Geraldine Rockefeller Dodge

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ethel Geraldine Rockefeller Dodge (April 3, 1882, Tioga County, New York–August 13, 1973, Newark, New Jersey) was the youngest child of Standard Oil tycoon, William Rockefeller and his wife, Almira Geraldine Goodsell. As an adult, she was widely known as Geradine R. Dodge and, as a generous benefactor to community and charity efforts. Giralda Farms was the name given to her stables and kennels, and it was known internationally for horse and dog shows. Saint Hubert's Giralda became her refuge for injured and lost animals. She also was a great patron of the arts.

In 1907, she married Marcellus "Marcy" Hartley Dodge (February 28, 1881–December 25, 1963), president of The Remington Arms Company, and she brought into the marriage an estimated $101 million. They were married on February 17, 1907, in New York. Dodge, an heir to the Phelps Dodge and Hartley fortunes, had a fortune estimated at only $60 million. Eventually they resided on separate estates on either side of the main route through Madison. Mrs. Dodge's property extended to the boundary of the Great Swamp. She was instrumental in helping those who began the campaign to save that swamp, by providing funds for the initial purchases of core properties.

The couple had only one son, Marcellus Hartley Dodge, Jr., whom they called "Hartley." He was killed in an automobile accident on August 29, 1930, on the Bayonne-Bordeaux Road in Mogesca, France. in his memory, his mother gave Madison, New Jersey the Hartley Dodge Memorial Building which was dedicated on Memorial Day, Thursday, May 30, 1935 and used a the borough hall. Mrs. Dodge also donated the train station. These structures became the core of the Madison Civic Commercial Historic District, which is listed on the State Register of Historic Places.

Well known for her philanthropy, upon her death in 1973, Mrs. Dodge left $85 million to establish the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation.