Brooke Russell Astor, 1902–2007

©WCS

The Board of Trustees and staff of the Wildlife Conservation Society are deeply saddened by the death of our celebrated friend, generous benefactor and Life Trustee, Brooke Astor.  For half a century, Brooke played an important role in the Wildlife Conservation Society. She became a Trustee in 1969 and served on several important committees including the Development, Conservation and Executive Committees, and was Honorary Chair of the Women’s Committee. Through her support, the Vincent Astor Foundation provided significant funding for several WCS projects. Brooke’s willingness to explore new opportunities combined with her enthusiasm and vision were responsible for the development of the Bronx Zoo’s Wild Asia complex. Her Wild Asia Monorail, her World of Darkness and exhibits at the NY Aquarium continue to be enjoyed by generations of visitors. In 1978, Brooke received WCS’s distinguished Gold Medal for extraordinary service and subsequently, the Bronx Zoo’s recently restored historic Astor Court was named in her honor.  She will be remembered fondly for her kindness and dedication to the conservation of animals and their habitats. Brooke embodied the spirit of giving and showed us all the power of one individual to make a lasting difference in the lives of countless people. She set a standard for caring and contributing to the quality of life in New York City and elsewhere. She will be profoundly missed.  We extend our deepest sympathies to her son, WCS Honorary Trustee Anthony Marshall, and her entire family.

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