurion University of the Negev Cyber Security Research Centre (204-942-7347), or the Evelyn Blankstein Athletic Assistance Fund at the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba, or to the charity of your choice.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jun 20, 2015