Court Battles Expected Over Brooke Astor's Charity Bequests

By Maria Di Mento

Brooke Astor, the philanthropist and New York socialite who gave away nearly $195-million over her lifetime, died of pneumonia last week. She was 105.

Several nonprofit causes will probably benefit from her estate, but which ones will get how much is not yet clear and her bequests are likely to be snared in court battles.

Her personal fortune was said to be approximately $130-million at her death, and a trust left to Mrs. Astor by her late husband, Vincent Astor, was worth more