Breast health advocate Evelyn Lauder dies at 75

NEW YORK – Evelyn Lauder, a member of the Estee Lauder cosmetics family who helped create the pink ribbon symbol for breast cancer awareness, has died. She was 75.

In this April 11, 2011 file photo, Evelyn Lauder attends the New York Women in Communications' 2011 Matrix Awards at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York. Evelyn Lauder, a member of the Estee Lauder cosmetics family who helped create the pink ribbon symbol for breast cancer awareness, died on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011. She was 75. EVAN AGOSTINI/AP FILE PHOTO
In this April 11, 2011 file photo, Evelyn Lauder attends the New York Women in Communications' 2011 Matrix Awards at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York. Evelyn Lauder, a member of the Estee Lauder cosmetics family who helped create the pink ribbon symbol for breast cancer awareness, died on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011. She was 75. EVAN AGOSTINI/AP FILE PHOTO

Estee Lauder Cos. spokeswoman Alexandra Trower said Lauder died Saturday of complications from non-genetic ovarian cancer at her home in Manhattan.

Evelyn Lauder worked for more than 50 years for the company, holding many positions and overseeing the development of fragrances and other products.

But she is best known as a champion of breast cancer research and for helping to create the pink ribbon campaign in 1992.

She was born Evelyn Hausner in 1936 in Austria and fled Nazi-occupied Europe with her parents to the U.S.

She was married to Leonard Lauder, the son of Estee Lauder and chairman emeritus of the company.

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