Philanthropist Dennis Avery dies at 71

SAN DIEGO -- Dennis Avery, an international philanthropist and heir to the Avery Dennison fortune, has died. He was 71.

His wife, Sally Tsui Wong-Avery, told U-T San Diego that Avery's health began to deteriorate about a week ago and he died Monday at a San Diego hospital.

Avery, whose family owned the Avery Dennison label and packaging empire, bought 3,000 acres in the San Diego County town of Borrego Springs to prevent its development and opened it to the public. He filled the land with open-air sculptures, including metal works of prehistoric animals.

Avery also provided Borrego Springs with a Little League park, football lights and other amenities and gave millions to causes around the world, including AIDS clinics in China and a library in Honduras. -- AP