MARION VICKAR

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MARION VICKAR Marion Vickar, a celebrated member of Winnipegs Jewish community and generous donor to Jewish organizations in Canada and Israel, died in her home on May 23, 2000. She was 85 years old. Marion was born in Hoffer, Saskatchewan, a town named in honour of her father and uncle, Israel and Mayer Hoffer. Her parents, Israel and Clara, were among the earliest pioneers to southern Saskatchewan in the early twentieth century. She attended Normal School and taught for many years before marrying Edward Vickar and moving to Fairy Glen, Saskatchewan. There the Vickars opened a general store and later moved to Melfort when Edward bought a car dealership. In Melfort, Marion was involved with the Canadian Mental Health Association, the Eastern Star, Hadassah, IODE, the Hospital Auxiliary for Saskatchewan, and many other organizations. She established programs in Saskatchewan that aided those with mental illnesses or special needs. She was also a key member of the jury in a historic trial that established the precedent in Saskatchewan of "not guilty by reason of insanity." Her activism in Jewish and civic causes continued when Edward and Marion moved to Winnipeg in 1963 and Edward purchased Community Chevrolet. Marion was the first Jewish chairwoman of The Inner Circle, Rotarys largest service club; a board member of the Morris Centre; president of her Hadassah chapter; and chairwoman of the Womens Division of the Combined Jewish Appeal. Marion and Edward were generous contributors to the State of Israel Bonds, Canadian Friends of Hebrew University, Bar Ilan University, Jewish National Fund, and Canadian Zionist Federation. They endowed the Hoffer-Vickar Chair of Orthomolecular Studies, department of psychiatry, at Ben Gurion University in Ber Sheba and built a visitors centre at the universitys campus in Sde Boker, Israel. In Winnipeg, they founded the Marion and Ed Vickar Jewish Museum of Western Canada at the Asper Jewish Community Campus. Over the years, Marion and Edward received numerous awards and honours for their philanthropy. The last award Marion received was the 1999 Deborah Award from the State of Israel Bonds. Marion was an artist, collector, and voracious reader. One of her paintings, "The Musicians", illustrated posters and a CD-jacket for the London Youth Symphony. Marion is survived by her husband of 59 years, Edward Vickar, and brother Dr. Abram Hoffer, of Victoria, BC. She is also survived by her children Elaine Sharfe of Saskatoon and Garry Vickar of St. Louis, Missouri, as well as seven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. The family asks that donations in memory of Marion Vickar be made to the Marion and Ed Vickar Jewish Museum of Western Canada Fund, C400 123 Doncaster St., Winnipeg, R3N 2B2, (204) 477-7525.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on May 27, 2000