Basic Information
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Kathleen “Kit” Gawthrop |
| Also Known As | Kit Palmer (after marriage to Arnold Palmer) |
| Notability | Second wife and long-time companion of golf legend Arnold Palmer |
| Marriage to Arnold Palmer | January 26, 2005 (private beach ceremony on Oahu’s North Shore) |
| Previous Marriage | Alfred (Al) Gawthrop Jr. — deceased August 1, 2004 |
| Children | Al Gawthrop III, Lynn Bouck, Blair Gawthrop (Miller) |
| Grandchildren | Eight |
| Places Associated | Tiburon, California; seasons spent with Arnold in Latrobe, Pennsylvania and the Orlando, Florida area |
| Public Profile | Low-key, family-centered, active at honors, charity, and social events with Arnold |
A Brief Biography
Kathleen “Kit” Gawthrop stepped into broad public view not by chasing the spotlight but by standing beside someone who practically defined it in his sport. On January 26, 2005, she married Arnold Palmer in a quiet beach ceremony on Oahu’s North Shore. No throngs of reporters, no red ropes—just a minister, the couple, and a few staff witnesses. The image fits her: composed, private, and steady.
Kit’s life narrative intertwines with family, golf’s social orbit, and the quieter side of fame. Before her marriage to Arnold, she was married to Alfred (Al) Gawthrop Jr. until his death in 2004. She is a mother of three—Al III, Lynn, and Blair—and grandmother to eight. In public mentions, she is more often a presence than a headline: a spouse at ceremonies, a confidante during travels, a face in the gallery at moments when the game and its legends saluted one of their own.
While her personal résumé—education, early career, and formative years—has not been widely published, the public story of Kit is unmistakable: she brought companionship, calm, and warmth to Arnold Palmer’s later life.
Family and Personal Ties
The architecture of Kit’s family life is simple and sturdy—three children, multiple generations, and an emphasis on togetherness. By the time of her Hawaiian wedding, her life had already weathered loss and transition. She entered her marriage to Arnold as a woman who understood both public ceremony and private grief.
A central feature of her public presence is how it bends toward family rather than personal brand. At tournaments, medal ceremonies, and charity functions, Kit’s role was supportive but unmistakably central to Arnold’s post-competitive life. The two moved with the seasons and the rhythm of the sport, splitting time between the communities that shaped Arnold’s career and philanthropic endeavors.
Family Members (Public Facts)
| Relation | Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Husband | Arnold Palmer | Married January 26, 2005; died September 25, 2016 |
| First Husband | Alfred (Al) Gawthrop Jr. | Deceased August 1, 2004 |
| Son | Al Gawthrop III | Publicly noted as Kit’s son |
| Daughter | Lynn Bouck | Publicly noted as Kit’s daughter |
| Daughter | Blair Gawthrop (Miller) | Publicly noted as Kit’s daughter |
| Grandchildren | Eight | Frequently noted in official profiles |
Life with Arnold Palmer
The story of Kit and Arnold often reads like a second act written in a gentler key. They met, traveled, and eventually married after years of companionship. The ceremony in 2005 didn’t signal a new brand strategy or a public pivot—it marked a private pledge. Over the next 12 years, they shared a rhythm that moved between homes, celebrations, hospital visits, charity engagements, and the countless handshakes that come with a life of achievement.
Kit’s presence surfaces in photographs at award nights and tributes—firm posture, poised expression, a steady half-step next to Arnold. Her public voice is understated, but when it appears, it carries what matters: gratitude for time together, affection for family, and respect for the communities that cherished Arnold. When Arnold died in September 2016, tributes poured in from around the world. In that river of remembrance, Kit remained a still point—private, dignified, and deeply respected.
Earlier Marriage and Children
Before 2005, Kit’s life centered on her marriage to Alfred (Al) Gawthrop Jr., an attorney with longstanding ties to Western communities and business interests. His death on August 1, 2004, marked a turning point. Her three children—Al III, Lynn, and Blair—have been referenced in public profiles, often alongside mentions of eight grandchildren. These references paint the picture of a family that spans generations and has weathered life’s transitions together.
Public Presence and Interests
Kit has often been described as an avid golfer in earlier years, competitive enough to tee it up but practical enough to step away after a back injury. She appears in public most comfortably when the spotlight is not solely on her—events honoring Arnold, charitable visits, and milestone celebrations where family and community converge. If celebrity is a lighthouse, Kit is more like the shoreline: close enough to guide the moment, far enough to remain steady and unassuming.
Details about her education and early professional life are scarce in major public records, which suits her privacy. Some profiles connect her family to Colorado and suggest university ties, but even those notes feel less like a résumé and more like a thread woven into her broader story—home, family, and the social world around golf.
Key Dates Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| November 20, 1999 | Arnold Palmer’s first wife, Winifred “Winnie” Palmer, passes away |
| August 1, 2004 | Death of Alfred (Al) Gawthrop Jr., Kit’s first husband |
| January 26, 2005 | Private beach wedding of Kathleen “Kit” Gawthrop and Arnold Palmer on Oahu’s North Shore |
| 2005–2016 | Public and philanthropic life shared by Kit and Arnold across homes and events |
| September 25, 2016 | Arnold Palmer dies at age 87; Kit is noted as surviving spouse |
The Texture of a Private Life in a Public World
There are public figures who court the camera, and there are those who pass through its frame with deliberate ease. Kit belongs to the latter. She is the subtle brushstroke that finishes the painting. In a sport brimming with scorecards, her life’s measurable moments—three children, eight grandchildren, twelve shared years of marriage with Arnold—tell only part of the story. The rest is tone: an unhurried grace; the willingness to stand close to greatness without making a fuss; the strength to let family, tradition, and legacy occupy center stage.
Her narrative reminds us that not every life needs a headline to be full. Privacy can be its own quiet achievement, especially when the world insists on asking more. Kit answered not with reticence but with presence—steadfast at ceremonies, at ease with family, and content to let the legend beside her glow.
FAQ
Who is Kathleen “Kit” Gawthrop?
She is best known as the second wife of Arnold Palmer and a steady presence in his life from their 2005 wedding until his passing in 2016.
When did she marry Arnold Palmer?
They married on January 26, 2005, in a private beach ceremony on Oahu’s North Shore.
Was she married before Arnold Palmer?
Yes, she was previously married to Alfred (Al) Gawthrop Jr., who died on August 1, 2004.
Does she have children?
Yes, she has three children: Al Gawthrop III, Lynn Bouck, and Blair Gawthrop (Miller).
How many grandchildren does she have?
Eight grandchildren have been publicly noted in profiles of her family.
Is she active in public life?
Her public appearances are generally tied to family, honors, and charitable events; she keeps a low personal profile.
Did she play golf?
She has been described as an avid golfer earlier in life and stepped back after a back injury.
Where has she lived?
She has been associated with Tiburon, California, and spent seasons with Arnold in Latrobe, Pennsylvania and the Orlando, Florida area.
