( 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 . Bronfman is survived by his wife , Jan Aronson ; his brother , Charles Bronfman ; his sister Phyllis Lambert , four sons ; three daughters ; 24 grandchildren ; and two great-grandchildren . He was previously married to Ann Loeb , with whom he had five children , and Georgiana Webb , with whom he had two .
Edgar M. Bronfman Sr. , who championed Jewish causes , dies at 23 years . He led CNN , started by his father , for 23 years . He visited New York in 1970 to advocate for Jewish there . President Bill Clinton awarded him Bronfman the Presidential Medal of Freedom .