Doria Palmieri: Biography, Career, Marriage to Ron Reagan, and Cause of Death

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Doria Palmieri was an American clinical psychologist and the first wife of Ron Reagan, the youngest son of former U.S. President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan. Although her marriage connected her to one of America’s most recognizable political families, she pursued a professional career and maintained a relatively private personal life.

Before becoming a psychologist, Palmieri worked in literary research and publishing. She married Ron Reagan in November 1980, shortly after his father won the presidential election. Their marriage lasted more than 33 years, ending with her death in March 2014. Her life included work in different professional fields, family connections to the White House, and a long marriage.

Doria Palmieri’s Quick Facts

Detail	Information
Full name	Doria Palmieri Reagan
Date of birth	September 13, 1951
Birthplace	Los Angeles, California, United States
Nationality	American
Profession	Clinical psychologist
Earlier work	Literary researcher and publishing professional
Education	Studied philosophy at California State College, Northridge
Husband	Ron Reagan (1980–2014)
Father-in-law	Ronald Reagan
Mother-in-law	Nancy Reagan
Children	None
Long-term residence	Seattle, Washington
Date of death	March 24, 2014
Age at death	62 years
Cause of death	Complications from a progressive neuromuscular disease

Early Life and Education

Doria Palmieri was born on September 13, 1951, in Los Angeles, California. She grew up in Southern California and later attended California State College, Northridge, now known as California State University, Northridge.

She studied philosophy but did not complete her undergraduate degree. In a January 1981 interview, Palmieri explained that illness had interrupted her studies and that financial circumstances made returning to college difficult.

During her early adulthood, she considered several possible careers, including teaching and law. She also expressed an interest in special education, particularly working with children who experienced emotional difficulties.

Her eventual career took a different direction. After working in research and publishing, she pursued clinical psychology, which became her principal profession later in life.

Doria Palmieri’s Professional Career

Early Work in Literary Research and Publishing

Before establishing herself in psychology, Palmieri worked in positions involving research, writing, and editorial support.

Contemporary coverage following her marriage identified her as a literary researcher. She was also associated with Interview, the magazine founded by American artist Andy Warhol.

During the early 1980s, she worked as an assistant to Bob Colacello, who served as the magazine’s editor. Her involvement placed her in a publishing environment closely connected to New York’s entertainment, fashion, and contemporary art communities.

Her work in publishing was an early stage of a career that eventually moved into an entirely different professional field.

Career as a Clinical Psychologist

Palmieri later became a clinical psychologist, a profession concerned with assessing and treating psychological, emotional, and behavioral difficulties.

Her work as a psychologist was established by the time she and her husband were living in Seattle. In a 2011 interview, the couple discussed their professional and financial circumstances, and Palmieri was described as continuing to work despite receiving treatment for a serious illness.

Following her death in 2014, Ron Reagan also publicly identified his late wife’s profession as clinical psychology.

Unlike her husband, who developed a career in broadcasting and political commentary, Palmieri did not make television or political media a central part of her professional life.

How Did Doria Palmieri Meet Ron Reagan?

Doria Palmieri and Ron Reagan met in Los Angeles during the 1970s, when both were young adults.

A contemporary account of their November 1980 wedding established that they had known each other for approximately four years before marrying.

Ron, born on May 20, 1958, was seven years younger than Palmieri. He was pursuing a career in ballet and became a member of Joffrey II, the junior company associated with the Joffrey Ballet.

Their relationship developed while Ron was establishing his independence and pursuing artistic interests rather than following his father’s political career.

By the time they married, the couple had already been living together for more than a year in New York City’s Greenwich Village neighborhood.

Doria Palmieri and Ron Reagan’s Marriage

<text>Wedding date: November 24, 1980</text>

Doria Palmieri married Ron Reagan in a private civil ceremony in Manhattan, New York, on November 24, 1980.

The wedding took place in the chambers of New York State Supreme Court Justice Lester Evans, just weeks after Ronald Reagan defeated incumbent President Jimmy Carter in the 1980 presidential election.

The couple chose an informal ceremony rather than a traditional wedding celebration.

Palmieri wore red cowboy boots, black trousers, and a black sweater. Ron wore jeans, a red sweatshirt, and tennis shoes.

Neither Ronald Reagan nor Nancy Reagan attended the wedding. Among those present were Secret Service agent Lane McNitt and Ron’s friend Calvin Williford, who served as witnesses.

