Girlsie — the last surviving short-haired miniature dachshund of Brooke Astor — recently died of old age in northern Vermont. She was 21 (147 in dog years).
“The last of the Astors has gone to heaven now,” said archaeologist Iris Love, who cared for Girlsie and her male companion, Boysie, for the past seven years.
The two dogs were delivered to Love’s farm by Oscar and Annette de la Renta after Astor died at age 105 and Annette became co-executor of her estate along with David Rockefeller.
The original executor, Brooke’s son Anthony Marshall, 90, was convicted of several crimes relating to the handling of the estate, and was imprisoned for several weeks last year before he was paroled on medical grounds.
“Tony Marshall was going to put Girlsie and Boysie to sleep,” Love told me. “That was one reason Annette stepped in and saved them and brought them to me.”
Love has 37 standard smooth dachshunds, including many winners of the Westminster Dog Show. Boysie died four years ago.
Girlsie took after Brooke in her longevity and temperament. “She was spritely till the end,” Love said.
Unlike all her other dogs, Girlsie wouldn’t use the dog doors. “She waited for someone to open the door for her,” Love said. “She confided to me once that she liked the people who opened the doors for her to be wearing white gloves.”
Brooke Astor was known for always wearing white gloves.