Philanthropist William Davidson dies

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Philanthropist William Davidson dies

JERUSALEM (JTA) — Bill Davidson, owner of the Detroit Pistons basketball team and a philanthropist, has died.

Davidson died Friday at his home near Detroit. He was 86. The cause of death was not immediately released.

Among his gifts, Davidson and his wife, Karen, gave $75 million in 2007 to construct the Sarah Wetsman Davidson Tower at Hadassah Hospital-Ein Kerem in Jerusalem.

Davidson, who was inducted last year into the Basketball Hall of Fame, had owned the National Basketball Association team since 1974, and won three NBA championships. He also owned the Tampa Bay Lightning National Hockey League team, and the Women’s National Basketball Association team the Detroit Shock until 2008.

Davidson gave more than $200 million to charitable causes, according to the Detroit Free Times.

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