This season the Palm Beach Civic Association is launching a dynamic new media series that explores the rich tapestry of cultural and artistic offerings available to residents of Palm Beach and the greater community.
The Felicia Taylor Arts Legacy Series carries the name and embodies the spirit of the late television news anchor and longtime Palm Beach resident known for her love of the town and deep appreciation of the arts.
The series, which began December 1, honors the life work of Taylor while enlightening viewers about the expanding and diverse cultural opportunities available in this area, series host Bob Merrill said.
Merrill’s interviews with leaders of area arts and cultural organizations appear on the first Sunday of each month, throughout the season.
“We are so grateful that Felicia’s sense of caring, love for the community, and desire to give back will be carried on through this legacy,” said Merrill, a Civic Association director since 2021.
Taylor, who died in September 2023 at age 59, is perhaps best remembered for her remarkable 25-year career in television news. She was a weekend anchor for WNBC in New York and a business correspondent for the CNBC and CNN cable networks, covering pivotal moments in history from the Gulf War to the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
In 2021, Taylor produced the acclaimed documentary “Far From Home,” which examined the effect of climate change on the people of Senegal, particularly its children.
Hillie Mahoney, a longtime Palm Beach resident and Civic Association Director since 2000, said her friendship with Taylor began years ago when both women lived in New York.
“She was always the most vibrant, alive, wonderful young lady,” Mahoney said.
Born August 28, 1964, in Los Angeles, Taylor was the daughter of actor Rod Taylor, who starred in Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Birds,” and prominent Palm Beacher and fashion model Mary Hilem Schott.
A true child of Hollywood, Taylor’s godfathers were John Wayne and John Ford.
Taylor married Peter Gottsegen, a retired business executive and Civic Association Director, in 2021. Together they were photographed around town, supporting the arts and attending many Civic Association programs.
Gottsegen said he would like to see the Felicia Taylor Arts Legacy Series expand awareness and appreciation of the excellent cultural institutions in Palm Beach and the greater area.
“Felicia loved Palm Beach, and she loved the cultural aspects of Palm Beach, so having a program that promotes them is a fitting memorial to her,” Gottsegen said.
He added: “She was terrific. She was very funny. She was very smart. She loved cultural activities, she loved music, she loved everything in the arts.”
On December 1, Merrill was joined in the Civic Association studio by Dr. Philip Rylands, president and CEO of the Society of the Four Arts. The two spoke at length about the exciting and illuminating calendar of programs the Four Arts has lined up for the 2024-25 season.
The series’ next installment will feature Merrill interviewing Andrew Kato, producing artistic director and chief executive of the Maltz Jupiter Theatre. It will be posted to the Civic Association’s website and emailed to our Constant Contact subscribers on Sunday, January 5.
On February 2, Merrill’s guest will be Ghislain d’Humieres, director and CEO of the Norton Museum of Art.
Other upcoming segments will feature interviews with leaders of the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts and The Innovate Palm Beach cultural arts center, scheduled to open in the former Royal Poinciana Playhouse building in late 2025.
Mary Robosson, the Civic Association’s president and chief operating officer, said the non-profit organization is honored to provide a new media platform to promote greater awareness of the arts.
“The Felicia Taylor Arts Legacy Series honors Felicia’s memory in a way we believe she would have considered most appropriate – by fostering a deeper appreciation of the abundant cultural offerings that are right here at our doorstep,” Robosson said.
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