Obituary: Brooke Astor, New York Philanthropist
August 14, 2007 | Read Time: 1 minute
The socialite and philanthropist Brooke Astor has died of pneumonia at her home in New York State at the age of 105, reports The New York Times.
Ms. Astor donated more than $195-million during her leadership of the Astor Foundation, which closed in 1997. Just as important as that money, the article reports, was the foundation’s influence with other philanthropists: “It often contributed seed money: Others followed, knowing that if Ms. Astor had given her seal of approval to a cause it was worthy of support.”
Her philanthropy was focused on New York causes, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the New York Public Library, and Rockefeller University.
Read The Chronicle’s coverage of a book about Ms. Astor.
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