Those wacky Astors:

But even though the foundation stated that it aimed to raise money publicly, it is not listed in the telephone book. It has made no public mailings soliciting contributions. And one of its addresses, listed on the letter to Mrs. Astor, is the East 79th Street Manhattan apartment of Charlene and Anthony D. Marshall, Mrs. Astor’s son. A lawyer for Mr. Marshall said about $35,000 of the money had already been donated.

Peter J. Kelley, a Manhattan lawyer who was listed as an initial director of the foundation when it was formed, said he has heard nothing about the organization over the years and has never met or known of Charlene Marshall. Mr. Kelley said in a telephone interview yesterday that last year he resigned from the post he held in name only.

Moreover, the New York State attorney general’s office, which oversees charities, said that Shepherd Community Foundation had not registered with its charities bureau, even though it would have been obligated to do so within six months of taking Mrs. Astor’s $100,000 late last year. The attorney general’s office said that it plans to send the foundation a letter notifying it that it had not registered and requesting an explanation.

A high-society soap for us mere mortals.