Andrew Madoff Dies, Loses Cancer Battle 3 Years After Brother Mark's Suicide
Andrew Madoff, the last surviving son of disgraced financier Bernard "Bernie" Madoff, reportedly died on Wednesday after a long battle with cancer.
The 48-year-old, who once worked on a trading desk at his father's firm, had suffered from mantle cell lymphoma and died "peacefully" at a New York hospital, according to his attorney. Funeral arrangements will be private.
"Andrew Madoff has lost his courageous battle against mantle cell lymphoma," attorney Martin Flumenbaum said in a statement. "He died peacefully at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center on September 3, 2014, surrounded by his loving family."
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Andrew was first diagnosed with stage 1 lymph node cancer in 2003 and within a decade it would reach stage 4 and spread throughout his body. Last year he underwent a donor lymphocyte infusion to treat a stem cell transplant he received months prior.
"It's hard. It's been a long road. I've been receiving treatment since January, and it's a lot," he told People.com last year. "Six rounds of chemotherapy, then radiation, then more chemo before the transplant, then the transplant itself."
Despite the rage and hostility still aimed at his family today over Bernie's scheme, Andrew received overwhelming support from strangers during his cancer battle.
"No matter what ends up happening, those well wishes weren't for naught," he said. "They've made a huge difference to me in making me feel good and staying positive."
Andrew's passing comes three years after the tragic death of his older brother Mark. He committed suicide in 2010 on the second anniversary of his father's arrest.
In 2008 the Madoff brothers made headlines around the world when they turned Bernie in to authorities. They revealed that he confessed to operating a Ponzi scheme but denied having any knowledge of it. In the end, Bernie's illegal activity robbed investors of $17 billion.
In 2009 Bernie was sentenced to 150 years in prison, however, Andrew and Mark were never charged with any crimes. They were instead hit with a number of civil lawsuits after Bernie's victims accused them of profiting from the scheme by allegedly aiding the fraud.
