A well-known philanthropist from San Francisco recently lost his battle with cancer at the age of 77, after spending a lifetime amassing his wealth and giving much of it away.

The San Francisco Chronicle reports that Warren Hellman, co-founder of private equity firm Hellman and Friedman, passed away from complication of leukemia, after spending years funding a number of different efforts. The nonprofit fundraising he supported included a free health clinic in his home city and an aquatic sports endowment at the University of California, Berkley.    

Hellman's daughter, Patricia Hellman Gibbs, said during his time on Earth, he had made a major impact on his community.

"He was truly a Renaissance man, excelling in so many aspects of life," she said. "He was a phenomenally successful businessman, a lifelong competitive athlete, a community leader, a dedicated musician, and fiercely devoted to his family. He and Mom were the yin and yang that made our family whole, complementary to each other in so many ways."

One of the most visible things that Hellman funded was the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival, a three-day event now attended by hundreds of thousands of people at Golden Gate Park.