New York socialite Elisabeth Kieselstein Cord Hamm died at age 41 due to complications from Lyme disease, her grieving family said Sunday.
The former New York It Girl was suffering from Lyme disease for over a decade, according to her father.
'Lyme never leaves, it appears in one form or another, it is an insidious and miserable disease,' her father, Barry Kieselstein Cord, told the New York Post.
'Despite various treatments over the years, it continued to manifest itself in countless ways. Regardless, Elisabeth fought it, and continued on in her many creative endeavors.'
Hamptons socialite Elisabeth Kieselstein Cord Hamm, 41, died on August 29 from complications of Lyme disease, her family said
Hamm was the only child of accessories designer Barry Kieselstein Cord and his artist wife, Cece Kieselstein Cord
A model and actress, Hamm walked the runway at the Dressed To Kilt fashion show in New York City in April 2004
Lyme disease is caused by bacteria that is transmitted from blacklegged ticks - most often by dogs, horses or cattle - that can cause symptoms such as rash, headache, nausea, and dizziness.
A reported 10% to 20% of those who get Lyme disease may not recover from it or its complications, according to the CDC.
The American-born Hamm grew up in Louisiana, Texas and New Mexico before moving to New York to attend the all girl's Chapin School. She transferred to Trinity School when she was a high school sophomore.
The glamorous society girl - the daughter of accessories designer Barry Kieselstein Cord and artist Cece Kieselstein Cord - gained fame as 2001's 'It Girl' after a profile of the then-21-year-old in The Observer.
The piece featured a 'day in the life' of the model and actress, who had appeared in the 1997 Oscar-winning film Deconstructing Harry and modeled for fashion magazines such as American Vogue.
Hamm sits with other New York socialites Casey Johnson and Nicky Hilton at a 2003 New York fashion show
Always known for her bold fashion choices, she appears here at the Lancel Store opening on Madison Avenue
What Is Lyme's Disease?
Lyme disease is caused by bacteria that is transmitted from blacklegged tics that can cause symptoms such as rash, headache, nausea, and dizziness.
These tics can be found in the groin, armpit and scalp and must be attached to the human body for 36 to 48 hours in order to transmit Lyme disease.
One of the tell-tale signs of the disease is a rash that appears in the form of a bullseye target that can begin to be visible within a week or two of infection.
More serious symptoms can include fever, arthritis, facial paralysis, and an irregular heart rate.
Lyme disease is treatable with antibiotics such as doxycycline, which have aided recovery from the disease.
The CDC reported that 10 to 20 percent of people that get the disease may never recover from its complications.
Death due to Lyme disease is considered extremely rare, especially in the U.S.
The CDC has reported 476,000 new cases of Lyme's disease between 2010 and 2018 with an estimated 35,000 growing cases year by year.
'My life is not about cocktail parties,' she told The Observer, a since-folded weekly New York City newspaper once owned by Jared Kushner that catered to the upscale crowd.
'That’s why I don’t feel comfortable being photographed at them. You know what, I’m a young girl, O.K.?
'And the last thing I want is to have a bunch of obstacles thrown my way because someone has written about me in such a way that is – I’m very upset, I need to go.'
Hamm was praised for her work as a model and for her bold fashion choices, which were considered different for her time. She also worked with her father at his company.
'I think she’s very promising,' Vanity Fair society editor Kristina Stewart was quoted in The Observer article.
'I think she’s one of the good ones. I see Elisabeth at every fashionable sandbox, from Southampton to St. Tropez. I think people are going to be interested in what she’s wearing, where she’s going and with whom for a long time to come.'
She also pursued her education at Georgetown University in D.C. where she focused on her other interests such as art and creative writing.
She left during her parent's separation but later continued her education at Oxford University in the England
Hamm was married to reclusive filmmaker Ted Hamm. The couple did not have any children.
Her parents plan to create a memorial park in honor of their their only child.
'Our entire extended family is crushed by the loss of our daughter who was one of the most caring, brightest and talented personalities ever to be a proud New Yorker', her father said.
'The loss to us, and to her close friends, and those who knew Elisabeth on a world stage, is quite palpable.'
Hamm was considered 'different' from other socialites because she purportedly did not fuss over the typical amenities that came with her wealthy lifestyle