Roberta Langtry
Encyclopedia
Roberta Langtry an anonymous
philanthropist
, was a modestly paid Toronto
elementary school
teacher
and a multimillionaire. Upon her death she bequeathed more than C$4.3-million ($3.8 million) of her estate
to the Nature Conservancy of Canada
, a charity that buys environmentally sensitive land and turns it into nature reserves. She had been a modest supporter of NCC's work since 1999.
While she was alive, she made a number of large, anonymous gifts to individuals she knew who were in need. Recipients would receive envelopes from an unknown benefactor in the amounts of $25,000 or $30,000. Her friends and coworkers were unaware of her wealth.
Langtry was born in Manitoba
. She began teaching around the age of 16. Most of her 55 years as a teacher
and speech therapist were with the East York Board of Education. She never married and had no children. Langtry lived in her aunt's modest bungalow
, sharing it with her aunt until she died in the early 1990s and living alone until she died herself. http://www.natureconservancy.ca/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=5401&news_iv_ctrl=0&abbr=on_ncc_
. In 1960, she co-authored Teacher's guide to accompany Creative English, grade four with J.D. Hanmer (Vancouver : Copp Clark Pub. Co.).
Speculation suggests the majority of her wealth came from many wise investments. Most of her money was in bonds
and solid Canadian blue-chip stock
s, such as those of the bank
s and insurance companies, that appreciated over the decades. Most likely her best investment was in shares of IBM
, which she purchased in either the 1940s or 1950s. She held these shares until she died.
Anonymity
Anonymity is derived from the Greek word ἀνωνυμία, anonymia, meaning "without a name" or "namelessness". In colloquial use, anonymity typically refers to the state of an individual's personal identity, or personally identifiable information, being publicly unknown.There are many reasons why a...
philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
, was a modestly paid Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
elementary school
Elementary school
An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in North America, where the terms grade school and grammar...
teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
and a multimillionaire. Upon her death she bequeathed more than C$4.3-million ($3.8 million) of her estate
Estate (law)
An estate is the net worth of a person at any point in time. It is the sum of a person's assets - legal rights, interests and entitlements to property of any kind - less all liabilities at that time. The issue is of special legal significance on a question of bankruptcy and death of the person...
to the Nature Conservancy of Canada
Nature Conservancy of Canada
Nature Conservancy of Canada is a Canadian private not-for-profit charitable environmental organisation established in 1962. The NCC works to achieve the direct protection of what they deem as Canada's most important natural treasures through property securement and long-term stewardship of...
, a charity that buys environmentally sensitive land and turns it into nature reserves. She had been a modest supporter of NCC's work since 1999.
While she was alive, she made a number of large, anonymous gifts to individuals she knew who were in need. Recipients would receive envelopes from an unknown benefactor in the amounts of $25,000 or $30,000. Her friends and coworkers were unaware of her wealth.
Langtry was born in Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
. She began teaching around the age of 16. Most of her 55 years as a teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
and speech therapist were with the East York Board of Education. She never married and had no children. Langtry lived in her aunt's modest bungalow
Bungalow
A bungalow is a type of house, with varying meanings across the world. Common features to many of these definitions include being detached, low-rise , and the use of verandahs...
, sharing it with her aunt until she died in the early 1990s and living alone until she died herself. http://www.natureconservancy.ca/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=5401&news_iv_ctrl=0&abbr=on_ncc_
Sources of Wealth
Langtry may have earned a modest side income via her development of a number of puzzle-based educational games, that were sold in the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. In 1960, she co-authored Teacher's guide to accompany Creative English, grade four with J.D. Hanmer (Vancouver : Copp Clark Pub. Co.).
Speculation suggests the majority of her wealth came from many wise investments. Most of her money was in bonds
Bond (finance)
In finance, a bond is a debt security, in which the authorized issuer owes the holders a debt and, depending on the terms of the bond, is obliged to pay interest to use and/or to repay the principal at a later date, termed maturity...
and solid Canadian blue-chip stock
Stock
The capital stock of a business entity represents the original capital paid into or invested in the business by its founders. It serves as a security for the creditors of a business since it cannot be withdrawn to the detriment of the creditors...
s, such as those of the bank
Bank
A bank is a financial institution that serves as a financial intermediary. The term "bank" may refer to one of several related types of entities:...
s and insurance companies, that appreciated over the decades. Most likely her best investment was in shares of IBM
IBM
International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
, which she purchased in either the 1940s or 1950s. She held these shares until she died.