Rest In Peace: Brooke Astor
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Socialite Brooke Astor, The Park Avenue doyenne of philanthropy, died earlier this week at age 105 of pneumonia. Recently, there has been turmoil in Astor’s inner circle regarding her living conditions and alleged neglect by her son, Anthony D. Marshall. Astor’s friend Annette de la Renta, wife of designer Oscar de la Renta, was appointed by courts to care for Astor in her final years along with JPMorgan Chase & Company to handle her finances. Her court-appointed guardians filed legal papers saying that the will she signed in 1997 should be the valid one. They argue that she was not mentally competent and was unduly influenced by Marshall when she signed her last will in 2002. Astor’s estate is worth $130 million, in addition to a trust valued at $60 million, left by Astor’s late husband, Vincent Astor. The ugly battle is now going to be duked out in court by her son and Astor’s appointed camp. Martha Stewart, , Whoopi Goldberg, Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg, Nancy Reagan and former President George Bush and his wife, Barbara are expected to attend her funeral services. Let’s hope the grand dame of society will find peace in her final resting place.