Oct 8, 2007 6:00 am US/Eastern
Hundreds Attend Service For Carol Anne Gotbaum In NYC
NEW YORK (CBS/AP) ―
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Hundreds of mourners poured into a Manhattan church for the funeral of Carol Anne Gotbaum.
CBS
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Carol Anne Gotbaum is the daughter-in-law of NYC Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum.
CBS
Hundreds of mourners filled a synagogue Sunday on the Upper West Side to say goodbye to Carol Anne Gotbaum.
The 45-year-old mother of three was on her way to an addiction treatment center in Tuscon, Az. when she missed her connecting flight in Phoenix. That's when she was arrested for disorderly conduct and later died while in handcuffs and in police custody.
White lilies adorned the coffin as it was carried out of Congregation Rodeph Sholom on the Upper West Side following the service, which was closed to the media.
Gotbaum was married to Noah Gotbaum, son of retired labor leader Victor Gotbaum and stepson of Betsy Gotbaum, New York City's Public Advocate. The couple lived on the Upper West Side with their three young children.
"This is a terrible, terrible tragedy," said Queens District Attorney Richard Brown, a family friend who attended the service. "Our hearts go out to Noah especially, and to the children."
Authorities have said that Gotbaum, who was handcuffed and shackled to a bench, may have accidentally strangled herself.
The Gotbaums, outraged by the circumstances of Carol Anne's death, will offer no more public comment, until the lawyer, private investigator, and private pathologist they have hired, determine who is responsible.
John Jacobson, another family friend, said Noah Gotbaum spoke of his wife's final moments during the service.
"Her husband said that if only one person in that airport had helped her she would be alive today," he said.
Friends say Carol Anne, an alcoholic on the way to rehab, needed support not
handcuffs.
"All it takes for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing," said Joan Jacobson. "Nobody did anything for her at that airport."
Carol Gotbaum was born in Cape Town, South Africa and worked as a department store buyer in London before moving to New York with her husband.
Financier Felix Rohatyn, teachers' union head Randi Weingarten and City Council speaker Christine Quinn were among those attending the service.
(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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