Maureen Reagan

Maureen Reagan was an American political activist, commentator, and the eldest child of President Ronald Reagan and actress Jane Wyman. A prominent figure within the Republican Party, she served as a vocal advocate for women's political participation and later became a leading activist in the fight against Alzheimer's disease. Her dynamic career included roles as a talk show host, a candidate for the United States Senate, and a senior official within the Republican National Committee.

Early life and family

Maureen Elizabeth Reagan was born on January 4, 1941, in Los Angeles. Her parents, actor Ronald Reagan and Oscar-winning actress Jane Wyman, divorced in 1949. She was largely raised by her mother and stepfather, Fred Karger, after her father's marriage to Nancy Reagan in 1952. She attended Marymount Junior School in Bel Air and later graduated from Immaculate Heart High School. Her early adulthood saw brief pursuits in acting and singing, including a role on the television series *The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour*. She was the half-sister of Michael Reagan, Patti Davis, and Ron Reagan.

Political career

Maureen Reagan became a dedicated activist for the Republican Party, vigorously campaigning for her father during his successful runs for Governor of California and the Presidency. In 1982, she launched an unsuccessful campaign for the United States Senate from California, losing in the Republican primary. Her political influence grew significantly when she was appointed Co-Chair of the Republican National Committee in 1987, a role in which she championed greater inclusion of women. She later served as the U.S. Representative to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women and was a public delegate to the United Nations General Assembly during the Reagan administration.

Advocacy and activism

A lifelong advocate for women's rights, Maureen Reagan worked to increase the number of women in elected office and was a founding member of the National Political Congress of Black Women. Her most enduring advocacy began after her father's 1994 diagnosis with Alzheimer's disease. She became a powerful national voice on the issue, serving as the Chairman of the Alzheimer's Association's National Board and as President of the Alzheimer's Association International's affiliate network. She testified before Congress and was instrumental in raising public awareness and research funding for the disease.

Personal life

Maureen Reagan was married three times: first to John Filippone, then to attorney David Sills, and finally to businessman Dennis C. Revell in 1981, to whom she remained married until her death. In 1994, she and Revell adopted a daughter, Rita. She authored a memoir, *First Father, First Daughter*, published in 1989. For many years, she wrote a syndicated newspaper column and hosted a Sacramento-based radio talk show, *The Maureen Reagan Show*.

Death and legacy

Maureen Reagan died on August 8, 2001, at her home in Granite Bay, California, after a five-year battle with melanoma. Her funeral was held at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in Sacramento, with eulogies delivered by her brother, Michael Reagan, and former First Lady Nancy Reagan. She is interred at Calvary Catholic Cemetery and Mausoleum in Sacramento. Her legacy is carried on through her advocacy work; the Alzheimer's Association presents an annual "Maureen Reagan Lifetime Achievement Award" for volunteer service, and a research fund was established in her name at the University of California, Davis.

Category:American political activists Category:Reagan family Category:2001 deaths