‘He was passionate about everything he did’
Developer was a founder of Greenwin
Albert Latner, a successful real estate developer, philanthropist, lifelong student of religious thought and avid art collector, passed away June 11 at the age of 88, after battling Parkinson’s disease.
Latner is known for his tremendously successful business ventures. He was instrumental in the growth of Greenwin Properties, where as a founding partner he helped develop one of Toronto’s first suburbs, Don Mills. In the 1970s, he created Shiplake, a real estate company that is still privately owned and operated by the Latner family.
“He was passionate about everything he did. He was a great motivator, a visionary and a forward thinker,” said his daughter Elise.
He is also celebrated for his many contributions to both the Jewish and medical communities. His philanthropic organization, the Albert & Temmy Latner Family Foundation, has donated millions since its founding. Its projects include the Latner Family Wing of the University of Western Ontario law school and the Centre for the Treatment of Psychotrauma at Herzog Hospital in Jerusalem.
Latner was active in the development of the Temmy Latner Forest Hill Jewish Centre, named in honour of his late wife. Before his death, he was helping build the centre’s new synagogue, which is modelled on a Polish one destroyed by the Nazis during the Second World War. Latner’s Jewish heritage was a driving force in his continual efforts to foster the religious community he served.
John Kaplan, who knew Latner for more than 20 years and is one of the construction chairmen on the synagogue project, said Latner was a community-minded person who liked to be actively involved.
“He was very serious about everything that he did. It wasn’t just a simple donation to him, he very much wanted to put in writing exactly what we were going to, what our goals were, and what were we going to stand for,” he said.
To honour Latner’s efforts, Kaplan said the centre is officially changing its name to the Albert & Temmy Latner Forest Hill Jewish Centre.
Latner’s life is an exceptional tale of rags to riches. His family immigrated to Canada in the late 1800s from eastern Europe. Latner lived in Hamilton, where he was born on April 25, 1927, before moving to Toronto. His dad worked at Tip Top Tailors and the family lived in a house near Kensington Market. They lived modestly.
Latner’s humble beginnings shaped his work ethic. He dropped out of university when his wife became pregnant, and worked to provide a life for his children that was better than his own. His visionary business investments led him to become one of the wealthiest men in Canada.
Latner loved art. His collection included pieces from Picasso, Matisse, Modigliani, Calder and Moore.
Mark Damazer, head of St. Peter’s College, Oxford, who knew Latner through his supportive relationship with the university, said he had a “wonderful eye” and an impressive modern art collection.
“He was a brilliant art connoisseur despite having no formal training .... He had a brilliant intuitive sense,” Damazer said.
Although Latner found joy through art and philanthropic work, the real love of his life was his wife, Temmy. They married at Toronto’s Shaarei Shomayim Synagogue in June 1949 and had four children, Steven, Michael, Elise and Joshua.
After 44 years of marriage, Temmy died from cancer just days before her 63rd birthday. Her husband’s donations to Mount Sinai Hospital help build the Temmy Latner Centre for Palliative Care. Many close to Latner say he was never the same after losing his wife.
“I understand that from getting to know the family, Temmy was a big force in building that family. It was very, very difficult for him during those last 20 years of his life,” Kaplan said.
Latner has become a known family name in Toronto social circles. Latner’s granddaughter, Yael Kanter, is a fashion
He was a brilliant art connoisseur despite having no formal training
entrepreneur who has a vintage clothing business with her mother, Lynda Latner. Latner’s youngest son, Joshua, is a food and wine enthusiast who is no stranger to the city’s best chefs.
But with Latner’s great fortune came great family divide. Continuing lawsuits between siblings and Latner and his children strained the family dynamic. Latner’s art collection has also become intertwined in the feud.
Senior rabbi of Beth Sholom Synagogue, Rabbi Aaron Flanzraich, said Latner had been a member of the synagogue for more than 50 years. He remembers Latner for having a strong passion for humanity and his Jewish faith.
“Albert was a fascinating blend of a number of worlds. He was profoundly worldly, and a renaissance man, and obviously a very wise businessman who was deeply committed to Canadian society and values,” Flanzraich said.
Latner’s daughter says her father loved spending time at his farm, and enjoyed pruning trees and doing yoga.
“He was happiest when he was with my mother,” she said.