by Nyna Giles
Audrey Brooks. In our first meeting, you asked if I had ever thought of writing a memoir, and later if my husband and I would chair the organization’s 2015 Run/Walk in support of mental health advocacy, which we did. Thank you for your encouragement.
Doris Schwartz, former COO of the MHA of Westchester. You have served as a mentor to me in many ways. Your example and dedication have deepened my commitment to mental health advocacy. I am so grateful for the time you have given me.
Karen and Joel Berman. Thank you for helping me to obtain a copy of the 1993 Hard Copy episode featuring my mother. Thank you to CTD Clip Licensing Group for providing that episode so I could watch it again.
Cathy Nish. Thank you for connecting us with Tony Monaco, the current manager of the Barbizon building on East Sixty-third Street. Tony, thank you for taking us on the tour of the former hotel. It was just wonderful to be inside the building, to walk out on its terraces, to learn of its history, and to stand on the floor near the rooms where Grace and my mother lived. It was especially valuable for us to have the original floor plan of the hotel.
I did not set out to focus on my mother’s diagnosis, but this aspect became a very important part of the story. I am so grateful to have been able to share my mother’s story with Dr. Jeffrey Lieberman, Dr. Diana Lynn Barnes, Dr. Dominic Grecco, and Ariane Sroubik. Your input was simply invaluable, adding to my understanding of my mother in ways I could have never predicted when I began my research. Thank you for the gift of your time and your expertise.
My therapist, Ginger Benlifer. Writing this book has been one of the most difficult things I have ever done, bringing on daily tears as I allowed myself to feel the sadness of my mother’s life and to relive painful events that I had long suppressed. Toward the end of writing you helped me to talk through so many difficult memories. I don’t think I could have gotten through it without your guidance.
Many authors have inspired me along the way—Andrew Solomon, Patrick Kennedy, and Regina Calcaterra. The honesty with which you shared your stories gave me the confidence to tell mine. I have seen the results of your work and the wonderful things that have come out of your desire to help others.
I have been incredibly lucky to be surrounded by my amazing modern family, whose endless love is both precious and strong.
My daughter Nicole. You are my angel who inspires me to deepen my conviction as an advocate.
My son, now known as Johnny Ferro. You chose to pursue your dreams as an actor, and I’m so proud of all you have achieved. You have always shown great interest in my story, and have been an important sounding board throughout the entire journey. Thank you for building our website, too.
My daughter Danielle. Watching you graduate from college was easily one of the most important moments in my life—and to see you succeed in your career continues to bring me great joy as a proud mother.
My sisters, Robin and Jyl, and my half sister, Patricia Reybold. We shared a bond from birth. Patricia—thank you for making me feel connected, for our close relationship, and for the many wonderful memories we share.
David Weiss, thank you for being a wonderful father to our children, and for bringing Maya into our lives.
My stepdaughters, Kristin, Lauren, Jess, and her husband, Matt. Thank you for being such an important part of my life. Special thanks to Jess, the art director, for your help in bringing all the vintage images of my mother to life.
My amazing “Uncousins” family. The traditions we share have made up for much that was missing in my life.
My husband, Peter Giles. You always bring out the best in me, and you have encouraged me to shine even at the darkest moments. Without you, I never would have found the confidence to follow my dreams and share this story. You are my moral compass, my rock, my best friend—and an exceptional on-call editor when I needed a fresh eye for this book.
FROM EVE: Thank you to everyone above as well as my incredible team at Unfurl Productions; my ideal reader, Katie Simon; and my beloved family—Ros, John, Ruth, Hannah, Sacha, Zou Zou, Françoise, Philip, Zizi, Sam, Clara, Joe, and, above all, Chris, Grace, Rose, and Jack. Thank you, Nyna, for taking me on this journey with you, for sharing your life and your mother’s story, and for being the kindest, most diligent collaborator imaginable. We got there in the end.…
MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES
My mother’s illness went untreated for so many years. Had she been diagnosed and properly treated, I believe her life and mine would have turned out very differently. For those who are facing mental health issues today—either of your own or within your families—I strongly encourage you to seek out the following organizations offering vital information and support.
