Ann Getty
Ann Getty | |
|---|---|
| Born | Ann Gilbert 11 March 1941 Gustine, California, U.S. |
| Died | 14 September 2020 (aged 79) San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Philanthropist, publisher, paleoanthropologist, interior designer |
| Years active | 1985–2020 |
| Known for | President of Grove Press; Leakey Foundation fellow; founder of Ann Getty & Associates |
Ann Getty (born Gilbert; March 11, 1941 – September 14, 2020) was an American philanthropist, publisher, paleoanthropologist, and social figure. As a Leakey Foundation fellow, she took part in archaeological excavations in both Turkey and Ethiopia, focusing on the recovery of Ardipithecus fossils. She provided financial backing for the National Museum of Ethiopia and was responsible for redesigning its garden. Getty held the presidency of Grove Press, which she acquired alongside Lord Weidenfeld in 1985, and later established the interior design company Ann Getty and Associates in 1995.
In 1964, she wed billionaire Gordon Getty, heir to oil tycoon J. Paul Getty. As his spouse, she became a leading hostess within New York City and San Francisco’s elite circles and was an active philanthropist supporting political initiatives, the arts, and scientific endeavors. Her board memberships included the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the New York Public Library, New York University, and the Wexner Center for the Arts. Getty also championed organizations such as the San Francisco Symphony, San Francisco Opera, and San Francisco Conservatory of Music. She organized fundraising occasions for Democratic politicians including Kamala Harris and Barack Obama, while hosting cultural salons at her Pacific Heights estate.
Early life
Born Ann Gilbert on March 11, 1941, in Gustine, California, Getty was raised by William and Anna Bekedam Gilbert who operated a dairy farm. When she was twelve, her family relocated to Wheatland, California, where they managed a peach and walnut orchard. She earned degrees in biology and anthropology from the University of California, Berkeley.
Career and philanthropy
During the 1990s, Getty engaged in paleoanthropological research through fieldwork with the Leakey Foundation and Tim D. White in Ethiopia’s Great Rift Valley as well as in Turkey. She financed these projects and supported the National Museum of Ethiopia’s efforts in excavating Ardipithecus fossils. Collaborating with Desmond Clark and F. Clark Howell on the Middle Awash Research Project, she worked alongside leading scientists to improve Ethiopia’s human evolutionary research infrastructure, including fossil storage solutions and redesigning the museum’s garden.
Residing in New York City during the mid-1980s, Getty served on boards for institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York Public Library, and New York University. In 1985, she joined forces with Sir George Weidenfeld to create Wheatland Corporation, which purchased Grove Press for $2 million. With a $15 million investment, she merged Wheatland with Grove to form Grove Weidenfeld and acted as its president until it transitioned into an imprint under Atlantic Monthly Press in 1993.
As a prominent San Francisco socialite, Getty hosted numerous philanthropic gatherings supporting arts, sciences, and healthcare sectors. Her Pacific Heights home welcomed distinguished guests including Luciano Pavarotti and Carolina Herrera. Politically engaged, she raised funds for Democratic figures such as Barack Obama and Kamala Harris. Additionally, she backed organizations like UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital, San Francisco Opera, and amfAR. Getty also participated on Sotheby’s advisory board; her residence earned the nickname "San Francisco Embassy."
In 1987, together with her husband, she founded the Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation aimed at fostering classical music within the Bay Area. They were significant donors to UC Berkeley—her alma mater—contributing millions toward facility enhancements and biomedical research from the 1990s through the 2000s. Their philanthropic efforts included an $8 million gift to the University of California system in 2008.
Getty launched Ann Getty & Associates in 1995 as an interior design firm and introduced the Ann Getty House Collection in 2003. Among her clientele were Terry Gross and Trevor Traina. In 2012, she authored Ann Getty: Interior Style. She also established Playgroup, a Montessori preschool accredited at her Pacific Heights residence attended by her granddaughter Ivy Getty.
Personal life
Ann Getty encountered Gordon Getty, the son of J. Paul Getty, founder of Getty Oil, at a bar in San Francisco, and the two eloped in Las Vegas on December 25, 1964. Together, they had four sons and made their home in a mansion located in Pacific Heights. Gordon Getty was involved in an extramarital relationship with Cynthia Beck, with whom he fathered three children. Their son Andrew Rork Getty passed away in 2015, and another son, John Gilbert Getty, died in 2020.
The couple led a cosmopolitan lifestyle, often traveling aboard their private Boeing 727, nicknamed The Jetty, to attend various international music and art festivals.
Ann Getty passed away from a heart attack in San Francisco on September 14, 2020, at the age of 79. Due to restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the family conducted a small, private memorial service. Her death was publicly recognized by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi as well as San Francisco Mayor London Breed.