This article relies excessively on references to primary sources. Please improve this article by adding secondary or tertiary sources. Find sources: "Marion G. Wells" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (December 2024) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Marion Gretsch Wells (born Marion Downey Gretsch; May 1, 1926 – October 30, 2016) was an American socialite, conservative activist, and political donor. She founded the Marion G. Wells Foundation and served on multiple charitable boards. She and her husband Preston A. Wells Jr., to whom she was married from 1973 until his death in 2003, were active supporters of the Republican Party, giving millions of dollars to conservative causes and organizations for decades. As a fundraiser, Wells raised over $292 million in contributions.

Wells was born Marion Downey Gretsch on May 1, 1926, in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, to Louis Gretsch, son of Friedrich Gretsch, and Marion Downey Gretsch.^[1][2][3] She was raised in Bayport on Long Island and attended Packer Collegiate Institute; serving as junior class vice president and senior class president.^[4][5][6] In 1944, Wells began her university education at Manhattanville College, where she was a classmate of Ethel Skakel and Jean Kennedy. She received a bachelor's degree from Manhattanville in 1948.^[4][7]

Wells was the founder and chair of the Marion G. Wells Foundation; a non-profit grant-making organization that supports conservative think tanks and advocacy groups.^[8][9] She headed the foundation until her death in 2016 and was succeeded by her son, John J. Flemm III.^[10]

In 1992, Wells became co-chair of The Heritage Foundation's Legacy Society; a "group of Heritage supporters who make gifts through their estates so Heritage will be a permanent voice in Washington for conservative principles." She raised over $292 million in gifts and commitments in that position.^{[11][12][13][14]}

In 2003, upon the death of her husband, Wells was elected to the board of trustees of The Heritage Foundation, where she served until her death in 2016.^[13][11][12]

In addition to Heritage, she served on the board of directors of the Capital Research Center, the Intercollegiate Studies Institute, the Cleveland Clinic Florida, and the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park.^{[15][10][16][17]}

In 2015, upon the urging of former U.S. attorney general Edwin Meese, she became the Capital Research Center's first trustee emerita after 21 years on the board.^[10]

Wells was a Republican political donor, having contributed to George W. Bush, John McCain, Mike Pence, and over 140 other candidates for federal office.^{[15][non-primary source needed]}

Wells was the granddaughter of Friedrich Gretsch, founder of the Gretsch Company.^{[18][19][20][3][21]} She was a cousin of Gertrude Gretsch; second wife of John Jacob Astor VI.^[22][23][24]

In 1946, she married John J. Flemm Jr., a United States Navy veteran wounded in the Pacific during World War II.^[2][4] They had five children together and moved to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, before they divorced in 1969.^[18][25][26] She married Preston A. Wells Jr., president of The Las Olas Company and owner of the Riverside Hotel, in 1973. They lived together in Fort Lauderdale until his death in 2003.^[10][27]

In 1991, Wells and her husband were shipwrecked in The Bahamas after their 54-foot sailboat, the Wells Cargo, struck a rock and sank. They were stranded on a small cay before being rescued by a passing cruise ship.^[28][29][30]

Wells died on October 30, 2016, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida at the age of 90.^[10]

• Campaign contributions from the Federal Election Commission