David Rockefeller, last of generation in family, dies at 101

NEW YORK — David Rockefeller was the last of his generation in a famous American family that taught its children wealth brings responsibility. Even as children, he and his siblings had to set aside portions of their allowance for charitable giving.

That lesson lasted throughout his life; to mark his 100th birthday in 2015, Rockefeller gave 405 hectares of land next to a national park to the state of Maine.

Rockefeller died Monday in his sleep at his home in Pocantico Hills at age 101, according to spokesperson, Fraser P. Seitel.

He was the grandson of Standard Oil co-founder John D. Rockefeller and the youngest of five sons and one daughter born to John D. Rockefeller Jr. He was also the guardian of his family’s fortune and head of a sprawling network of family interests, both business and philanthropic, that ranged from environmental conservation to the arts.

Unlike his brothers Nelson, the governor of New York and briefly vice-president, and Winthrop, a governor of Arkansas, David Rockefeller wielded power and influence without ever seeking public office. He spurred the project that led to the World Trade Center.

Rockefeller graduated from Harvard in 1936 and received a doctorate in economics from the University of Chicago in ’40. He served in the army during the Second World War, then began climbing the ranks of management at Chase Bank. That bank merged with the Manhattan company in ’55. He was named Chase Manhattan’s president in 1961 and chair and CEO eight years later. He retired in ’81 at age 65 after a 35-year career.