American Psychiatric Association
www.psychiatry.org
Bring Change to Mind
www.bringchange2mind.org
Campaign to Change Direction
www.changedirection.org
Heads Together (UK)
www.headstogether.org.uk
Kennedy Forum
www.kennedyforum.org
Mental Health America
www.nmha.org
Mind (UK)
www.mind.org.uk
National Alliance on Mental Illness
www.nami.org
National Council for Behavioral Health
www.thenationalcouncil.org
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
www.nimh.nih.gov
The following organizations offer information and support for women with postpartum health issues:
Postpartum Support International
www.postpartum.net
International Marcé Society for Perinatal Mental Health
www.marcesociety.com
Best Beginnings (UK)
www.bestbeginnings.org.uk
Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families (UK)
www.annafreud.org
SOURCES
In order to tell the story of my mother’s early years and her friendship with Grace, I had to rely on a number of sources, including the following:
Books and Articles on Grace Kelly
“The Girl in White Gloves.” Time, 1955.
“Hollywood’s Hottest Property.” Life, April 26, 1954.
Kelly, Mrs. John B. “My Daughter Grace Kelly,” nationally syndicated series of articles, 1956.
Lacey, Robert. Grace. New York: Putnam, 1994.
Leigh, Wendy. True Grace: The Life and Times of an American Princess. New York: St Martin’s Press, 2007.
Quine, Judith Balaban. The Bridesmaids: Grace Kelly, Princess of Monaco, and Six Intimate Friends. New York: Weidenfeld and Nicholson, 1989.
Spoto, Donald. High Society: The Life of Grace Kelly. London: Hutchinson, 2009.
Other Sources
Beaton, Cecil. Cecil Beaton: Memoirs of the ’40s. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1973.
Hasbrouck, Muriel Bruce. The Pursuit of Destiny. New York: E. P. Dutton, 1941.
Homans, Jennifer. Apollo’s Angels: A History of Ballet. New York: Random House, 2010.
Lacey, Robert. Model Woman: Eileen Ford and the Business of Beauty. New York: Harper, 2015.
Stewart-Gordon, Faith. The Russian Tea Room: A Love Story. New York: Scribner, 1999.
Articles on the Barbizon Hotel for Women in Collier’s (1948), Saturday Evening Post (1953), Philadelphia Daily News (1982), Vanity Fair (2010).
Articles about contemporary models from Kansas City Star (1946), Harrisburg Telegraph (1945), Abilene Reporter-News (1948).
Articles on the Ford Modeling Agency in Life (1948) and Photography Workshop (1950).
Articles about my mother in Star (1989), Hello (1989), and New York Post (1993), and a clipping from a local Ohio newspaper (name unknown) about my mother’s career from 1951.
TV segments about my mother on Current Affair (1989) and Hard Copy (1993).
Landmarks Preservation Commission reports on the Barbizon and Manhattan House buildings.
In addition, I wa
s able to draw on family photographs, my mother’s modeling photos, her medical records, the few letters I have from her, my school records, my sister Robin’s school records, and Robin’s notes about our time in France and the period after we returned, newspaper articles about Robin during the period of her “welfare scandal,” and interviews with my mother’s family members and friends.
PHOTOGRAPH CREDITS
Carolyn Schaffner in striped skirt, 1947 (Charles F. Green—Jefferson County Historical Association)
Carolyn as Sesquicentennial Queen, 1947 (Charles F. Green—Jefferson County Historical Association)
Carolyn yearbook photo, 1946
Grace Kelly yearbook photo, 1947
Carolyn in J’ray ad (on right), Mademoiselle magazine, May, 1948
Nina Reybold, Long Island, 1964 (Author’s Private Collection)
Carolyn Schaffner in Gorham Sterling Silver ad, June 1948 (Gorham Division of Lenox Corporation)
Ford Models by Nina Leen, 1948 (Nina Leen/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images)
Carolyn Scott, McCall’s magazine, August 1948 (Meredith Corporation, Photograph by Richard Avedon, © The Richard Avedon Foundation)
Carolyn, Seventeen magazine, November 1948 (The Francesco Scavullo Foundation, © The Francesco Scavullo Trust)
Grace Kelly modeling at age nineteen, 1949 (Alamy Inc.)
