Lorinda "Linda" de Roulet (''

née A birth name is the name of a person given upon birth. The term may be applied to the surname, the given name, or the entire name. Where births are required to be officially registered, the entire name entered onto a birth certificate or birth re ...

'' Payson; born May 8, 1930) is an American

philanthropist Philanthropy is a form of altruism that consists of "private initiatives, for the Public good (economics), public good, focusing on quality of life". Philanthropy contrasts with business initiatives, which are private initiatives for private goo ...

. She is the former president of the New York Mets of Major League Baseball. She served in the role from 1975 through 1980. She succeeded her mother, Joan Whitney Payson, in the role upon her death, and served as president until her family sold the team to Doubleday & Company.

Early life

Lorinda de Roulet is the daughter of

Joan Payson Joan Whitney Payson (February 5, 1903 – October 4, 1975) was an American heiress, businesswoman, philanthropist, patron of the arts and art collector, and a member of the prominent Whitney family. She was also co-founder and majority owner of ...

, the first owner of the New York Mets of Major League Baseball (MLB), and

Charles Shipman Payson Charles Shipman Payson (October 16, 1898 – May 5, 1985, aged 86) was the owner of the New York Mets of the National League from through . In 1975, he inherited the club upon the death of his wife, Mets founder Joan Whitney. Early life Pays ...

. Though christened "Lorinda", she prefers to be referred to as "Linda".St. Petersburg Times - Google News Archive Search
/ref> She graduated from Green Vale School in Glen Head, New York, and Ethel Walker School in

Simsbury, Connecticut Simsbury is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 24,517 at the 2020 census. The town was incorporated as Connecticut's 21st town in May 1670. History Early history At the beginning of the 17th century, the ...

. She attended

Wellesley College Wellesley College is a private women's liberal arts college in Wellesley, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1870 by Henry and Pauline Durant as a female seminary, it is a member of the original Seven Sisters Colleges, an unofficial g ...

for three years.

Career

Joan Payson died in 1975. Charles Payson inherited his widow's stake in the team, but took little interest in baseball. As a result, de Roulet became the main representative for the Payson interests. She was elected team president of the Mets and named to its board of directors.St. Joseph News-Press - Google News Archive Search
/ref> She became the first woman to direct the day-to-day operations of a Major League baseball franchise.The Madison Courier – Google News Archive Search
/ref> She succeeded

M. Donald Grant Michael Donald Grant (May 1, 1904 – November 28, 1998) was the chairman and a minority owner of the New York Mets baseball club from its beginnings in 1962 to 1978. Early life Grant was born in Montreal in 1904, the son of Hockey Hall of Fa ...

as chair of the board when he was forced out in 1978. Charles Payson sold the franchise to Doubleday & Company in 1980. At the time of the sale, de Roulet was succeeded as president by Fred Wilpon. De Roulet remains a fan of the team, attending games after the sale.

Personal life

In 1951, she married

Vincent de Roulet Vincent William de Roulet (1925 – August 11, 1975) was an American businessman, politician, and statesman. He served as United States Ambassador to Jamaica from 1969 through 1973. Biography De Roulet was born in Los Angeles, California. He liv ...

. Her husband owned a printing business, and died in 1974. The couple had three children: *Whitney de Roulet, who married Clark Lewis Bullock. *Bebe de Roulet *Daniel de Roulet, who worked in the Mets' front office during de Roulet's presidency. De Roulet lives in Manhasset, New York.

Philanthropy

De Roulet founded the Patrina Foundation, which supports education and social services for women. She serves on the board of governors of

New York Hospital Weill Cornell Medical Center (previously known as New York Hospital or Old New York Hospital or City Hospital) is a research hospital in New York City. It is part of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and the teaching hospital for Cornell University. ...

and North Shore University Hospital, on which she is vice chairman of the board of trustees. She has sold artwork collected by her mother, including paintings by Pablo Picasso, donating the proceeds to charity.

References

External links