In 1915 , William Ratcliffe Irby donated $125,000 to the Catholic church in order to rebuild the roof of the St Louis cathedral that had been demolished in a category 4 hurricane. He asked to be anonymous and they respected his wishes. His donation was not attributed to him until after his death.
William Ratcliff Irby was a wealthy, gay, Jewish, tobacco company executive, banker, and New Orleans philanthropist.
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