Carolyn, Charm magazine, June 1949 (© Gleb Derujinsky)
Carolyn and Malcolm Reybold at the Stork Club (Photo courtesy of Stork Club Enterprises LLC, all rights reserved)
Carolyn, Sears Catalogue, 1949 (Sears Corporate)
Carolyn and Malcolm Reybold cutting their wedding cake, March 1949 (Author’s Private Collection)
Carolyn, Long Island (Author’s Private Collection)
Carolyn, Mademoiselle magazine, February 1951 (© George Barkentin)
Carolyn with daughters, Jill and Robin, Manhattan House, 1953 (Author’s Private Collection)
Grace Kelly, Oleg Cassini, Carolyn Reybold (© Bettmann/Getty Images)
Sally Richardson and Carolyn Reybold (© Bettmann/Getty Images)
Princess Grace of Monaco in her wedding dress. Hercule’s Gallery, Palace of Monaco, April 19, 1956 (Photo by Fernand Detaille, © Archives du Palais de Monaco)
Royal Wedding bridesmaids 1956 (Joseph Mckeown Hulton Royals Collection/Getty Images)
Grace visiting shrine, April 1956 (Haywood Magee Hulton Royals Collection/Getty Images)
Robin Reybold in Cannes, France, April 1972 (Author’s Private Collection)
Dream House, Long Island (Author’s Private Collection)
Carolyn and baby Nina, February 1960 (Author’s Private Collection)
Carolyn with her three daughters, summer 1960 (Author’s Private Collection)
Nyna wearing bridesmaid’s dress (Douglas Wright, Author’s Private Collection
Carolyn all in white, NYC 1989 (© Paul Adao)
Nyna’s children: Michael, Danielle, and Nicole, 1995 (Author’s Private Collection)
Carolyn and Nyna at Medford Multicare, Long Island (Author’s Private Collection)
Carolyn’s favorite headshot (Author’s Private Collection)
Nyna’s family at her stepdaughter Jessica’s wedding, February 2015; left to right: Danielle, Kristin, Nyna, Matt, Jessica, Peter, Lauren, and Johnny (Photo by Christina Szczupak)
Robin Reybold (Author’s Private Collection)
In Memory of Robin Reybold, 1953–1979
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
NYNA GILES is the youngest daughter of Carolyn Scott Reybold, a model best known as one of Grace Kelly’s bridesmaids. Having had a successful twenty-year career in advertising, digital marketing, and sales, Nyna now serves as chief operating officer for Giles Communications, a leading public relations company. She is also a tireless advocate for the mentally ill, having served as a vice president on the board of the Association for Mentally Ill Children of Westchester, Inc., for ten years. She lives in Westchester County, New York, with her husband. You can sign up for email updates here.
EVE CLAXTON is a writer, editor, and Peabody Award–winning radio producer. She’s worked as an editor or cowriter on numerous nonfiction books. You can sign up for email updates here.
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CONTENTS
Title Page
Copyright Notice
Dedication
Prologue
Part One: Before
Chapter 1: Carolyn
Chapter 2: Nina
Chapter 3: Carolyn
Chapter 4: Nina
Chapter 5: Carolyn
Chapter 6: Nina
Chapter 7: Carolyn
Chapter 8: Nina
Chapter 9: Carolyn
Chapter 10: Nina
Chapter 11: Carolyn
Chapter 12: Nina
Chapter 13: Carolyn
Chapter 14: Nina
Chapter 15: Carolyn
Chapter 16: Nina
Part Two: After
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Acknowledgments
Mental Health Resources
Sources
Photograph Credits
About the Authors
Copyright
THE BRIDESMAID’S DAUGHTER. Copyright © 2018 by Nyna Giles and Eve Claxton. All rights reserved. For information, address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.
www.stmartins.com
Grateful acknowledgment is made for permission to reprint lyrics from “California Dreamin’.” Copyright © Hal Leonard LLC.
Cover design by Danielle Christopher
Cover photographs: mother and daughter courtesy of author; Prince Rainier and Grace Kelly at altar © Ullstein Bild/Granger, NYC; All rights reserved.
The Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available upon request.
ISBN 978-1-250-11549-2 (hardcover)
ISBN 978-1-250-11551-5 (ebook)
eISBN 9781250115515
Our ebooks may be purchased in bulk for promotional, educational, or business use. Please contact the Macmillan Corporate and Premium Sales Department at 1-800-221-7945, extension 5442, or by email at [email protected].
First Edition: March 2018