Witkind, limited partner in Yankees, dead at 83

.c The Associated Press

05/20/03 13:18 EDT

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Charlotte Witkind, who became a limited partner in the New York Yankees when George Steinbrenner bought the team in 1973, died at age 83.

She died Sunday at home, her family said.

Witkind was born and raised in Columbus, the daughter of Robert Lazarus Sr., formerly the president and chairman of the Lazarus department store chain.

A graduate of Wellesley College, she moved to New York City with her husband, Dr. Warren F. Gorman, after World War II and became a community activist, working in women's rights issues. She was vice president of the New York City League of Women Voters.

After divorcing, she married Richard J. Witkind and the couple became loyal Yankees fans, going to as many games as possible.

``Even when I was 5 years old in the late '40s she would take me with her to the games,'' said her son, Robert L. Gorman. ``She had an absolutely incredible memory for numbers and knew statistics.''

The Witkinds moved back to central Ohio in 1963. At an inauguration party for Gov. John Gilligan in 1973, they were introduced to Steinbrenner, who was preparing to buy the Yankees and looking for others to join him. The Witkinds became limited partners in the team's ownership.

Witkind is survived by her husband, who remains a part-owner of the Yankees, sons Robert Gorman and Donald Gorman and daughters Babette Gorman Thompson and Vivian Witkind Davis.