Sarita Kenedy East | |
|---|---|
 Likely taken before December 1910, when she married | |
| Born | Sarita Kenedy September 19, 1889 |
| Died | February 11, 1961 (aged 71) New York City, New York |
| Occupation(s) | Rancher and philanthropist |
| Spouse | Arthur Lee East |
| Parents |
|
| Relatives |
|
Sarita Kenedy East (1889–1961) was a rancher and philanthropist from South Texas. She played an active role in the management of her half of La Parra Ranch, and after her brother had become ill, she also leased and oversaw the management of his half of the ranch. East was called patrona for her role in ensuring the health, education, and well-being of the ranch employees and their families. She was a generous philanthropist, particularly concerning Catholic charities. East received the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice medal from Pope Pius XII in 1952, in recognition of her service and donations to the church. Before she died, she donated $300,000 (equivalent to $3,135,616 in 2023) to establish a monastery in Chile for Trappist monks.
Already made wealthy by an inheritance from her father, East's wealth increased dramatically when oil was found on Kenedy Ranch and San Pablo Ranch. She established the John G. and Marie Stella Kenedy Memorial Foundation, which became the center of decades of court cases between the family and the Diocese of Corpus Christi against a Trappist monk named Brother Leo and J. Peter Grace, who had facilitated the creation of the charitable organization.
After East's death, the family claimed that the two men had exerted undue influence against East when her mind was not sharp due to her declining health and the medications that she took. Lawsuits were filed to contest the will and management of the estate. Brother Leo lost the case against him and all the subsequent appeals, including when the United States Supreme Court refused to hear his appeal. The Vatican had sent Archbishop John Krol of Philadelphia to investigate. Brother Leo was dismissed by May 1966.
The Kenedy Ranch is now operated by two different trusts. The John G. Kenedy Jr. Charitable Trust, as named by Elena Seuss Kenedy, manages the northern section of the ranch of approximately 200,000 acres. It is the land that John G. Kenedy had inherited. The southern section, about 235,000 acres, is operated by the John G. and Marie Stella Kenedy Memorial Foundation, established by East. It is the land inherited by East. Another charitable foundation was established called the Sarita Kenedy East Foundation, which is managed out of New York City.