Paula Lamont (February 2, 1935-October 23, 2021) was a dancer and dance teacher. She was also president of the Ziegfeld Club, a venerable Broadway charitable organization established in 1936. It endeavors to keep alive and cherish the memory of Florenz Ziegfeld Jr. and the women of the Ziegfeld Follies.
She was elected to The Lambs in 1993 as a Professional member. Her mother, Elizabeth Rae Lamont, was elected to the Club in 1988.
A class of 1953 Pelham Memorial High School graduate, Lamont completed her Associates Degree at Lasell Junior College in Auburndale, MA. She worked as a model and danced. In 1962 she married John L. Connelly. She resided in Pelham, Westchester County.
After college, Lamont responded to an advertisement and auditioned to become an entertainer in the United Nations Goodwill Ambassador program. She was chosen and danced her way around the world as a dancer and choreographer.
In the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s, Lamont danced and acted in live television, stock theater, trade shows and television commercials. She was even a stunt double for Eva Marie Saint and a “Copa Girl” dancer at the famous Copacabana.
As a young mother, Lamont created Paula Lamont’s School of Modern Creative Dance. Between 1965-1980 she taught generations of Pelham girls to dance, move and be comfortable in their bodies. She staged an annual recital for the dancers. Later becoming a leader in local, regional theater for decades.
Lamont’s love of photography led her to work with Polaroid in the 1970s as their new instant camera technology took off. She kept stores in the metropolitan area supplied with the new cameras and instant film. She was an elegant career woman. Eastman Kodak hired Lamont away from Polaroid to become one of their lead Sales Executives.
From 1990 to 2012, Lamont was President of the Ziegfeld Club. Her mother was also a president of the organization.
Lamont was a force of nature. Even if you didn’t know her, anyone who spent time in Pelham might recognize her as the woman with long blonde hair always crowned with a bejeweled hat. She carried herself like the trained dancer that she was.
Paula Lamont died on October 23, 2021 after battling advanced colon cancer. She was 86 years old.