Son convicted of looting Brooke Astor's money dies

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP-Excite

By JENNIFER PELTZ

NEW YORK (AP) — Anthony Marshall's trial was a lens on the lives of the famous and monied, featuring testimony from the likes of Barbara Walters and Henry Kissinger.

And it was a window into a sordid tale of greed and intergenerational strife: the son of an elderly philanthropist being accused of taking advantage of her failing mental state.

Marshall, who died Sunday, saw his aristocratic life unravel as he was convicted in 2009 of raiding the fortune of his socialite mother, Brooke Astor. Marshall was 90.

Marshall, a decorated World War II veteran who later became a diplomat and Broadway producer, died at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, said his attorney, Kenneth Warner. Marshall had had heart and other health problems for years.

FULL story at link.



FILE - In this June 21, 2013 file photo, Anthony Marshall is kissed by his wife Charlene as he arrives at criminal court in New York. Marshall, whose aristocratic life as philanthropist Brooke Astor's only child unraveled as he was convicted of raiding her fortune, has died, his lawyer said Monday, Dec. 1, 2014. Marshall was 90. Marshall, a decorated World War II veteran who later became a diplomat and Broadway producer, died Sunday morning, Nov. 30, 2014, in New York, attorney Kenneth Warner said. Warner didn't immediately have information on the cause of Marshall's death, but the 90-year-old had had heart and other health problems for years. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)


Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20141202/us--obit-anthony_marshall-538ace7012.html

[Demeter]

1. Amazing lives for mother and son

Not praiseworthy, but certainly worthy of discussion.

[markpkessinger]

2. Actually, Brooke Astor's life was quite praiseworthy, IMO . . .

Have a look at the obituary that ran in The New York Times for her:

[font size=5]Brooke Astor, 105, First Lady of Philanthropy, Dies[/font]

<. . . >

She took up that vocation <of philanthropist> after her third husband, Vincent Astor, heir to the fur and real estate fortune of John Jacob Astor, died and left about $60 million to her personally and an equal amount for a foundation “for the alleviation of human suffering.” Her husband had told her, “You’ll have fun, Pookie.”

In fact, she said she had a great deal of fun giving money away. With a wink and a sly smile, she liked to quote 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.”

It was Mrs. Astor who decided that because most of the Astor fortune had been made in New York real estate, it should be spent in New York, for New Yorkers. Grants supported the city’s museums and libraries, its boys’ and girls’ clubs, homes for the elderly, churches, landmarks and other institutions and programs.

She made it her duty to evaluate for herself every organization or group that sought help from the Vincent Astor Foundation. In her chauffeur-driven Mercedes-Benz, she traveled all over New York to visit the tenements and churches and neighborhood programs she was considering for foundation grants. Many times a welcoming lunch awaited her on paper plates and plastic folding tables set up for the occasion. She would exclaim over what she called the “delicious sauces”: deli mustard and pickle relish.

< . . . >

Mind you, I'm not saying her wealth was praiseworthy, but she was born into, as well as married into, the upper class. What can be said of her is that she certainly endeavored to use her wealth as a means of helping people and the community. And what was amazing about her - in contrast to some of our modern "philanthropists" (John D. and Catherine T. MacAurthur, anyone?), is that she didn't demand her name be attached to or made special note of by the beneficiary organizations to which she gave financial help. She was a true Grande Dame!

I work directly across the street from St. Thomas' Episcopal Church, where was held Mrs. Astor's funeral. The line to get into St. Thomas (on Fifth Avenue & 53rd Street, stretched from the door of the Church, all the way down West 53rd Street to 6th Avenue, up to 54th Street, and nearly all the way back to Fifth Avenue. And the mourners came from all walks of life. Rich or not, you don't see that kind of outpouring for a 105-year-old woman for nothing. Mrs. Astor touched many, many lives, and certainly in this town, her generosity, kindness and graciousness were legendary.

And how can anyone resist a woman who, at the age of 99, penned a Vanity Fair article on the lost art of flirting?

[NBachers]

6. Thanks for posting that- I read the whole thing. A Grand Dame and a character.

[AnnieBW]

3. Rich or Not

Anyone who steals money from their elderly parent with dementia deserves a place in Hell.

[JI7]

4. was he always that way or turned into something ugly later on ?

his own son tried to stop him from doing what he did.

[Judi Lynn]

5. She suffered a lot due to his vicious abuse. He should have died of shame.

The conditions under which she lived because of him were absolutely unpardonable.

Hard to believe ANYONE could do that to another person. What a shame no one could compel him to undo the damage.

[Historic NY]

7. In the end no U-haul will be following him to the grave..