Philanthropist, fund raiser par excellence. Born Rosemary Cathleen Cox in Minnesota, she was raised in Kansas City and at birth was already an aunt. Her first marriage was to James Healey, a Congressman from the Bronx. He was part of the Kennedy inner circle and Cathleen danced with John F. Kennedy at his Inaugural Ball. This marriage did not last, and her next husband was Norris McFarlane, an industrialist. They moved to Palm Beach in the 1970's and thus begun her restoration of Villa des Cygnes, a Mizner mansion on Worth Avenue, adjacent to The Everglades Club. It is the only house in Palm Beach with a room that is actually in the water. Following her death, this fantastic residence overlooking Lake Worth sold for $15 million. She was actively involved in the Palm Beach charity circuit and chaired nearly all Palm Beach Balls, some more than once. Her fund raising efforts were second to none according to her foundation's website. She started the R. Cathleen Cox McFarlane Trust in 1997. Through this, the St. Ann's Place, a service delivering services for the homeless was founded, and her last effort was to save the Sacred Heart School in Lake Worth from closure. It is said she spent 30 hours a week at her desk writing letters, telephoning and raising money for her charitable projects. Her early life was spent in modeling, appearing in theater productions, TV soap operas and commercials. Her sister, Margaret was a well known Burlesque Queen, as popular as Gypsy Rose Lee.
Philanthropist, fund raiser par excellence. Born Rosemary Cathleen Cox in Minnesota, she was raised in Kansas City and at birth was already an aunt. Her first marriage was to James Healey, a Congressman from the Bronx. He was part of the Kennedy inner circle and Cathleen danced with John F. Kennedy at his Inaugural Ball. This marriage did not last, and her next husband was Norris McFarlane, an industrialist. They moved to Palm Beach in the 1970's and thus begun her restoration of Villa des Cygnes, a Mizner mansion on Worth Avenue, adjacent to The Everglades Club. It is the only house in Palm Beach with a room that is actually in the water. Following her death, this fantastic residence overlooking Lake Worth sold for $15 million. She was actively involved in the Palm Beach charity circuit and chaired nearly all Palm Beach Balls, some more than once. Her fund raising efforts were second to none according to her foundation's website. She started the R. Cathleen Cox McFarlane Trust in 1997. Through this, the St. Ann's Place, a service delivering services for the homeless was founded, and her last effort was to save the Sacred Heart School in Lake Worth from closure. It is said she spent 30 hours a week at her desk writing letters, telephoning and raising money for her charitable projects. Her early life was spent in modeling, appearing in theater productions, TV soap operas and commercials. Her sister, Margaret was a well known Burlesque Queen, as popular as Gypsy Rose Lee.
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