Glasgow-born Marjorie Ziff threw herself into supporting her adopted city of Leeds, making significant donations to its institutions and organisations through the Marjorie and Arnold Ziff Charitable Foundation.

Leeds University awarded her an honorary Doctorate of Laws in 2005, and in January 2011 she was made an MBE in the New Year’s Honours List in recognition of her philanthropic services to the Leeds community.

The philanthropist, who has died aged 93, was the elder child of Anne King, née Deyong and Jack Morrison, who had built up a chain of ladies-wear shops — Paige Gowns and the Houndsditch Warehouse — which was later sold to Great Universal Stores.

After completing her schooling, Marjorie graduated from the Royal College of Music.

An accomplished pianist and former vice-president of the university’s music department, she was very involved in the creation and growth of the world renowned Leeds International Piano Competition and throughout her life she continued to play the piano to a high standard.

She was a major supporter of many local projects, including the restoration appeal for Leeds Parish Church. She was appointed president of the Friends of Roundhay Park, a charitable organisation formed in 1994, in recognition of her communal work.

She acted as a representative for the Yorkshire Evening Post in local competitions and award ceremonies. She was also a very keen and competitive tennis player.

In 1952 Marjorie married Leeds businessman Arnold Ziff and they had three children; Michael, Ann and Edward. In 1959 Arnold inherited the Stylo shoe empire — later renamed Barratts — and Town Centre Securities (TCS), a mixed use developmentproperty company. Alongside her husband, Marjorie played a pivotal role in its creation.

Among the company’s most significant developments was the Merrion Centre in Leeds, which she officially opened on her 35th birthday in 1964. She returned to the centre in 2019 — at the age of 90 — to launch a month-long exhibition about the building, which has frequently hosted the local school Variety Club to support disabled and disadvantaged students.

Apart from her charitable support for many local and international groups, Marjorie was a longstanding Friend of the University of Leeds and a trustee of the Marjorie and Arnold Ziff Charitable Foundation, founded in 1966.

She and her husband laid the groundwork for many of their charitable activities. Together in 1981 they began supporting the Leeds International Piano Competition in whose launch Marjorie, herself, had played an important part.

Following Arnold’s death in 2004 after 52 years of marriage, Marjorie continued to dedicate her life to their joint philanthropic work.

This included support for visitor and cultural attractions in the city, such as Leeds Art Gallery and Tropical World, both of which would be re-designated in the couple’s names in 2007 and 2008.

In 2006 the Marjorie and Arnold Ziff Community Centre received a substantial donation from the family foundation and businesses. Marjorie opened this building on her 80th birthday in 2009.

Now armed with her Leeds doctorate, Marjorie returned to the university in 2007 for a turf-cutting ceremony as work began on the university’s £16million Marjorie and Arnold Ziff Building.

In the same year that she received her doctorate, she became the first woman president of the Yorkshire Clubs for Young People. A sculpture was made of her by royal sculptor, Frances Segelman in 2011.

Her son Edward Ziff offers a personal tribute: “Marjorie cared deeply about her family and the community around her, both Jewish and non-Jewish. She became very involved with WIZO, the Leeds Jewish Welfare Board, of which she was a patron, and Lifeline for the Old in Jerusalem.

She was president of both the Association of Boys Clubs of West Yorkshire and the Canal Gardens at Roundhay Park, Leeds.

All these charities remained very close to her heart throughout her life, and she actively worked for them as a volunteer, arranging coffee mornings, delivering meals on wheels, and more recently, becoming a major fundraiser for them.

“She remained active throughout her life right until the very end. She was amazing in her attitude and outlook and always very positive and upbeat. She lived a full and wonderful life.

She had an amazing network of friends and family with whom she kept in touch regularly. She was devout in her observance of Judaism and was an immensely proud Zionist. Her kindness and generosity of spirit made her a true Eshet Chayil.

“Her contribution and devotion to the city and community of Leeds has been inspiring and is a quality that we — her children, grandchildren and, I am sure, her great-grandchildren — will endeavour to continue”.

His brother Michael adds: “My mother had a great sense of humour. The day that I was running my last marathon in 2015, she phoned me up at the starting line and said that she’d ordered me a taxi — it was much quicker and easier than running 26 and a half miles!

“She was always interested in what her grandchildren did, as well as her children, and very proud of their achievements.

"Given that her husband Arnold together with Edward, myself and some of her grandchildren, were interested in Leeds United, she always used to say that the United she liked was the United Synagogue and was totally uninterested in Leeds United!”

Marjorie Ziff is survived by her children, Michael, Ann Manning, Edward, 13 grandchildren, 31 great grandchildren and her extended family.

Marjorie Ziff: born May 26, 1929. Died April 3, 2023