Catharine Cline Hamilton

Catharine Cline Hamilton, a luminous presence in the worlds of art, culture, and philanthropy, passed away peacefully on October 7, 2025. She was 78.

Born in Amarillo, Texas, on August 28, 1947, Catharine’s adventurous and artistic spirit emerged early. She pursued her studies at Finch College in New York City, where she later met her husband, David Hamilton—also a fellow Texan. Their love story unfolded across continents, as they built a life together between Chicago and France, raising their two children, Catharine Elizabeth Deutsch and Tennessee Alexis Hamilton, with boundless love, imagination, and an enduring reverence for beauty.

Catharine began her professional life at Sotheby’s in New York, and her vision and leadership were quickly recognized. Upon relocating to Chicago, she was entrusted with opening the Sotheby’s auction house there, a milestone that marked her deepening commitment to the arts. Over the years, she served on numerous cultural and philanthropic boards, tirelessly championing causes close to her heart.

Among Catharine’s most enduring legacies was her work with the Château de Versailles. After serving on the board of Les Amis de Versailles, at the time, the only American with the distinction, she was invited to found the American Friends of Versailles. She presided as its president from 1997 until 2024, remaining an incomparable driving force in restoring the whimsy and decadence of the palace and its gardens, preserving its beauty for generations to come. Her dedication to this cause brought together art lovers, historians, and philanthropists from around the world. In recognition of her historic efforts, the French government awarded her the Legion of Honor, one of the nation’s highest distinctions.

Catharine was also a unique and talented interior designer, whose refined sensibility and outrageous commitment to French period rooms, graced homes in New York and Chicago. Her aesthetic was deeply influenced by her passion for French history, classical French gardens and interiors—an enthusiasm she shared with David. Most notably, they partnered in the restoration and garden design of their beloved Château de Saint-Georges-Motel, in collaboration with their dear friend René Pechère. The park was originally designed by the formidable Andre Le Notre who’s great masterpiece, incredibly, was the designing of the original gardens of Versailles.

Catharine was magnetic with an indelible ‘je ne sais quois.’ She was well known for her unmatched energy, inexhaustible dedication, and the rare ability to inspire magic in everyone around her. Glamorous, witty, and fiercely intelligent, she was a true original. She believed deeply in the transformative power of beauty, and she dedicated her life to sharing it with the world—from the salons of New York to the bosquets of Versailles. Her influence is perhaps most poignantly reflected in the enchanting Trois Fontaines Bosquet, a garden whose playful grandeur so perfectly mirrors her spirit.

She instilled in her children a lifelong love of art, culture, and travel, leading them from a young age through the great museums of Europe and beyond. Catharine leaves behind a remarkable legacy of elegance, generosity, and vision. There will never be another like her.

Given the depth and breadth of the global community who loved her, Catharine’s children have chosen to hold a private memorial for the time being, with plans to honor her life and legacy in a more public and lasting way to be announced at a later date.