William E. Sauro/The New York Times
Brooke Astor 1902 - 2007
Updated: Oct. 8, 2009
Brooke Astor, who died on Aug. 13 at age 105, reigned over New York society for decades, eschewing pretension and devoting much of her time to charitable causes. She was known as New York City’s unofficial first lady, establishing her presence in both the luxury apartments of Fifth Avenue and the tenements of East Harlem, using her inherited millions to help the less fortunate.
Mrs. Astor’s money came from her third husband, Vincent Astor, who was heir to the fur and real estate fortune of John Jacob Astor and who when he died left about $60 million to her personally, and an equal amount for a foundation “for the alleviation of human suffering.” She decided that because most of the fortune had been made in New York, it should be spent in New York, and her grants supported museums and libraries, homes for the elderly, churches and other institutions and programs. She enjoyed quoting the leading character in Thornton Wilder’s play “The Matchmaker,” saying, “Money is like manure; it’s not worth a thing unless it’s spread around.”
A very loud public battle among her family members over her care and her riches began in 2006. A grandson, Philip Marshall, accused her only son, Anthony D. Marshall, of neglecting her care and exploiting her to enrich himself and his wife, Charlene. Her son denied the accusations. The dispute went on for months, until the parties announced a settlement, avoiding a court fight. But later criminal charges were filed against Mr. Marshall, charging him with fraud, grand larceny, criminal possession of stolen property and falsifying business records -- all surrounding his mother's fortune. On Oct 8, 2009 Mr. Marshall was found guilty of one of two first-degree grand larceny charges, the most serious he faced.
Brooke Astor 1902 - 2007
Updated: Oct. 8, 2009
Brooke Astor, who died on Aug. 13 at age 105, reigned over New York society for decades, eschewing pretension and devoting much of her time to charitable causes. She was known as New York City’s unofficial first lady, establishing her presence in both the luxury apartments of Fifth Avenue and the tenements of East Harlem, using her inherited millions to help the less fortunate.
Mrs. Astor’s money came from her third husband, Vincent Astor, who was heir to the fur and real estate fortune of John Jacob Astor and who when he died left about $60 million to her personally, and an equal amount for a foundation “for the alleviation of human suffering.” She decided that because most of the fortune had been made in New York, it should be spent in New York, and her grants supported museums and libraries, homes for the elderly, churches and other institutions and programs. She enjoyed quoting the leading character in Thornton Wilder’s play “The Matchmaker,” saying, “Money is like manure; it’s not worth a thing unless it’s spread around.”
A very loud public battle among her family members over her care and her riches began in 2006. A grandson, Philip Marshall, accused her only son, Anthony D. Marshall, of neglecting her care and exploiting her to enrich himself and his wife, Charlene. Her son denied the accusations. The dispute went on for months, until the parties announced a settlement, avoiding a court fight. But later criminal charges were filed against Mr. Marshall, charging him with fraud, grand larceny, criminal possession of stolen property and falsifying business records -- all surrounding his mother's fortune. On Oct 8, 2009 Mr. Marshall was found guilty of one of two first-degree grand larceny charges, the most serious he faced.
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