The glittering world of San Francisco high society has lost one of its most iconic figures. Pat Montandon, the television host, author, and philanthropist famously dubbed the city's 'blonde beauty', has died at the age of 96.
A Life of Glamour and Reinvention
Her son, Sean Wilsey, shared the news on Facebook, revealing she passed away peacefully on 21 December, surrounded by loved ones at the De Anza House elder care home in Palm Desert. He described her final days as being attended to "with great love and dignity".
Montandon's journey to becoming a Bay Area institution was remarkable. Born in Texas in 1928 and raised in poverty in Oklahoma as one of eight children of a preacher, she arrived in California in 1960 with just $400 to her name. She swiftly found work at the prestigious I. Magnin department store, but her sights were set higher.
"To me, the city was a fairy land in every way. It was magical," she recalled of 1960s San Francisco in a 2012 interview. Renowned for her vivacious personality and penchant for high heels, she became a fixture on the cocktail party circuit, her image regularly gracing society pages.
From Party Girl to Peace Ambassador
Her fame solidified with a move into television, where she hosted shows like The Pat Montandon Show on KGO-TV and worked as a gossip columnist for the San Francisco Examiner. She lived in a famed white mansion on Lombard Street, which she later claimed was cursed after an incident at an occult-themed party in 1967.
Montandon's personal life was often in the spotlight, including her marriage to businessman Al Wilsey in 1969 and the birth of her son Sean a year later. The union ended scandalously in 1980 when Wilsey had an affair with her best friend. Throughout it all, she remained a beloved figure, known for hosting extravagant luncheons for celebrities including Frank Sinatra, Andy Warhol, and Danielle Steel.
In a profound mid-life shift, Montandon channelled her energy into humanitarian work. She founded Children as Teachers for Peace, leading 37 international trips with schoolchildren to meet world leaders. Her efforts earned her three Nobel Peace Prize nominations.
A Legacy of Love and Fearlessness
In her final weeks, family gathered for Thanksgiving where Montandon, mostly listening, offered a final piece of advice. Her son recounted she told them: "I want you to carry on as if you weren't afraid." "There was no arguing with that," Wilsey wrote. "We will."
Her multifaceted legacy encompasses bestselling books like How to Be a Party Girl, founding charities focused on women's rights and climate action, and launching the Napa Valley Wine Auction in 1979. Pat Montandon's story is one of audacious reinvention—from Texas poverty to the pinnacle of California society, and finally, to a globally recognised advocate for peace.
