Regina lawyer and philanthropist dead at 87

Prominent Regina lawyer and philanthropist Morris Shumiatcher died Thursday at the age of 87.

Shumiatcher had a long and distinguished career as a Saskatchewan lawyer. He came to the province in the mid-1940s, to act as a senior legal counsellor to Tommy Douglas's CCF government. He moved into private practice in 1949.

Shumiatcher was regarded as brilliant lawyer, especially in areas of constitutional law.

One of his cases changed matrimonial property law in the country.

Shumiatcher was also a prominent member of Regina's Jewish community. Beth Jacob Synagogue president Mary Jane Katz remembers him as a community-minded man right down to the days where he'd get on his hands and knees to scrub off the Albert Street bridge.

"He really exemplified all the qualities that we in the Jewish community value. He was a great humanitarian. He was a caring person. He was generous of spirit as well as being generous in other ways."

Shumiatcher's generosity is remembered by dozens of Saskatchewan arts groups, and its universities. He and his wife Jacqui donated millions over the years.

Larry Paysen works with the Claybank Brick Plant National Historic Site in southwest Saskatchewan. He says the family's donations there exceeded $50,000.

"It's going to be quite a loss to the province. He was an incredible individual and his philanthropy was just staggering."

Morris Shumiatcher spent his last few years in a care home as he battled Alzheimer's disease. Funeral services will be held Sunday morning at Regina's Beth Jacob synagogue.