The marriage brought Palmieri into the Reagan family shortly before Ronald Reagan’s inauguration as the 40th president of the United States in January 1981.

Her Relationship With the Reagan Family

As Ronald and Nancy Reagan’s daughter-in-law, Palmieri occasionally participated in family occasions associated with the presidency.

She appeared in the official Reagan family photograph taken during the 1981 presidential inauguration. She was also included in family photographs during subsequent White House gatherings.

One photograph from December 25, 1983, shows Palmieri and Ron alongside President Reagan, Nancy Reagan, and Patti Davis near the White House Christmas tree.

Another photograph documents her attendance at a Reagan family Thanksgiving gathering at Rancho del Cielo, the president’s California ranch, in November 1984.

Despite these family connections, Palmieri did not pursue a prominent political role or develop a public career based on her relationship with the president.

Life in Seattle and Their Long Marriage

After spending their earlier years together in New York and California, Doria and Ron Reagan eventually settled in Seattle, Washington.

Ron stated in a 2014 interview that he had moved from Los Angeles to Seattle in 1994.

By that time, he had transitioned from ballet into television, journalism, and political commentary. His professional activities included television appearances, broadcasting, and radio hosting.

Palmieri continued working as a psychologist while maintaining a personal life outside her husband’s media career.

The couple had no children and shared their Seattle home with their pets.

A 2011 profile offered a glimpse into their everyday relationship, including their visits to medical appointments and discussions about finances, employment, and healthcare.

Their marriage continued throughout Palmieri’s illness. They remained married until her death in 2014.

Doria Palmieri’s Illness and Cause of Death

Doria Palmieri died on March 24, 2014, at the age of 62, from complications associated with a progressive neuromuscular disease.

In an interview published in May 2014, Ron Reagan explained that his wife had developed the illness approximately seven and a half years before her death.

Neuromuscular diseases affect the nerves responsible for controlling muscles, the muscles themselves, or the communication between them. Depending on the condition, symptoms may include muscle weakness, impaired mobility, and difficulties with everyday physical activities.

The precise medical diagnosis underlying Palmieri’s illness was not publicly identified.

Her condition had already affected her mobility by 2011, when a newspaper profile described her undergoing treatment at a University of Washington hospital and using a crutch.

Despite her medical difficulties, she continued working during part of her illness.

Palmieri’s death ended a marriage that had lasted more than three decades. Ron subsequently spoke about his loss while discussing his personal life and professional activities.

Did Ron Reagan Remarry After Doria Palmieri’s Death?

Yes. Ron Reagan married Federica Basagni in 2018, approximately four years after Palmieri’s death.

His second marriage is documented in the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library’s official family biography.

Palmieri was his first wife, and their marriage ended because of her death, not because of a divorce. She is therefore more accurately described as Ron Reagan’s late wife rather than his former wife.

Frequently Asked Questions About Doria Palmieri

1. Who was Doria Palmieri?

Doria Palmieri was an American clinical psychologist who was married to Ron Reagan, the youngest son of President Ronald Reagan and Nancy Reagan. She also worked in literary research and publishing earlier in her career.

2. How old was Doria Palmieri when she died?

Doria Palmieri was 62 years old when she died on March 24, 2014. She was born on September 13, 1951.

3. What was Doria Palmieri’s cause of death?

She died from complications of a progressive neuromuscular disease that she had experienced for approximately seven and a half years. Her exact medical diagnosis was not publicly disclosed.

4. Did Doria Palmieri and Ron Reagan have children?

No. Doria Palmieri and Ron Reagan did not have children during their marriage, which lasted from November 1980 until March 2014.

5. What did Doria Palmieri do for a living?

Palmieri worked as a clinical psychologist. Earlier in her professional life, she worked as a literary researcher and was associated with Andy Warhol’s Interview magazine.

6. How long were Doria Palmieri and Ron Reagan married?

Doria Palmieri and Ron Reagan were married for more than 33 years. Their wedding took place on November 24, 1980, and they remained married until her death on March 24, 2014.

Conclusion

Doria Palmieri lived a life that combined a professional career in psychology with a personal connection to one of America’s most prominent presidential families. From her early work in publishing to her later career as a clinical psychologist, she pursued interests that extended beyond her marriage to Ron Reagan.

Although her connection to the Reagan family brought occasional media attention, she spent much of her adult life outside the political spotlight. Her marriage to Ron Reagan lasted more than 33 years, and the couple remained together until her death in March 2014.

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