Marjorie Esther Ziff ( Morrison; 26 May 1929 – 3 April 2023) was a British philanthropist recognised for her contributions to the Jewish community in

Leeds Leeds is a city in West Yorkshire, England. It is the largest settlement in Yorkshire and the administrative centre of the City of Leeds Metropolitan Borough, which is the second most populous district in the United Kingdom. It is built aro ...

. She was the wife of businessperson and philanthropist

Arnold Ziff Israel Arnold Ziff Order of the British Empire, OBE (31 January 1927 – 14 July 2004) was a British businessman and philanthropist, who particularly donated to good causes within Leeds, West Yorkshire. He was made a Freeman of the City of Londo ...

Career

Ziff supported many local and international groups through charitable donations and was a trustee of the Marjorie and Arnold Ziff Charitable Foundation, founded in 1966. She was a life patron of the Leeds Jewish Welfare Board, and an honorary graduate and longstanding friend of the

University of Leeds The University of Leeds is a public research university in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It was established in 1874 as the Yorkshire College of Science. In 1884, it merged with the Leeds School of Medicine (established 1831) and was renamed Y ...

. Marjorie and her husband Arnold began supporting the

Leeds International Piano Competition The Leeds International Piano Competition, informally known as The Leeds and formerly the Leeds International Pianoforte Competition, is an international piano competition which takes place every three years in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It ...

in 1981. Marjorie was the President of The Friends of Roundhay Park, a charitable organisation formed in 1994, which is dedicated to the preservation of

Roundhay Park Roundhay Park in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, is a large urban park situated on the north-east edge of the city, bordered by the suburb of Roundhay to the west, Oakwood, Leeds, Oakwood to the south and the A6120 road, A6120 outer ring road t ...

in Leeds. She has also acted as a representative for the ''

Yorkshire Evening Post The ''Yorkshire Evening Post'' (''YEP'') is a regional daily newspaper covering the City of Leeds. Founded in 1890 it is published by Yorkshire Post Newspapers, National World. Despite being having coverage and being sold across West Yorkshire ...

'' in local competitions and award ceremonies.

Buildings

On 29 May 1964, her 35th birthday, Marjorie opened

Merrion Centre, Leeds The Merrion Centre is a shopping centre located in the Arena Quarter area of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. Since opening in 1964, the centre has been owned and managed by Town Centre Securities. Originally open air, the centre had a roof ins ...

. In 2019, on the 55th anniversary of its opening, she returned there to open a month-long exhibition about the building. The Centre has frequently been used as a location for the local school Variety Club in order to benefit disabled and disadvantaged students. In 2005, the Marjorie and Arnold Ziff Community Centre was opened in Moortown in recognition of their contributions made to the Jewish community in Leeds. In 2006, the

announced that the Marjorie and Arnold Ziff Building would be funded by a substantial donation from the family foundation and businesses, in memory of Arnold Ziff, who had died in 2004. In 2009, Marjorie opened this building, on her 80th birthday. In 2007, Leeds Art Gallery was refurbished and the Queen's Gallery was renamed the Arnold and Marjorie Ziff Gallery in recognition of their patronage of the arts. In July 2008, Tropical World in Leeds was renamed ''The Arnold and Marjorie Ziff Tropical World'' to recognise their significant financial contribution.

Personal life and death

Marjorie and

were married for 52 years and had three children together; Ann, Michael and Edward. They had 13 grandchildren. Ziff died on 3 April 2023, at the age of 93.

Honours and recognition

Ziff received an MBE in the

2011 New Year Honours The New Year Honours 2011 were announced on 31 December 2010 in the United Kingdom,United Kingdom: New Zealand,New Zealand"New Year Honours 2011"(14 January 2011) 2 '' New Zealand Gazette'' 55. The Cook IslandsThe Cook Islands: Grenada,Grenada: ...

for her services to the community in Leeds. In 2011 Frances Segelman, known for her sculptures of celebrities, made a bronze sculpture of Ziff. The

awarded Ziff an honorary

doctorate of laws A Doctor of Laws (LL.D.) is a doctoral degree in legal studies. The abbreviation LL.D. stands for ''Legum Doctor'', with the double “L” in the abbreviation referring to the early practice in the University of Cambridge to teach both canon law ...

(LL.D.) on 14 July 2005, describing her as "a staunch supporter of the city" and "a longstanding supporter and friend of the University".

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ziff, Marjorie 1929 births 2023 deaths People from Leeds English Jews Jewish women philanthropists Jewish British philanthropists English women philanthropists English philanthropists Members of the Order of the British Empire