Leonore Annenberg

Leonore Annenberg
Leonore Annenberg
Born	Leonore Cohn; 20 February 1918 (age 108); New York City, U.S.
Died	12 March 2009 (aged 91); Rancho Mirage, California, U.S.
Other names	Lee Annenberg
Occupation(s)	Entrepreneur, diplomat, philanthropist
Known for	Chief of Protocol of the United States (1981–1982); chairman and president of the Annenberg Foundation (2002–2009)

Leonore Cohn Annenberg (February 20, 1918 – March 12, 2009), frequently referred to as Lee Annenberg, was an American entrepreneur, diplomat, and philanthropist. She held the position of Chief of Protocol of the United States from 1981 to 1982 and led the Annenberg Foundation as chairman and president from 2002 until her passing in 2009. Married to Walter Annenberg, a newspaper magnate and U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom, she was instrumental in both diplomatic initiatives and charitable activities.

Born in New York City and raised in Los Angeles, Annenberg earned her degree from Stanford University. Following two previous marriages, she wed Walter Annenberg, who was appointed U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom in 1969. During his ambassadorship, she directed an extensive refurbishment of the official residence. The couple backed Ronald Reagan’s presidential bid in 1980; after his inauguration, Leonore was named Chief of Protocol, where she advised senior government officials on matters of diplomatic etiquette.

The Annenbergs were well-known for their philanthropy, providing substantial support to education, cultural institutions, and charitable organizations. After Walter’s death in 2002, Leonore assumed leadership of the Annenberg Foundation to continue their philanthropic mission.

Early life and family

Leonore Cohn was born into a Jewish household in New York City on February 20, 1918, to parents Maxwell and Clara Cohn. Known as "Lee," she lost her mother at age seven and was subsequently raised alongside her sister in an upscale Los Angeles neighborhood by her uncle Harry Cohn, the founder of Columbia Pictures. She attended Pasadena’s Page Boarding School for Girls and was brought up as a Christian Scientist.

Annenberg completed her studies at Stanford University in 1940. Her first marriage was to Beldon Katleman, whose family owned extensive real estate holdings and a nationwide parking lot enterprise; they had one daughter before divorcing. In 1946, she married Lewis Rosenstiel, the founder of Schenley liquor distillery; this union also produced a daughter before ending in divorce. In 1951, she wed Walter Annenberg, then editor of The Philadelphia Inquirer, forging a partnership that blended business acumen with philanthropy and diplomacy.

Ambassador's wife

When her husband was named U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom in 1969, Mrs. Annenberg oversaw a $1 million refurbishment project for the thirty-five-room Winfield House, the official ambassadorial residence in London, completed within six months. During their time in London, Leonore established the American Friends of Covent Garden organization to foster cultural exchange and strengthen U.S.-UK relations through music.

Chief of Protocol

The Annenbergs played a major role as donors during Ronald Reagan’s 1980 presidential campaign. Following Reagan’s victory, Leonore Annenberg was appointed Chief of Protocol in 1981, responsible for advising senior officials on diplomatic customs and formally receiving international dignitaries. She supervised a team of sixty staff members managing everything from state gifts to delegation arrangements. She characterized her duties as ensuring visitors felt "respected and welcome." Her tenure attracted some controversy when she curtsied to Prince Charles, igniting debate regarding protocol practices within a republic.

During her term, Annenberg held ambassadorial rank. The couple annually hosted the Reagans at their Rancho Mirage property known as "Sunnylands." She stepped down from her role in January 1982 to devote more time to her husband.

Philanthropy and Committee Involvement

Following her departure from the State Department, Lee Annenberg dedicated herself to fostering cultural understanding within the United States. Together with her husband, she maintained substantial philanthropic contributions, leading to her receipt of the 2001 Andrew Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy. At the time of the award, she emphasized their conviction that education is fundamental to democracy, quoting her husband: "I consider my philanthropic endeavors as an investment in America's future. It represents the most impactful way I can serve my nation and help secure its advantages for generations to come."

Mrs. Annenberg held prominent positions across various arts institutions, including trustee emerita and member of the Acquisitions Committee at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, board trustee at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, managing director of The Metropolitan Opera, honorary trustee and former president of the Palm Springs Art Museum, and membership in the American Philosophical Society. She also chaired the Foundation for Art and Preservation in Embassies and participated on the Committee for the Preservation of the White House.

Additionally, she was honored as a Distinguished Daughter of Pennsylvania and served as trustee emeritus at the University of Pennsylvania, contributing to governance boards of both Annenberg Schools for Communication. In 1993, she and her husband were awarded the National Medal of Arts. Her election as a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences occurred in 2004.

Later Life

Walter Annenberg passed away on October 1, 2002, at 94 years old. Subsequently, Lee Annenberg assumed the roles of chairman and president of the Annenberg Foundation, which supports nonprofit initiatives in education, arts, and other sectors. She continued to advance philanthropic projects in science, education, and the arts until her passing. In 2006, Forbes ranked her as the 382nd wealthiest individual worldwide, with a position at 488th in 2007. That same year, she was listed as the 165th richest American, possessing a net worth estimated at $2.5 billion. During 2007, Annenberg attended a state dinner honoring Queen Elizabeth II in Washington, D.C., hosted by President George W. Bush, and was honored with the Philadelphia Award for her regional contributions.

Prior to her death, she held honorary board membership at the Richard Nixon Foundation and was recognized as an honorary fellow by the Royal Academy of Arts.

Death

Lee Annenberg resided in Rancho Mirage, California before passing away on March 12, 2009, at age 91. She died from natural causes at Eisenhower Medical Center, following a period of declining health.

After her death, tributes were issued by former president George H. W. Bush, Barbara Bush, and former first lady Nancy Reagan, who described her as "a dear and longtime friend" and lauded the Annenbergs' philanthropic legacy for creating "an indelible print on education in the United States."

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