Legendary Dallas Philanthropist Passes Away At 83
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DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - The Dallas Opera announced the death Tuesday of Margot Winspear at an assisted living facility in Dallas following a long illness.
Winspear was 83.
The Chairman of The Dallas Opera, Steve Suellentrop released the following statement.
"It was with profound sorrow that The Dallas Opera learned of the passing of Margot Winspear, the late Bill Winspear's wife, partner and muse; the much-loved mother of five children and grandmother to many more. Although these were the roles of which she was undoubtedly most proud, Margot was also a dedicated and passionate music lover, a longtime member of The Dallas Opera Board, and an extraordinary benefactor who, along with her husband, gave the history-making $42 million dollar gift that sparked the construction of their namesake opera house at the AT&T Performing Arts Center. It was a long-held dream come true.
"Besides crucial leadership roles in the arts in Dallas, Margot and Bill Winspear established an endowment for UNT's College of Music and generously supported young, emerging talents, including the internationally renowned soprano Latonia Moore. They were instrumental in the construction of UNT's performance hall at the Murchison Performing Arts Center and donated additional millions to UT Southwestern Medical Center for Alzheimer's research.
"They were inspirational in other ways as well: they loved life, remembered where they came from, sought the best for their community, gave generously and wisely, and cherished each other always.
"Our hearts go out to Don and Ellen Winspear and to all the grieving friends and family members. We will never forget Margot's warmth, her quiet grace, or her ever-present smile.
"She was, and is, irreplaceable."
The nonprofit AT&T Performing Arts Center also released a statement saying it's mourning the loss as well.
Mrs. Winspear was an arts patron, philanthropist, and namesake of the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House. The Winspears' passion for the arts and The Dallas Opera was reflected in a $42 million gift to the Center's Capital Campaign. While both Mr. and Mrs. Winspear attended the Center's groundbreaking, Mr. Winspear passed away in 2007 before the opera house was completed.
"The Winspears played a leading role in the creation of AT&T Performing Arts Center and its iconic venues," said Matrice Ellis-Kirk, a founding member and Board Chair for the AT&T Performing Arts Center. "Thanks to the generosity of Margot and Bill, our city's opera house is ranked among the finest in the world. She was a lovely woman and our thoughts and prayers are with her family."
Funeral arrangements for Margot Winspear are pending. A memorial service is being planned with details to be announced at a later date.
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