She is survived by her beloved family: husband Leonard A. Lauder, Chairman Emeritus of the Estée Lauder Companies; son William, Executive Chairman of the Estée Lauder Companies; son Gary, Managing Director of Lauder Partners LLC, and his wife Laura, General Partner of Lauder Partners; and five grandchildren.

 

"My mother carried the torch of our Company heritage and the values that were passed to her by my grandmother, Mrs. Estée Lauder," said William Lauder. "My mother and father were life partners as well as business partners. They nurtured the culture and growth of the Estée Lauder Companies, and as we grew, my mother was our creative compass and pillar of strength. Together my family and the Company celebrate the beautiful person she was."

Mrs. Lauder was perhaps best known to the public for her work in bringing global awareness to women’s health, a passion that stemmed from a personal experience with early stage breast cancer. In 1992, she co-created the Pink Ribbon, now recognised as the worldwide symbol of breast health, and launched the Estée Lauder Companies Breast Cancer Awareness (BCA) Campaign. Each year, the BCA Campaign raises funds through its brands, employees, and retail partners around the world to help support breast cancer research. Mrs. Lauder founded The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) in 1993 to provide crucial funds to breast cancer medical and scientific researchers around the world. BCRF has raised more than $350 million and supports 186 researchers globally.

A visionary, true leader, and dear friend, Mrs. Lauder will be forever missed by everyone at the Estée Lauder Companies worldwide.  LetsShop.com wishes her family all the very best in this difficult time.