Bouvier Beale

Bouvier Beale (February 13, 1922 – May 3, 1994)[1][2] was a prominent American lawyer.[3] Beale was a son of Edith Ewing Bouvier Beale and a brother of Edith Bouvier Beale whose lives were highlighted in the documentary Grey Gardens. Beale was a first cousin of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and Lee Radziwill.[4]

Bouvier Beale
Born(1922-02-13)February 13, 1922
New York City, New York
DiedMay 3, 1994(1994-05-03) (aged 72)
NationalityAmerican
Other namesBuddy
CitizenshipUnited States of America
Alma materYale University
Occupationlawyer
Spouse(s)Katharine Ridgely Jones
Children3
Parent(s)Phelan Beale Sr.
Edith Ewing Bouvier Beale
RelativesEdith Bouvier Beale (sister)
Phelan Beale Jr. (brother)

Early life

Beale was born on February 13, 1922, in New York City, New York.[1] He was the youngest son of Phelan Beale Sr. and his wife Edith Ewing Bouvier Beale (known as "Big Edie"), daughter of his father's law partner, John Vernou Bouvier Jr.[3] Beale grew up at Grey Gardens at 3 West End Road in the wealthy Georgica Pond neighborhood in East Hampton on Long Island. Beale was known as "Buddy" to his friends and family.[3] He attended Westminster School in Simsbury, Connecticut.[5]

Unlike his sister and elder brother Phelan Beale Jr., Beale followed in the footsteps of his father and grandfather by attending Yale Law School and establishing his own law firm in New York—Walker and Beale (later Walker, Beale, Wainwright and Wolf).[2][5][6]

Personal life

Beale married Katharine Ridgely Jones, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Ridgely Jones of New York and Glen Cove, New York, at St. Johns Episcopal Church of Lattingtown in 1942.[5][7] Beale's brother Phelan was his best man for the ceremony.[5] Beale's ceremony was half over when his mother Big Edie arrived, dressed like an opera star.[6]

Beale and Katharine had three sons:[2][7]

Beale and his family resided in the historic 1906 Italian Renaissance-styled home Cedarcroft in Glen Cove on Long Island, and in 1971, built their summer home in Bridgehampton, New York.[2][6] Beale spent his weekends and summers on Long Island at the Piping Rock Club, Jones Beach, and Bridgehampton.[3][6]

Beale was raised a Catholic by his mother, but was an atheist or nihilist in his adulthood.[3] It was Beale's belief that Karl Marx "had it right about religion."[3]

Beale died on May 3, 1994 in Glen Cove.[1] His funeral service was held at St. John's Episcopal Church of Lattingtown in Locust Valley on Long Island.[3] His eulogy was given by his son Christopher Beale.[3]

Grey Gardens

Despite a successful career in law, Beale was best known for playing an active role in trying to persuade his mother Big Edie and sister Little Edie to vacate and sell their Grey Gardens estate in East Hampton.[2] He and his brother Phelan refused to pay for the home's utilities and upkeep in order to cause the women to leave the dilapidated mansion.[2][6] After the Suffolk County Health Department raided the mansion on October 22, 1971, Sidney Beckwith of the health department contacted Beale to convey the report of his inspection.[6] Beale responded, “Mr. Beckwith, you’ve described it very well, but it’s nothing new—Mother is the original hippie."[6] After his first cousins Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and Lee Radziwill came to the aid of Big Edie and Little Edie by having the mansion repaired and cleaned to meet health, sanitation, and building codes, Beale reluctantly paid the back property taxes on the estate.[2][6]

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References
  1. Ancestry.com. Social Security Death Index [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2009. Original data: Social Security Administration. Social Security Death Index, Master File. Social Security Administration. "Social Security Death Index about Bouvier Beale". ancestry.com. Archived from the original on 2012-05-14. Retrieved 2009-05-02.
  2. Grey Gardens Online (2009). "Other Staunch Characters". Grey Gardens Online. Archived from the original on 2009-04-22. Retrieved 2009-05-03.
  3. Corine Cohen. "Interview with Chris Beale". corinescorner.com. Archived from the original on 2007-04-02. Retrieved 2009-05-02.
  4. Debbie Tuma (September 5, 2008). "Who's Here: Eva Marie Beale — Author". Dan's Hamptons. Retrieved 2009-05-02.
  5. Dr. Horace Donegan (5 Jan 2007). "Marriage of Bouvier Beale & Katharine Jones ~ 1942". Rootsweb. Archived from the original on 2011-07-17. Retrieved 2009-05-02.
  6. Gail Sheehy (January 10, 1972). "The Secret of Grey Gardens". New York Magazine. Archived from the original on April 19, 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-02.
  7. GeneAll.net. "Bouvier Beale". GeneAll.net. Archived from the original on 2009-07-25. Retrieved 2009-05-02.
  8. "Nephews Chris, 'Bouve' like Grey Gardens saga". SFGate.com. April 18, 2009. Archived from the original on December 5, 2017.
  9. "Nicholas Beale, Wine Expert, Marries Carmel Anne Philson". The New York Times. May 9, 1976. Archived from the original on December 18, 2017.
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