Grande Dame of New York society; Brooke Astor dead at 105.

When Brooke Marshall was born in March of 1905 Teddy Roosevelt was president of the 45 United States and the Wright Brothers had yet to make their legendary flight. More than a century later we have less of a president, more of the United States and.........air travel.


When Brooke's husband died in the sixties he left her the Astor family fortune estimated at the time to be about 60 Million dollars. The family fortune came to be from the fur trade in the early 1800's that William Backhouse Astor parlayed into real estate, especially in New Amsterdam (Manhattan). Brooke recognized that she could help so many through giving the fortune away and turned the Vincent Astor Foundation into the largest philanthropic organization that New York had never seen. It's estimated that the foundation has given over 200 Million dollars to New York in it's deeds; The Fresh Air Fund, The Lighthouse For The Blind, The New York Public Library among it's top noted efforts. Brooke Astor was also key in Jacqueline Onassis efforts to preserve Grand Central Terminal.




Mrs. Astor walked with kings, Kissinger's, and Kennedy's. It was her warmth that is always remembered, her warmth to whomever she spoke with. Her grace and generosity of spirit are an homage to a time gone by. Her success so late in life, she rose to Grande Dame Status in New York in her eighties, is an inspiration to us all. A kindly hostess to her guests at her table, as well as to the city she loved so much.