Adorable Story #145: Patsy Pulitzer
An Original Palm Beach Icon
At a dinner in the 1960s, a guest asked if being a Pulitzer meant she read every newspaper in the country.
Patsy smiled and said simply:
“Only the ones that mention me.”
In the middle of the 20th century, Palm Beach was the center of American high society, and a few names captured the spirit of the place.
One of them was Patsy Pulitzer, a model and socialite who did not seek attention, yet became the kind of person others noticed.
Table of Contents: Early Life and Family / A Note on Misidentification / Education / Modeling and Public Recognition / Marriage and Children / The Cabo Blanco Catch / Relationship with Lilly Pulitzer / Later Life
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Early Life and Family
Gladys “Patsy” Pulitzer was born on May 13th, 1928, in Palm Beach, Florida.
Patsy came from the well‑known Pulitzer family, whose name was connected to newspapers, publishing, and public service.
Her father, Herbert “Tony” Pulitzer Sr. (1895–1939), was one of the sons of Joseph Pulitzer, founder of the New York World and creator of the Pulitzer Prizes.
Her mother, Gladys Mildred Munn, belonged to a family active in real estate and business. Patsy had one brother, Herbert Pulitzer Jr., and grew up between Palm Beach and New York.
A Note on Misidentification
Over the years, a few photo archives and society columns have mistakenly referred to Patsy Pulitzer as “Gladys Bartlett.” The mix‑up likely stems from overlapping family names on her mother’s side: Patsy’s mother, Gladys Munn Pulitzer, had relatives who married into the Bartlett family, a branch also active in Palm Beach society.
