Godfrey Anderson Rockefeller, Sr. (1924 – 22 January 2010) was the eldest son of Godfrey Stillman Rockefeller and Helen Rockefeller née Gratz.
Like his father Godfrey Stillman, Godfrey Anderson Rockefeller was born in New York City and grew up to attend Yale University, at the same time as family friend George H. W. Bush,[1] this after first attending Phillips Academy Andover. Joining the United States Marine Corp, he served in both World War II and the Korean War, achieving the rank of Major Aviator Pilot.[2]
Godfrey then spent twenty five years in the commercial helicopter industry, working for Bell Helicopters and being hired as Chief Pilot, with Peter Wright, Sr. recalling him once landing a 32 foot Bell 47 on a 40 foot wide tennis court "because he did not want to ruin the lawn!"[2] He was President and Chairman of the Helicopter Association of America, now known as the Helicopter Association International, in 1968, and also belonged to the American Helicopter Society, being a member since 1952 and belonging to its Gold Circle Club.[2]
He is best known, however, for his environmental interests and role in the World Wildlife Fund. Rockefeller "played an important role in the founding and creation" of the organization, which included "hiring the first staff and chief scientist",[3] and later served as its Executive Director from 1972 to 1978. From 1977 to 2006 he served on the Board of Directors and the National Council of the WWF.[3]
From 1981 to 1990 he was Chairman of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation,[4] and after that Chairman Emeritus. Rockefeller owned a home on Gibson Island in Maryland and was keenly interested in the preservation of the failing Chesapeake Bay. Following his unexpected death on January 22, 2010 at the St. Andrew's Club in Delray Beach, Florida, where he also owned a home, the Gibson Island community honoured him by flying their flag at half-mast.[2]
Godfrey was first married to Constance Hamilton Wallace but this ended in divorce. He was then married to Margaret "Margo" Kuhn Rockefeller for fifty three years, she dying less than a year before him in 2009.[2] He is survived by four children and numerous grandchildren.