Leonore Annenberg

Early life

Born on February 20, 1918, in New York City, Leonore Cohn grew up in an upper-class neighborhood of Los Angeles after her mother passed away when she was just seven years old. Raised by her uncle Harry Cohn, the founder of Columbia Pictures, Leonore and her sister attended the Page Boarding School for Girls in Pasadena. They were brought up as Christian Scientists by Harry Cohn’s wife, Rose.

After graduating from Stanford University in 1940 with a bachelor’s degree, Leonore Cohn married Beldon Katleman, who owned real estate and a national parking lot chain. They had a daughter named Diane, but their marriage ended in divorce after a few years. In 1946, she married Lewis Rosenstiel, the founder of the Schenley liquor distillery, and they had a daughter named Elizabeth. However, this marriage also ended in divorce.

In 1950, Leonore Cohn met Walter Annenberg, the editor of The Philadelphia Inquirer, at a party in Florida. They got married the following year and went on to become one of the most influential power couples in the United States.

Career

Following her graduation from Stanford, Annenberg began her career as a fashion writer for the Los Angeles Times. She later went on to work for the fashion magazines Harper’s Bazaar and Vogue. In 1951, Annenberg married Walter Annenberg, who was the publisher of The Philadelphia Inquirer and later became the United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom.

As the wife of the Ambassador, Annenberg became involved in various diplomatic activities. She worked to promote cultural exchanges between the United States and the United Kingdom and was involved in organizing events and receptions at the Embassy. After her husband’s term as Ambassador ended, the Annenbergs returned to the United States, where they became active in the Republican Party.

In 1966, Walter Annenberg was appointed as the United States Ambassador to the Court of St. James’s by President Richard Nixon. During this time, Leonore Annenberg became heavily involved in the cultural and social life of London. She continued to organize events and receptions, but also became involved in philanthropic activities, such as fundraising for the National Theatre.

After her husband was appointed as the United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom in 1969, Leonore Annenberg, the wife of the ambassador, oversaw the renovation of the official London residence, Winfield House. The renovation project took six months to complete and cost around US$1 million. Additionally, during her time in London, Leonore founded the American Friends of Covent Garden, an organization dedicated to promoting musical expression as a means of fostering goodwill between the United States and Great Britain.

After her husband’s term as Ambassador ended, the Annenbergs returned to the United States, where they became active in philanthropy. They founded the Annenberg Foundation, which has donated millions of dollars to various causes, such as education, the arts, and healthcare.

Throughout her life, Leonore Annenberg was known for her philanthropic work and dedication to the arts. She served on the boards of numerous cultural institutions, such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. In addition, she and her husband founded the Annenberg Foundation, which has donated millions of dollars to various causes, such as education, the arts, and healthcare.

In 1981, she was appointed as the Chief of Protocol of the United States by President Ronald Reagan. She was the first woman to hold this position and was responsible for managing diplomatic events and visits by foreign dignitaries.

Annenberg passed away in 2009 at the age of 91, leaving behind a legacy of philanthropy and dedication to public service. She was a woman of many talents and accomplishments, and her contributions to American society will always be remembered.

Following her passing, former President George H.W. Bush and Barbara Bush, along with former First Lady Nancy Reagan, issued statements in which they expressed their condolences. Nancy Reagan referred to Leonore Annenberg as a “dear and longtime friend”, and praised her and her husband’s philanthropic efforts, which she said had made a lasting impact on education in the United States.

Net Worth

Leonore Annenberg’s net worth was estimated to be around $1.2 billion at the time of her death in 2009.

Achievement

Annenberg’s achievements are numerous and far-reaching. She was appointed as the Chief of Protocol of the United States by President Ronald Reagan in 1981. In this role, Annenberg was responsible for managing diplomatic events and visits by foreign dignitaries. She was the first woman to hold this position.

Annenberg was also heavily involved in the arts and served on the boards of numerous cultural institutions, such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. She was also a trustee of the Eisenhower Exchange Fellowship and the American Academy in Rome.

In recognition of her many achievements, Annenberg received numerous honors and awards, including:

Presidential Medal of Freedom, awarded posthumously by President Barack Obama in 2009

Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE), awarded by Queen Elizabeth II in 2003

National Medal of Arts, awarded by President George W. Bush in 2001

Golden Plate Award, awarded by the American Academy of Achievement in 1993

Women's Project and Productions' Women of Achievement Award, presented in 1988

Laetare Medal, awarded by the University of Notre Dame in 1987

The Pennsylvania Society Gold Medal for Distinguished Achievement, awarded in 1985

The Philadelphia Award, presented in 1979

These are just a few of the many awards and honors that Annenberg received throughout her lifetime, in recognition of her many achievements and contributions to society.