Beverly Jean Crown, 67, former Playboy bunny, philanthropist dies at Jupiter home
wazzzy
A Playboy bunny turned philanthropist died at her Jupiter home last
week, after contributing millions to Palm Beach County nonprofits.
Beverly Jean Crown, 67, who was described as a ravenous reader and
skilled sportswoman, was afflicted with a rare lung disease.
"She was just a great lady and a great philanthropist," recalled friend
Kyle Zimmer of North Palm Beach on Monday, citing her sense of humor
and love for arts and animals.
The Gary, Ind., native in her 20s was known as Bunny Beverly at the
Playboy Club in Chicago, when she met entrepreneur Barry S. Crown,
whose relatives had founded a building materials company.
Through a merger, the company came to own the Empire State Building in
New York City. The family later held substantial investments that
included Maytag Corp. and a share in the New York Yankees.
Beverly and Barry Crown, reportedly both married to others when they
met, divorced their partners and married each other in 1970.
They were married for 35 years when he died this past January.
"They fell in love," Zimmer said. "They had a lot in common. Both of
them were into athletics and everything." The couple remained
"enormously close" through their marriage, he said.
Asked by talk show host Oprah Winfrey to name the best gift her husband
gave her, Beverly Crown replied, "the time to educate myself."
The Crowns enjoyed adventure travel including climbing Mount Everest,
and Beverly Crown became a champion bodybuilder in her 40s and 50s. She
was a skeet shooter and instrument-rated airplane pilot who helped her
husband start and run several companies.
In 1990, the couple moved to South Florida where they established the
LifeGuide Personal Fitness Center in Palm Beach Gardens and had a
waterfront home in Jupiter's Admiral's Cove community.
Barry Crown was on the board of the FAU Honors College, Zimmer said.
They supported the Norton Museum of Art, the Kravis Center, Children's
Home Society, Dana Farber Cancer Institute and local chapters of the
American Cancer Society, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation,
American Red Cross and American Lung Association.
They underwrote and helped found the Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League's
fund-raising "Walk for the Animals." In addition to underwriting the
International Red Cross Ball, they contributed toward relief efforts
following the Asian tsunami and hurricanes Frances, Jeanne, Katrina and
Wilma.
"They were definitely very loyal to their causes," said Ryan Cairns,
financial development director for the local Red Cross chapter. "Their
giving was very, very generous."
Beverly Crown suffered from Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM). The lung
disease, found almost exclusively in women, is marked by an invasive
muscle cell that over time blocks air, blood and lymph vessels and
stops the lungs from supplying oxygen.
"Our mother lived every day to its fullest," her children Debra, Tawne
and Lance Day of Palm Beach Gardens said in a prepared statement. "Even
in these last few days of her battle with . . . (the disease) . . . she
made every second count and gave it her best.
"That is one of the greatest things she leaves behind - everything
matters."
Survivors include Debra, Tawne and Lance; step-children Bruce of
Chicago, Laurie of Aspen, Colo., Donna of Denver, Colo., and Bradley of
Colorado Springs; six grandchildren; one great grandchild; and her
first husband, James Day of LaPlata, Md.
Private services were held in North Palm Beach.
Memorial contributions may be made to the LAM Foundation, 4015
Executive Park Dr., Suite 320, Cincinnati, Ohio 45241.