Community Corner

Manhattan Man Picks Up Funeral Costs for Woman Torched in Elevator

Date set for memorial service of Delores Gillespie, 73, who was murdered in an Underhill Avenue apartment building Saturday.

Editor's Note: As of Jan. 20, 2012 the money from Mr. Weingrow had not come through to the family, according to the family and Councilwoman Letitia James' office. However the family had recieved more than $4,800 in small donations.

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A Manhattan hedge-fund manager has stepped in to pay for the funeral for Delores Gillespie, the 73-year-old woman who was , allegedly .

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Darren Weingrow, who lives in Chelsea, has no connection to the family or to Prospect Heights. But after he read about Saturday's murder and the fact the family needed to raise funds for the funeral and travel costs, he was moved to help.

“I’m not a philanthropist, I’m an investment guy. But it was devastating,” he said. “The last thing you should have to worry about is where you’re going to stay or funeral expenses.”

Find out what's happening in Prospect Heights-Crown Heightswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

He called the office of Councilwoman Letitia James, who had set up a on Monday, and offered to pick up the entire bill. He has since been in touch with the family, said a spokeswoman for James' office.

 who helped the down-and-out find jobs and laid out a feast for the homeless every Thanksgiving. 

Although Gillespie was a member of Brotherhood Baptist Church on Vanderbilt Avenue, the funeral will be held at a larger venue, said Prospect Heights Councilwoman Letitia James.

The memorial service is set for Friday, Dec. 30 at noon at , 54 MacDonough St. between Tompkins and Marcy avenues in Bed-Stuy. It is open to the public.


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