He Played the Long Game: David Rockefeller's Philanthropy and Legacy
After David Rockefeller’s death on March 20, at the age of 101, the New York Times ran a full-page obituary about his life and career. The article made much of his time at Chase Bank, but gave only passing attention to Rockefeller’s long and varied involvements in philanthropy. It was an odd oversight, given that the last remaining grandson of John D. Rockefeller stands as a key figure in the annals of modern civil society. What’s more, according to those who knew him well, philanthropy “was the thing that gave him the most satisfaction in his life,” as Stephen Heintz put it.
Heintz got to know David Rockefeller over 15 years while running the Rockefeller Brothers Fund—the foundation that David’s generation of Rockefellers created in 1940. He found that for all Rockefeller’s passions—such as business, art, Maine, and New York City—philanthropy was one that he seemed most devoted to. “Philanthropy is a joyful experience,” Rockefeller once told Heintz, adding: “It’s important we use our heads but also follow our hearts. . .