Living among the Kennedys4 min read

As a young woman, Janet Fontaine worked for the Kennedys, including Joseph P. Kennedy and during President John F. Kennedy’s 1960 campaign.

Many people in Sedona have fascinating life stories, including Janet Fontaine.

Fontaine’s story goes back to the 1950s and 1960s when as a young woman she spent time in the company of one of the most prominent families of the 20th century — the Kennedys.

“I worked for Joseph Kennedy for nine years. That’s how I knew all of the Kennedys, including Jack [President John F. Kennedy],” Fontaine said. “They were a dynamic family and enjoyed each other’s company.”

Fontaine moved to Sedona in 1983 after living, working and traveling around the world.

After nine years as Joseph Kennedy’s secretary, Fontaine moved on to other jobs, including one with General Dynamics in New York City. One day she received a telephone call about another job — one selling airplanes — and took it. Before too long, that job landed her back with the Kennedys.

“The man I worked for bought airplanes and sold Convair 240s to corporations or anyone who could afford one,” Fontaine said. “I heard Jack was running for president, so I called his office to ask if he would like a demo flight. He took the flight, loved it and bought a plane. He named it the ‘Caroline.’”

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Soon afterward, Kennedy asked Fontaine if she would like the job as onboard secretary and hostess. She accepted.

“That was like running a household — in the air. All of the furniture turned into beds, so I had to get sheets and blankets,” Fontaine said. “I did the cooking on board the plane, bought the food and cleaned up — all in a teeny-tiny galley.”

Once Kennedy won the presidency in 1960 he asked Fontaine to be his White House secretary. She agreed but after three weeks asked for a vacation.

“I’d been working very long hours through the campaign and into the White House. Although I was young and had a lot of energy, I needed a rest,” Fontaine said. “I went to Stowe, Vt. and skied for three weeks. It was very recuperative.”

Upon her return to the Oval Office, Fontaine told Kennedy she no longer wanted the job. When he asked what she was going to do, Fontaine answered she was moving to Paris for a year to learn French. Then Kennedy asked if she would like to be secretary to the U.S. ambassador to France. Fontaine accepted and moved to Paris with a job.

When Fontaine arrived in the City of Lights in 1961 she met her boss, James E. Gavin, who served as ambassador in 1961 and 1962. In 1963, Kennedy replaced Gavin with Charles E. Bohlen, a career diplomat who spent several years in Russia. He served as ambassador until 1968.

“Charles used to come out to our office and recite Russian poetry to us. It was fascinating just to listen to it,” Fontaine said and admitted she didn’t understand Russian.

After three years in Paris, Fontaine quit her job to marry a man from New Orleans, Ben Fontaine, in Bern, Switzerland.

Fontaine moved to The Big Easy and lived for two years in the French Quarter. She gave birth to their only child, Andrew, during this time. The next five years, the family lived in Paris, Brugge, Belgium, and then Guadalajara, Mexico.

“Of course, we traveled extensively,” Fontaine said.

After a few years of living in Mexico, Fontaine divorced, moved back to Paris where she graduated from Le Cordon Bleu Paris Culinary Arts School in France.

“Then I moved here,” Fontaine said.

“I didn’t know anyone here except my brother and his family. I moved in with them, found my own place and stayed,” Fontaine said.

Fontaine is starting her sixth year as a volunteer at the Sedona Public Library. She works at the circulation desk checking out books for patrons. Fontaine formerly volunteered at the Sedona Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center in Uptown and 10 years helping at the Sedona Arts Center in different capacities, including registrar of the school. Fontaine appeared in four plays through the center.

“I’m an avid reader. It seemed very natural for me to go volunteer at the library,” Fontaine said. Three books on her coffee table provide evidence that Fontaine checks books out for herself, too. “Sedona Public Library” is stamped on the edge of the pages.

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