Amalia-de Fortabat-Obituary

Amalia Lacroze de Fortabat

Obituary

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Businesswoman and philanthropist Amalia Lacroze de Fortabat, who built a billion-dollar fortune with her late husband's Argentine cement companies and became a leading art collector, died Saturday at age 90, her family said.

She died in her luxury apartment in the Palermo district of Buenos Aires, "accompanied by her entire family," according to the family's statement. It did not give a cause of death and said the funeral would be "strictly private."

Fortabat became one of Argentina's wealthiest women at age 54, when second husband Alfredo Fortabat, 27 years her senior, died in 1976.

At the time, Argentina had just fallen under a dictatorship with close ties to the country's wealthy business elites, and the Loma Negra cement businesses flourished through government contracts with the military junta.

She also inherited huge cattle ranches and properties in the U.S., including a Park Avenue apartment.

Fortabat traveled often as she expanded her modern art collection, which includes an Andy Warhol portrait of her, painted in the same style as his famous Marilyn Monroe series.

Despite her many properties, her private art collection grew to the point that it needed a home of its own. In 2001, she opened the Museo Fortabat in Buenos Aires' Puerto Madero district, a modern building where many modern master works are now on public display.

"Mrs. Fortabat exercised a clear leadership at the service of the nation's growth and business development, directing for more than four decades the Loma Negra company as well as other relevant businesses," the family statement said.

Fortabat sold Loma Negra to Brazil's Camargo Correa group in 2005 for about $1 billion, but remained involved in the Fortabat Foundation, a charitable organization, as well as other holdings.

Maria Amalia Sara Lacroze Reyes Oribe de Fortabat Pourtale was a Latin American aristocrat from the day she was born on Aug. 15, 1921. Her mother's family descended from Uruguay's second president, Manuel Oribe. Her grandfather, Federico Lacroze, built the first trains in the Argentine capital in the 1880s.

Survivors include her daughter from her first marriage, Maria Inez de Lafuente; three grandchildren, Alejandro Bengolea, Barbara Bengolea and Amalia Amoedo; and seven great-grandchildren.

MICHAEL WARREN,Associated Press

Michael Warren on Twitter at http://twitter.com/mwarrenap


Copyright © 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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PARADISE IS WAITING YOU!

i am very sad today,when i read on the web that mrs amalita died.i will never forget this lady,she was my best customer ,in my boutiques. in spetses island in greece,every summer was coming in my boutiques and buy presents for all her friends ,she helped my a lot .for many years.my warmest condolesses to all her family.ANDIOS MADAM AMALITA WE REMEMBER YOU FOREVER.

I am sorry for your loss. May the God of comfort and tender mercies be with you.

I was a neighbor of hers for years in Palmero.

We used to trade rescipes & bake together.

People from the goverment were always visting her.

How awful to die at Carnival season.

Hortensia Grande-Buenos Aires

THATS IMMPERSSIVE

May the God of all comfort be with your family at this time of grief. May all Amalia's memories stay close to your heart. Psalms 46:1 Lynn

Fond memory brings the light of the days around me.
- Thomas Moore.

With Heartfelt Sympathy.

Maria Rosa Battilana Casares

My condolences go the the family and friends. She seemed to be so talented and loved. I pray that Daniel 12:2 bring you much comfort during this difficult time. There it says: "And there will be many of those asleep in the ground of dust who will wake up, those to indefinitely lasting life....

MY CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY OF AMALIA 2 COR 1:3 BLESSED BE THE GOD AND FATHER OF OUR LORD JESUS CHIRST,THE FATHER OF TENDER MERICES AND THE GOD OF ALL COMFORT.