Bruce Campbell Adamson P.O. Box 3511, Santa Cruz, CA, 95063-

Irene Boyd Barrett

OUR ADOPTED MuM

Stephen Lyons was also a co-founding member of the Ireland-American Society, Irene Kennedy, Barbara Collins, and Ken Smith. Producer Ivan Goff collects OSCAR for man who could not.

Irene s connection to the Kennedy family and the U.S. Presidency was both personal and professional:

Campaigning for JFK: Despite being an Irish citizen at the time, she was personally invited by then-Senator Kennedy to join his "camp." She campaigned for him from Ireland, mobilizing American tourists and her own relatives in Boston.

The Irish-American Society: As a co-founder and secretary, she was a central figure in fostering diplomatic and cultural ties between the two nations.

Eye-Witness to History: While working for Ivan Goff in Malibu, she witnessed President Kennedy landing his helicopter at the neighboring home of Peter Lawford.

Presidential Recognition: Her lifelong contributions and character were recognized by President Bill Clinton, who sent her a signed pen and birthday wishes.

Hollywood Connections

Irene s career path reads like a "Who s Who" of classic cinema and television:
Employer / Associate Connection

Stanley Kubrick Irene worked as his housekeeper following the release of Dr. Strangelove.
Ivan Goff Producer of Mission Impossible and Charlie s Angels; Irene worked for him in the early 60s.
Jim Hutton: Irene worked for the actor (father of Timothy Hutton) before joining the Adamson household.
Cary Grant Irene famously chose to work for the Adamson family even when offered a position at Grant's home.

Zsa Zsa Gabor

The Adamson Family Legacy:

The most poignant part of your account is the emotional bond she shared with your family.

Arrival (1967): She joined your household at a time of great loss (following your mother's passing in 1959) and national upheaval (near the RFK assassination).

The "Adopted Mother": Her presence was so significant that she was considered a mother figure to all the Adamson children.

The Final Farewell (2004): Your 24-hour drive to Santa Monica to serve as her pallbearer is a testament to the profound respect and love your family held for her.

A Note on the "Dr. Strangelove" Oscars:

You mentioned that Dr. Strangelove won Best Picture. While it is widely considered one of the greatest films ever made and received four Academy Award nominations (including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor for Peter Sellers), it actually did not win in those categories that year losing out primarily to My Fair Lady. However, its cultural impact remains "Oscar-worthy" in the eyes of many film historians.

In 1964 Stanley Kubrick produced his Oscar winning move Dr. Strangelove Or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying about the Bomb which won an Oscar for Best Picture and several others. "Toe to Toe combat with the Russies."

Stanley Kubrick's housekeeper Irene Boyd Barrett after release of film in 1966 Irene came to work at the Adamson household in Santa Monica at 352 18th Street. The film was released on January 29, 1964 after President John F. Kennedy's assassination less than two months earlier on November 22, 1963. Irene helped get John F. Kennedy elected before she came to work for our family.

Since the Adamson family grew up without a mother we had many housekeepers, but only one was like a mother to us and that was Irene. When Irene passed away in 2004 a few months before John Barrymore, II, I was in Vancouver, WA. I had two days notice to get to her funneral at St. Monica's Church in Santa Monica. It was a holiday weekend. I was debating if I could make it for I was off to Seattle, WA. Yet, after almost getting into two accidents I said to myself, I have to make it. I drove 24 hours to the Grapevine and on a Full Moon made it in the early morning to be a pallbearer for Irene. I miss her so much.

We all felt that the song "Goodnight Irene" must have been written for Irene. Since our mother died in 1959, at the Adamson residence all of the kids considered Irene our adopted mother when she came to work for us in 1967 shortly before RFK's assassination. To right is a letter from President Clinton to Irene on her 80th Birthday, and 10 years latter Irene gave me a pen with the White House emblem on it and signed by Bill Clinton to Irene. "With My Best Wishes."

