‘’It is with unbearable pain that I announce the death of my husband, Sheldon, of complications from a long illness. Sheldon was the love of my life. He was my partner in romance, philanthropy, political activism and enterprise. He was my soul-mate. To me – as to his children, grandchildren, and his legions of friends and admirers, employees and colleagues – he is utterly irreplaceable,’’ wrote Adelson wife, Dr Miriam Adelson, in a statement.
Sheldon Adelson, who rose from selling newspapers on Boston street corners at age 12 to one of the most successful luxury resort developers, philanthropists and political influencers of his generation, died Monday night at his home in Malibu, California. He was 87.
Adelson shared that wealth as a generous philanthropist. Along with his wife he underwrote medical research, a private school, drug rehabilitation clinics, and numerous other causes.
His conservative values, love for the United States and Israel, and his desire to preserve the strongest diplomatic and cultural ties possible between the nations compelled him to embrace and support Jewish causes. He became one of America’s most influential political megadonors, contributing hundreds of millions of dollars to Republican candidates.
Adelson was the owner of the Israel Hayom newspaper in Israel and was a close friend of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
He was one of the most generous of donors to Israel and to Jewish causes in general. Through the Adelson Family Foundation, he has donated tens of millions of dollars to Yad Vashem, Birthright, IDC Herzliya, and numerous other causes in Israel, the United States, Singapore and Macao.