Jewish Philanthropist killed in car accident

[Scurrilous]

Jewish philanthropist Andrea Bronfman dies after being struck by cab in Manhattan on Monday. She was pillar of her family, Jewish community, WJC President Edgar Bronfman says

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3205475,00.html

<snip>

"Andrea Bronfman, a Jewish philanthropist and the wife of a former co-chairman of the Seagram Co., was struck by a car and killed near her Manhattan home on Monday, police said. She was 60.

The car struck Bronfman as she was crossing the street, authorities said. She died at New York Weill-Cornell Medical Center.

Police said no charges were filed against the driver who hit Bronfman.

Bronfman was married to billionaire Charles Bronfman, who was born heir to the Canadian Seagram's liquor empire and rose to be its co-chairman with his brother Edgar Bronfman Sr.

The couple were active in numerous charities, in part through the work of the Andrea and Charles Bronfman Philanthropies. Andrea Bronfman also helped organize the Gift of New York, a charity put together after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks to provide free tickets to sports and cultural events in New York to the families of the victims."

[DoYouEverWonder]

1. They didn't even charge the guy

who ran her over? What's with that?

[Scurrilous]

2. Investigation ongoing:

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/local/story/385284p-326984c.html

"Bronfman was struck just before 7 a.m. by a 2001 Lincoln Town Car as she crossed E. 65th St., near her Fifth Ave. home.

The driver of the black livery cab, Amarjit Singh, 36, was turning left onto E. 65th and apparently did not see the petite, 5-foot-2 woman until it was too late, police sources said

The London-born philanthropist suffered a lacerated liver, broken ribs, internal bleeding and pelvic injuries. She died in surgery, officials said.

Singh stopped and was not immediately charged with any violations. But the investigation was ongoing last night, police said."

[barbaraann]

3. She was involved in a huge tax scandal.

Bronfmans donate amidst tax scandal
By Jon Bricker, Varsity Staff

A soon-to-be-announced donation to U of T (Toronto) is being overshadowed by a messy tax scandal which saw $2.2 billion in family trust funds connected to the donor leave Canada untaxed.

Seagram co-chair Charles Bronfman and wife Andrea will take centre stage on Wednesday when their gift of $2 million to the university becomes official. But just last week, members of the Bronfman family who control distilling giant Seagram were also the central figures in a federal court room in Toronto.

Spectators in the court room heard the lawyers representing an average Canadian taxpayer tell a tale about a 1991 advance tax ruling which allowed family trusts totaling $2.2 billion belonging to the Seagram branch of the Bronfman family move to the United States tax-free.

...

It is estimated that the federal coffers lost approximately $750 million in revenue as a result of the contested ruling.
...
http://varsity.utoronto.ca:16080/archives/118/dec01/news/bronfman.html


Also, it seems that she must have died within hours of the electoral victory of the Conservatives. Just a coincidence, I suppose.

[PennyK]

4. She helped to start Birthright

That's the program that pays for Jewish kids to visit Israel (muy daughter just went)...her memorial was held at my husband's temple. B'nai Jeshrun.