MACGILLIVRAY-AMAR- Mrs. Charlotte MacGillivray-Amar, age 97 years, a resident of Palm Beach, Florida, passed away peacefully at her residence with her loving husband Leon by her side on Saturday, April 25, 2015. Charlotte was born on September 30, 1917 in Port Arthur, Ontario, she was the only daughter of the late Doctor and Mrs. Thomas Dow MacGillivray of Port Arthur, Ontario and granddaughter of the late Very Reverend Malcolm MacGillivray, Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Canada. Charlotte lived in London, England and had her apartment near Marble Arch and Park Lane, she was the first model in London to introduce photographic modeling, which was just starting in New York for magazines such as Vogue, Vanity Fair, Town and Country, Mayfair, etc.

Charlotte was the Honorary Chief and Patron of the MacGillivray Pipe Band. The band was a gift to her from her loving father on the occasion of her birth in 1917. Throughout the years she has shared a warm and close relationship with the band and has always been an avid supporter.



Charlotte married Frank X. Murphy of Fort William, Ontario at Saint Patrick’s Rectory on July 17, 1940. Upon the death of Mr. Murphy in 1958, Charlotte was the first woman member of the Canadian Press for many years. Charlotte was President and owner of the Fort William Times Journal and also President and owner of the James Murphy Coal and Oil Company.



Charlotte financed and renovated the entire building of the Thunder Bay Historical Museum, she also financed and renovated the new library of the museum in honor of James Murphy her father-in-law, a well know pioneer at the Lakehead.



Charlotte was well known at the Lakehead for her many charitable works, among them: Saint Joseph’s Orphanage, The Thunder Bay Historical Museum, McKellar Hospital, Port Arthur General Hospital, Saint Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, and the Frank Murphy Recreational Centre….St. Patrick’s Cathedral has a beautiful, large stained glass window dedicated in loving memory of Frank X. Murphy and his family.



In the early 1950’s, Charlotte was instrumental in having cerebral palsy children recognized and started a school for them which was in the Baptist Church at Brodie and Donald Streets. This has manifested itself through the years and now a center for these special children has been given by Mr. and Mrs. Amar in Palm Beach, Florida which looks after about 100 children, ages one to five, with about fifty in staff, including volunteer, the center is open six days a week all year around. Charlotte personally looked after the children at these centers, her interest and welfare for these children has lasted well over 60 years.

Family was all important to Charlotte, who was the last of her generation. She was the Matriach of two families: the MacGillivrays and the Murphys, always keeping in touch with them all and wanting them to be aware of their heritage.

Charlotte married her second husband James V. Igoe of New Jersey and New York, who predeceased her in 1989 and upon his death, Charlotte became one of the few women to own a seat on the New York Stock Exchange, a position she held for many years.

Charlotte and Leon Amar were married in Palm Beach, Florida in 1993 and together they have been very involved in many charitable organizations in the West Palm Beach area. The Easer Seal Building in Palm Beach was given and designed by Charlotte’s husband Leon Amar. It was so well thought of that Mr. Jim Williams, President of Easter Seal in the United States said “in the future, all buildings for Easter Seal will be modeled after the Igoe-Amar Child Development Centre in Palm Beach, Florida”. Leon and Charlotte were honored in Washington, D.C. as the 2003 Easter Seal “philanthropists of the year” by the Easter Seal National Board of Directors of the United States, including Mr. Samuel H. Howard and Mr. James E. Williams Jr.

Charlotte is survived by her husband Leon Amar of New York and Palm Beach as well as by several MacGillivray nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her parents, Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Dow MacGillivray, and by two brothers: Colonel George Brown MacGillivray Commander of Clan MacGillivray and Ian Callum MacGillivray.



Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, May 6, 2015 when family and friends will gather at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church for services at 11:00 a.m. with Rev. Joyce Yanishewski presiding.

Charlotte will be laid to rest with her first husband Frank X. Murphy in St. Patrick’s R.C. Cemetery.

Arrangements are in care of the Sargent & Son Funeral Directors, 21 N. Court Street. On-line condolences may be made at www.sargentandson.com.

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