Ruth Lilly, Eli Lilly Heiress, Passes Away at Age 94

Ruth Lilly, the last surviving great-grandchild and sole heiress of pharmaceutical magnate Eli Lilly passed away at the age of 94 on the night of Wednesday, December 30, 2009. Known for her philanthropy, Lilly donated the majority of her estimated $800 million inheritance over the course of her life.

The heiress made news in 2002 when she donated some $100 million to a decidedly unknown poetry associated based in Chicago, Illinois. But her charity ventures weren't limited to the arts: they varied far and wide, ranging from colleges to hospitals to musuems and beyond. Lilly was equally as reclusive as she was generous spending most of her time behind the walls surrounding her mansion with her fifty odd hired staff. She would often do no more than drive past the organizations and charities she funded, rarely making appearances at events and galas.

For the majority of her cushioned life Lilly was plagued with depression which, ironically enough, was not resolved until the her 70s when her great-grandfather's business, Eli Lilly & Co, released the revolutionary anti-depressant Prozac in 1988.

Ruth Lilly is survived by six nieces and nephews including Irene McCutchen, Ruth Lilly Nicholas, Eli Lilly II, George Christian Lilly, Josiah Kirby Lilly IV, Kate Lilly Jarvey 14 great nieces and nephews and 10 great-great nieces and nephews.