Robert W. DeForest

1848–1931 (age 83)

Lawyer

Biography

Robert W. DeForest devoted his legal career to serving both clients and the broader public, lending his skills to philanthropic institutions and civic boards that shaped New York City at the turn of the century. He brought that counsel to the State Tenement House Commission and other reform efforts, helping to advance humane housing, cleaner streets, and improved public spaces.

Throughout his life he remained a steady steward of charitable causes, ensuring cultural institutions and relief agencies had the resources they needed to support families and neighborhoods. His quiet leadership left a legacy of thoughtful civic engagement that endures in the city he cherished.

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Also buried at Memorial Cemetery of St. John's Church

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