PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA: The recent death of Claire Risoldi, a prominent Philadelphia socialite, has brought renewed attention to her life, marked by extravagant fundraisers, a luxurious estate, and a high-profile insurance fraud scandal. Risoldi, known for her signature bouffant hairstyle and mirrored aviators, died at the age of 71 on July 14, just before she could face imprisonment for orchestrating a massive $20 million insurance fraud scheme.
Risoldi, who resided in a lavish six-bedroom estate named Clairemont, was celebrated in Philadelphia's elite circles for her grand fundraising events that attracted the city's Republican elite. However, her reputation took a drastic turn when she and several family members were convicted in 2019 for conspiring to set fire to her own residence, Clairemont, with the intention of fraudulently claiming insurance payouts worth $20 million. Details surrounding Risoldi's cause of death remain undisclosed at this time, leaving many to speculate about the circumstances of her death. Known for her youthful appearance, Risoldi's penchant for thick makeup, eye-catching fashion, and apparent affinity for cosmetic surgery often made her look younger than her years.
Who was Claire Risoldi's husband?
The convoluted saga of Claire Risoldi also included her late husband, Thomas French, who is said to have played a significant role in the scandal that shook Philadelphia's high society. French, a retired Bucks County sheriff's deputy at the age of 64, became deeply entangled in the web of controversy surrounding Risoldi's insurance fraud case. Tragically, on the evening of February 5, 2015, French was found dead in the driveway of a property associated with the Risoldi family. His death was ruled a suicide, and he left behind two notes expressing his innocence and describing his overwhelming distress due to the charges. "I committed no crime," French wrote, a source close to the situation told the Philadelphia Inquirer, noting that French also called the charges against him "unfounded allegations." "I am very sad to have done this . . . but there comes a time when pressure has reached its peak," French added, per the insider.
The 2013 marriage between Claire Risoldi and Thomas French, held as a fundraiser at their estate, brought them further into the public eye. Last month, prosecutors accused the couple and other family members of inflating losses from fires that occurred at their mansion over five years. This allowed the family to gain millions in insurance payouts. Ronald Greenblatt, an attorney for Carl Risoldi, Claire Risoldi's son who was also charged, vehemently defended the family against the allegations. Greenblatt contended that the accusations were a result of "a political vendetta against Claire Risoldi" and asserted French's innocence in the matter. "What the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office and law enforcement did to him is morally reprehensible, and they have his blood on their hands," Greenblatt said at the time of his demise.
A complex legacy
The grand jury's presentment, released just before Risoldi's death, depicted her as the driving force behind the family's questionable insurance claims. French, on the other hand, was less prominently featured in the presentment, largely corroborating Risoldi's claims about lost jewelry during the fires. Nevertheless, French faced a series of serious charges, including theft, conspiracy, and insurance fraud.
Risoldi's life story was marked by intriguing twists and turns. She had been twice widowed, losing her first husband, Carl P Risoldi, in 2001. The source of the family's wealth remained unclear, although Risoldi had mentioned that her first husband received disability payments and earned significant income as a stonemason. Notably, she had also faced legal trouble in the past, having been sentenced in 1990 for felony mail fraud. Despite her legal woes, Risoldi had been working on a book about her life following her convictions, hinting at a desire to share her perspective on the scandal that ultimately defined her legacy.
