Véronique Passani Peck(5 February 1932 – 17 August 2012)
Véronique Passani with her husband Gregory Peck
Profile
Veronique Peck (née Passani; 5 February 1932 – 17 August 2012) was a French-American arts patron, philanthropist and journalist. She was married to actor, political activist and philanthropist Gregory Peck from 1955 until his death in 2003.
Véronique Passani with her husband Gregory Peck
Biography
Veronique Passani was born in Paris, France; her mother was an artist and writer, while her father was an architect. She began her career as a journalist for France Soir, a French daily newspaper, and met Gregory Peck while conducting an interview for France Soir in 1953. The couple married on December 31, 1955, shortly after Peck's divorce from his first wife, Greta Kukkonen.
Véronique Passani with her husband Gregory Peck
Véronique Passani with her husband Gregory Peck, Chicago Airport, 1957
Véronique Passani with her husband Gregory Peck, Chicago Airport, 1958
Véronique Passani with her husband Gregory Peck, Chicago Airport, 1958
Véronique Passani with her husband Gregory Peck
Véronique Passani with her husband Gregory Peck
Véronique Passani with her husband Gregory Peck and their two children: Cecilia Peck and Anthony Peck
Véronique Passani with her husband Gregory Peck
Veronique Peck became a well-known philanthropist in Greater Los Angeles. She and her husband raised approximately $50 million for the American Cancer Society during the 1960s. The Los Angeles Times named her "Woman of the Year" in 1967. She also co-founded the Inner City Cultural Center, a theater group composed of members from different ethnic backgrounds, and the Los Angeles Music Center.
Veronique Peck became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1976.
Shortly after Gregory Peck's death in 2003, Veronique Peck took control of the Gregory Peck Reading Series. The series raises money on behalf of the Los Angeles Public Library through the collaboration of celebrities.
Veronique Peck and her family attended a private White House screening of To Kill a Mockingbird(the film for which Gregory Peck was awarded Oscar) in 2012 with President Barack Obama to mark what would have been her late husband's 96th birthday.
Veronique Peck became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1976.
Shortly after Gregory Peck's death in 2003, Veronique Peck took control of the Gregory Peck Reading Series. The series raises money on behalf of the Los Angeles Public Library through the collaboration of celebrities.
Veronique Peck and her family attended a private White House screening of To Kill a Mockingbird(the film for which Gregory Peck was awarded Oscar) in 2012 with President Barack Obama to mark what would have been her late husband's 96th birthday.
Veronique Peck died of a heart ailment at her home in Los Angeles, California on 17 August 2012, at the age of 80. She was survived by her daughter filmmaker Cecilia Peck, son Anthony Peck, three grandchildren, and her brother, Cornelius Passani.
Véronique Passani with her husband Gregory Peck
Further interest
Exhibition
Gregory Peck with his second wife Véronique Passani (1932–2012), wearing Givenchy gown, 1965, New York