It seems strange 15 years earlier (circa 1964-65) my father Douglas Adamson and I went to pick up Irene Kennedy as our housekeeper at the Mailbu Colony. Tim Hutton was just a young boy and Irene was leaving Jim Hutton to work for the Adamson Family. Irene was offered a job at Cary Grant's house and instead wanted to work with Doug Adamson and his four kids. http://images/irene-20b.jpg. Seven years earlier Grant acted in An Affair To Remember where Harold Adamson received his last Oscar nomination. Afterwards around 1968-69, I remember meeting Jim Hutton on several occasions at his home on Summit Dr. Beverly Hills where he lived, with two huge Great Danes.

Ivan Goff, with his grandson Matthew, years later at his Malibu residence. Thanks to Ivan's niece Katherine, I was able to make the correction that Matthew is the son of Kevin.

In the early 1960s Irene worked for Ivan Goff the producer of the television series Mission Impossible. Adamson has taken on the "impossible mission" of trying to solve the JFK assassination...

In 1962 Irene worked at Goff's on the beautiful Santa Monica beach which was right next door to JFK's in-law, actor Peter Lawford. She remembers that JFK use to land his helicopter when visiting Lawford's at the beach.

In the early 1960s Irene worked for Goff who was the creator of Charlie Angeles.

In 1962 Irene worked at Santa Monica beach which was right next door to JFK's in-law, actor Peter Lawford. She remembers that JFK use to land his helicopter when visiting Lawford's at the beach.

This was not the first time Irene Kennedy and President Kennedy's paths had crossed. In January 1961 prior to the inauguration of Kennedy The Washington Star reported that Irene's sister Patsy Kennedy:

"One of the most loyal volunteers by the name of Patricia Kennedy is no relation of JFK. She is not even a citizen of the United States of America. Attractive Miss Kennedy, who is social secretary at the Pakistan [Ally Kahn] Embassy, hails from Dublin. Not only is she enthusiastic about things Irish and American, but her sister [Irene] is Secretary of Dublin's Irish-American Society."

Irene was not only Secretary she was one of the founders of the Irish-American Society.

Another Irish newspaper reported:

"Woman Who Won Votes for Him [JFK] In Ireland."

Irene, 15 Longford Terrace, Monkstown, who campaigned in Ireland for the new U.S. President, today sent him a telegram of congratulations.

Former Congressman Leon Panetta spoke to Veteran's Voice in 1990s on Adamson's research pertaining to JFK's assassination within The JFK Assassination Timeline Chart ; as did chief prosecutor of JAG and California Attorney General's officer Colonel Andrew Amerson; Professor Ed Tatro; Author Anthony Summers and Pentagon USAF Colonel Fletcher Prouty. Mr. Leon Panetta wrote "I send my best wishes for success in your future endeavors." Click to see Veteran's Voice October 1993-98.

 

The letter from then candidate John F. Kennedy

Irene was honorary. secretary of the Irish-American Society. "Four years ago (in 1957) she represented the Society in America. While there she met Senator Kennedy:

Last June she received a letter from him stating: "You would be a great help in our campaign for President. If you are coming to America this summer we will be delighted to have you in our camp."Click Here Ireen Inauguration Committee /Irene Document..

Irene was unable to make the journey but she started campaigning at this end. Through the Society she contacted all Americans visiting Ireland, and asked them to vote for Kennedy. She sent the same message to 30 relations of hers in Boston. Her maiden name was Kennedy and her family came from Loughrea, Co. Galway while President Kennedy's great-grandfather Patrick Kennedy had immigrated from Dunganstown, New Ross.

Photo of Irene Kennedy Boyd-Barrett, my sister said "most definiately" is Irene. Sure looks like her with Tom Mix and a George Bancroft look a like? I purchased photo 45 years ago from the late Richard Freeman. I never even looked Irene in photo yet came from Hearst family collection of family photos.

Marion Davies home was a few doors away from Ivan Goff's future home. Irene worked near Marion Davies home and her daughter Patricia Lake. at Sorento Beach.