Although he first came into the public eye as the merchant king whose Bloor St. discount store is still thriving after nearly 60 years, Mirvish will probably be remembered best as the man who created the most successful theatrical empire in Canadian history.

He was born on July 24, 1914 in Colonial Beach, Va. to David and Annie Mirvish. He was given the name Yehuda, but his cousin Frances persuaded the family to Americanize it to Edwin.

Showbusiness made its presence felt shortly after the infants birth, when he was circumcised by Rabbi Moses Reuben Yoelson, whose son went on to be known as Al Jolson.

The Mirvishes moved to Toronto in 1923, where he attended King Edward Public School and Central Tech High School. He married the former Anne Maklin of Hamilton in 1940 and they had one child, David.

A series of stores on Bathurst St. that Mirvish bought in the 1940s eventually became Honest Eds the giant retail emporium.

But even more importantly for this city, he saved the Royal Alexandra Theatre from demolition, revitalized King St. W. and created a major outlet for professional theatre in this city.

He also oversaw the construction of The Princess of Wales Theatre in 1993 and continued contributing to the cultural life of Toronto until the end of his days.

During his lifetime, he received honorary degrees from five Canadian universities and Tel Aviv University, was inducted into the Canadian and American Business Halls of Fame, the Order of Ontario, the Order of Canada, and the Order of the Commander of the British Empire.

But in the hearts of Torontonians, he will remain the elfin figure who dispensed hundreds of free turkeys to the needy every Christmas, or footed the bill for a bash on his birthday every year to which thousands of happy partygoers flocked.

He would have been 93 this July 25, but for once, there wont be a birthday party.

Edwin Mirvish is survived by his wife Anne, his son David, his and his sister Lorraine. Funeral plans will be announced shortly.