Remembering philanthropist Bruce Corwin, 82

(Photo courtesy of Dahl Photographers)

Philanthropist and chairman and CEO of Metropolitan Theaters, Bruce Corwin passed away in Los Angeles on Nov 4. He was 82.

A champion of Jewish and progressive causes, the life-long Angeleno was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at the age of 28, yet he never let it dim his optimism.

In a Facebook post, his wife, Toni Cooper Corwin wrote, “To honor Bruce, the family would encourage you to perform one extra act of kindness over the weekend. We were all blessed by his presence.”

Corwin was a past president and board member at Temple Emanuel Beverly Hills and Rabbi Emerita Laura Geller shared with SoCal Jewish News the following about Corwin’s legacy.

“I became the  senior rabbi at Temple Emanuel because of Bruce. He was the head of the search committee when I was being considered for the position in 1994. He really championed me at a time when there were a lot of people who were not ready to hire a woman as a senior rabbi. And he just bravely said ‘It’s time.’ Because of him and with the support of Toni, he was able to convince the search committee that the Temple could handle the novelty, the challenge and the promise of a different kind of rabbi.

“I owe him so much. He loved rabbis. He was also a real mentor to lots of women. He was always optimistic. He believed in Martin Luther King’s ‘the arc of the universe bends towards justice,’ even when it seemed like that wasn’t true.

“If you ever went to his home or office, there were pictures of him with so many progressive political leaders he and Toni supported before they became household names. He was a cheerleader for everything that is good in the world, including the organizations that he imagined, like the Children’s Discovery Museum, or Cube, or the work he did for Martin Luther King hospital.

“His favorite liturgical text was ‘L’Dor v’ Dor’ – from generation to generation. He really believed in that. He honored his parents and adored his children and grandchildren.

“He was this city, and honestly, this country would be a less hopeful place if it weren’t for his passion, energy, commitment, optimism, and real love.”

A memorial service was held on Nov. 7 at Temple Emanuel.