Brooke Astor
1902–2007 (age 105)
philanthropist
Biography
Brooke Astor used her position and imagination to enrich New York City's cultural and civic life, supporting the Public Library, the Metropolitan Museum, and affordable housing causes. Born 1902, she partnered with organizations that helped families read, learn, and thrive.
Her quiet but determined leadership inspired others to give generously, and she believed that a single kind act could ripple across a whole neighborhood. For generations, her gifts have sustained institutions that welcome people from every background, a testament to her lifelong faith in community.