George Tuttle Brokaw

American lawyer (1879–1935)

Clare Boothe
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(m. 1923; div. 1929)​
Frances Ford Seymour
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(m. 1931)​
Children2ParentIsaac Vail BrokawRelativesIrving Brokaw (brother)

George Tuttle Brokaw (November 14, 1879 – May 28, 1935) was an American lawyer and sportsman.[1]

Early life

He was born in the Elberon section of Long Branch, New Jersey, a son of Isaac Vail Brokaw, who with his brother, William, owned the New York City-based Brokaw Brothers clothing stores from 1856 until his death in 1914.[2][3] His elder brother Irving Brokaw was a national ice skating champion and competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics, finishing fourth in the men's competition.[4][5]

As the eldest child, George inherited the right to live for life in the Brokaw Mansion at 1 East 79th Street in Manhattan, and later fought with his brother, Howard C. Brokaw, over his plans to demolish the mansion.[6][7]

Career

Educated in the Cutler School; then Princeton University, graduating in 1902 with a BA, and New York Law School, graduating in 1911 with a LLB. He was admitted to the bar in 1912 and continued his legal education with an LLM degree from the University of Toledo College of Law, where he was first in his class, graduating in 1906.[1] Toledo Law's weekly newspaper is still named after him: Toledo's Brokaw Edition. There is a portrait in the Brokaw Edition's office.

Personal life

Photograph of his first wife, Clare Boothe, 1923

On August 10, 1923, Brokaw married writer Clare Boothe (1903–1987) in Greenwich, Connecticut.[8] According to Boothe, Brokaw was an abusive alcoholic, and the marriage ended in divorce on May 20, 1929.[9][10] Before their divorce, they were the parents of one daughter:[11]

  • Ann Clare Brokaw (1924–1944), who died in a car accident at the age of nineteen while attending Stanford University.[12]

On January 10, 1931, Brokaw married Frances Ford Seymour (1908–1950) in a small New York City wedding.[13] They had one child, a daughter:[14]

  • Frances de Villers Brokaw (1931–2008),[15] who married Charles Leo Abry in 1949.[16] She later married Francesco Corrias, Italy's Consul General.[17][18]

Brokaw died of a heart attack on May 28, 1935.[1] After his death, Frances Ford Seymour married actor Henry Fonda in 1936; the couple had two children, Jane and Peter Fonda.

References

  1. ^ a b c "George T. Brokaw, Lawyer, Dies at 55. Victim of Heart Attack After Illness of a Year. Retired Member of Firm Here". New York Times. May 30, 1935. Retrieved December 19, 2013.
  2. ^ "ISAAC V. BROKAW DEAD.; Head of Brokaw Brothers Was Pioneer New York Merchant". The New York Times. September 30, 1913. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
  3. ^ "Brokaw Heirs Get Estate In Trust. Realty and Stock to Wife and Sons and Daughter, to Go to Their Children". New York Times. October 18, 1913. Retrieved December 19, 2013.
  4. ^ "Irving Brokaw, 69, Noted Skater, Dies. National Champion in Figure Skating in 1908, Introduced 'International' Style Here. He Was Also An Artist. Had a Painting in Luxembourg Gallery. Member of Old New York Family". New York Times. March 20, 1939. Retrieved December 19, 2013.
  5. ^ "['93]". Princeton Alumni Weekly. 39 (24): 558. 1938. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
  6. ^ Ennis, Thomas W. (September 17, 1964). "Landmark Mansion on 79th St. to Be Razed". The New York Times. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
  7. ^ "G.T. BROKAW WINS SUIT TO RAZE HOME; Referee Koenig Recommends Tearing Down of 5th Av. Family Mansion for Apartments. FAVORS $800,000 MORTGAGE Petitioner Hails Decision as a Victory for Him and His Sister -- Brothers Fought Action". The New York Times. May 9, 1926. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
  8. ^ Morris, Sylvia Jukes (May 1997). "The Story of Clare Boothe Brokaw". Vanity Fair. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
  9. ^ "Brokaw Divorce Granted in Reno". San Francisco Examiner. May 21, 1929.
  10. ^ Krebs, Albin (October 10, 1987). "Clare Boothe Luce Dies at 84: Playwright, Politician, Envoy". The New York Times. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
  11. ^ "WIFE OF G.T. BROKAW SEEKS RENO DIVORCE; In Visit to San Francisco She Calls Second Recent Court Action of Family "Unfortunate."". The New York Times. March 29, 1929. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
  12. ^ "ANN BROKAW DIES IN AUTO COLLISION; Daughter of Clare Boothe Luce, Student at Leland Stanford, Had Just Left Mother". The New York Times. January 12, 1944. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
  13. ^ "FRANCES SEYMOUR WEDS G.T. BROKAW; Lawyer's Bride a Former New Yorker, Who Recently Resided in Fairhaven, Mass.A QUIET CEREMONY HERE Both Bride and Bridegroom Are Members of Colonial Familiesof This City". The New York Times. January 11, 1931. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
  14. ^ "Daughter to Mrs. George T. Brokaw". The New York Times. October 12, 1931. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
  15. ^ "Who Was the Blond Mystery Sister in 'Jane Fonda in Five Acts'?". Decider. October 11, 2018. Retrieved April 21, 2022.
  16. ^ "FRANCES BROKAW A BRIDE; Wed in Christ Methodist Church to Charles L, Abry 4th". The New York Times. June 15, 1949. Retrieved April 21, 2022.
  17. ^ Larkin, Kathy (March 24, 1986). "Boys' Town of Italy's dad at benefit". New York Daily News. p. 62. Retrieved April 21, 2022.
  18. ^ "Exchange With Italy". The New York Times. February 6, 1987. Retrieved April 21, 2022.