Saidye Rosner Bronfman

Saidye Rosner Bronfman (9 December 1896 – 6 July 1995) was a Canadian-Jewish philanthropist. Her husband, Samuel Bronfman (1891–1971), purchased Joseph E. Seagram and Sons Limited, that became the Seagram Company. The family took a leading role in the Canadian-Jewish community.

Early life Bronfman was born in Plum Coulee, Manitoba to well-to-do Jewish parents. Her father, Samuel Rosner (1871–1952), was a businessman from Bessarabia, who emigrated to England before settling in Canada. He also served a two-year term as mayor of Plum Coulee. Saidye married Samuel Bronfman (1891–1971) in 1922 and two years later they moved to Montreal, Canada. In 1943, she was given the title of Officer of the Order of the British Empire by King George VI of England for her establishment of the Jewish branch of the Canadian Red Cross Society. This annual award for excellence in the fine crafts is now administered by the Canada Council for the Arts. The Saidye Bronfman Centre for the Arts (now known as the Segal Centre) was named for her and donated to the community by her children in 1968. The couple spent time in The US in Manhattan and at their estate in Tarrytown, New York. Saidye Bronfman died in Montreal at age 98. Today, the Westmount home is occupied by her grandson, Stephen Bronfman and his family. Both Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Foreign Minister Shimon Peres sent personal condolence notes to the family.