(CNN) -- Edgar M. Bronfman Sr., a former Seagram executive and president of the World Jewish Congress for nearly 30 years, died in New York Saturday, according to a spokesman for his family's foundation. He was 84. 

Bronfman died of natural causes, according to Jonathan Cohen, a spokesman for the family's Samuel Bronfman Foundation, named after his father, a wealthy liquor mogul. Edgar Bronfman was surrounded by family when he died, Cohen said. 

Bronfman devoted much of his life to advocating for Judaism and Jewish causes. He traveled to the Soviet Union in 1970 to lobby for greater freedom for Jews living there and helped to win restitution for Holocaust victims from Swiss banks in 1997. President Bill Clinton awarded Bronfman the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1999. 

Bronfman also exposed the Nazi past of former Austrian President Kurt Waldheim. 

"He was the first of his kind, a titan of industry that dedicated himself fully to advocating, advancing and encouraging the Jewish people," said Dana Raucher, executive director of the family's foundation. "Edgar showed how vision and long-term thinking can impact the entire landscape of Jewish life. " 

Bronfman, the son of Canadian liquor mogul Samuel Bronfman, became chairman and CEO of the Seagram Company in 1971. While at the helm, Bronfman worked to expand Seagram's presence abroad and to develop the company's holdings beyond alcohol, including acquiring Tropicana and investing in oil and DuPont, the chemical company. 

Bronfman retired from the Seagram Company in 1994 and passed the reins to his son Edgar Jr. He was president of the World Jewish Congress from 1981 until 2007. 
Who is the story about?
For what organization was he President?
What other title did he have?
How long was he with Congress?
What happened to him?
When?
Where?
How old was he?
Who said he died naturally?
And who's he?
Who was the Foundation named after?
What did his father do?
Did Bronfman die alone?
What causes did he devote his life to?
What award did Clinton bestow him?
Edgar M. Bronfman Sr
Edgar M. Bronfman Sr
the World Jewish Congress
the World Jewish Congress
Seagram executive
Seagram executive
nearly 30 years
nearly 30 years
died of natural causes
died of natural causes
Saturday
died in New York Saturday
New York
died in New York
84
He was 84
Jonathan Cohen
 Jonathan Cohen
a spokesman for the family's Samuel Bronfman Foundation
a spokesman for the family's Samuel Bronfman Foundation
his father,
named after his father,
liquor mogul.
liquor mogul.
No
 Edgar Bronfman was surrounded by family when he died
advocating for Judaism and Jewish causes
devoted much of his life to advocating for Judaism and Jewish causes
Presidential Medal of Freedom
Presidential Medal of Freedom 