Alta (Rockefeller) Prentice (1871-1962)

She was a dedicated philanthropist and the longest-living of John D. Rockefeller's children. Unlike her more flamboyant sister Edith, Alta was known for her quiet, steadfast commitment to social causes. She founded Alta House, a settlement house serving Cleveland's Little Italy, demonstrating her hands-on approach to helping immigrant communities. She married Col. Ezra Parmalee Prentice, a lawyer in Chicago, although maintaining a quieter lifestyle than others in her family while still utilizing her considerable wealth for charitable purposes. She and her husband lived at their magnificent 72-room home "Elm Tree House" (see images) on Mount Hope Farm, Williamstown, Massachusetts. Completed in 1928, it took five years to build at a cost of $400,000. It's now part of Williams College. She was survived by all three of her children.