So when Mr. Rockefeller died in his sleep on Monday, the tributes that followed rightly recalled his giant presence in the business, cultural and social life of New York. PhotoThe friendship between Mrs. Astor and Mr. Rockefeller was one of New York’s great mergers. When Mrs. Astor grew too frail to step into the carriage, Mr. Rockefeller bought her a two-step lift. With Mr. Rockefeller and Mrs. de la Renta behind him, Philip filed a civil suit against his own father, Mr. Marshall, aided in part by an affidavit filed by Mr. Rockefeller. In 2006, a judge granted temporary guardianship of Mrs. Astor to Mrs. de la Renta.

Source: New York Times March 25, 2017 09:23 UTC