Jewish American Heritage Month

Posted By richards on August 31, 2014

By Joel Goldenberg, August 27th, 2014

Prominent Montreal philanthropist and businessman Irwin Beutel died Tuesday Aug. 19 in his 78th year after a brief illness. Mr. Beutel, whose funeral was held this past Friday at Paperman & Sons, was held in great esteem in the community not only for his philanthropy, but for his community leadership and dedicated pro-Israel stance. Mr. Beutel was president of the Montreal National Office and Eastern Region of Canadian Friends of Tel Aviv University (CFTAU) , and was also Montreal president of the Jewish National Fund; national president of Canadian Friends of Magen David Adom; national chair of the Canadian Institute of Jewish Research (CIJR); long serving board member of Ville St-Laurents United Talmud Torah, whose campus was named after Beutels parents, and past president of Kiwanis Montreal, St. George Club. Tributes poured in for Mr. Beutel. Tel Aviv University lauded him as a longstanding friend and generous supporter who will be greatly missed. The Canadian Friends of Tel Aviv University stated that in his gentle and elegant way, Irwin touched the lives of many. He loved children, youth and young adults, and they gravitated to him. His meaningful contributions to Jewish and university education were both legendary and transformative. His passion for Israel was unequalled. Irwin will be profoundly missed by his CFTAU family, and his many friends in Montreal and Israel. Mr. Beutel was an executive member of CFTAU and became president in 2011. His most recent gift enabled the full renovation of the entrance hall to the universitys Sackler Faculty of Medicine, a world renowned faculty. Mr. Beutel was also a member of Prime Minister Stephen Harpers delegation to Israel in January. A message from CIJRs Prof. Frederick Krantz, Baruch Cohen and Jack Kincler said: The generous and resourceful head of our board for well over a decade, Irwin was a key force in helping to build CIJR into the world-class pro-Israel academic think-tank which it is today. Irwin was a truly good man and an unfailing friend,a real Mensch in the deepest and best sense of the term. Chabad of Westmont posted a message that Mr. Beutels passing leaves a void in our hearts and our community. He was dedicated to Jewish education and continuity, and supported a myriad of Jewish schools and outreach projects, including the acclaimed Chabad of Westmount Irwin Beutel Lecture Series. Mr. Beutel is survived by brother Austin and sister in law Nani, sister Harriet, brother Morty and sister-in-law Judy, and many nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews.n

Click here to see the full newspaper. Updated on August 27, 2014

Read this article:

Prominent Montreal philanthropist dies at 78

Category: Talmud
Tags: