DIED. George T. Delacorte, 97, publisher and philanthropist; in New York City. Delacorte parlayed an initial investment of $10,000 into a publishing empire, selling everything from pulp romance magazines to mysteries and comic books featuring Bugs Bunny and all the Walt Disney characters. Among the authors published in Delacorte hard-cover editions and Dell paperbacks were Kurt Vonnegut, James Jones, Irwin Shaw and Danielle Steel. Delacorte donated millions of dollars to build fountains, theaters, statues and schools in New York City that bear his name.