Annette O’Malley:
Family

It was a match made in heaven. Upon the July 19, 2023 passing of Annette O’Malley, her husband Peter said, “I married an angel!”

The story of how the two met is fascinating.

The former Annette Zacho of Klampenborg, Denmark was introduced to Dodger President Peter O’Malley through a mutual friend, Lauritz Melchior, the renowned Danish Heldentenor opera star. Melchior was a friend of Kay and Walter O’Malley and Annette’s parents – Dr. and Mrs. Alfred Zacho. Annette was taking a leave from her position as costume supervisor and designer at the Royal Danish Theatre in the heart of Copenhagen to look for a similar opportunity in the film industry in Southern California. That brief leave of absence from Copenhagen changed her life.

In July 1970, Melchior hosted a dinner party at his home atop Mulholland Drive for a hunting group that included O’Malley. He also invited Annette as he planned the introduction. Peter O’Malley said, “Lauritz Melchior held a dinner party and sat Annette and me next to each other. Several nights later, I called her and asked her out to the Hollywood Bowl.” Bill Miller, Santa Monica Outlook, 1972, guest column O’Malley was smitten by the charming and talented Annette, who spoke Danish, English, French and German.

On July 16, 1970, O’Malley, who was just months into his first season as Dodger President, invited her to Dodger Stadium to attend her first baseball game. Annette signed the guest book that night in the Chairman’s Box. The couple developed a friendship which eventually led to marriage on July 10, 1971 at St. Ansgar’s Roman Catholic Church in Copenhagen, followed by a reception at Solyst Royal Danish Club. They honeymooned in Ireland, where Peter’s family roots are deep.

Annette attended the Bernadotte School in Copenhagen; the Croydon College of Art in London; and the Academie de la Grande Chaumiere in Paris. “I had always wanted to design and art school was my passion! I wanted to learn everything I could to do it all, including practical things like how to make dress patterns, as well as graphics and I designed wrapping paper and cards for Caspari. When an opening came up at the Royal Danish Theatre costume department I applied for the job and got it! I spent several years there helping to design costumes for opera, ballet and plays, attending dress rehearsals and working with the artisans who created our special embroidery, made our shoes, hats and even jewelry.”

Dr. Zacho was the chief surgeon at the Niels Finsen Institute in Copenhagen; a physician to Danish Resistance in World War II; and authored two books. Dr. Zacho and his wife Tove began taking Annette and her sister Merete at a young age to ballet, opera and concerts.

Annette, who grew up as an avid skier, tennis player and horseback rider, said, “I had never attended a sporting event. Not one.” Jody Jacobs, Los Angeles Times, October 12, 1980 But, that didn’t prevent her from marrying her husband and enjoying baseball once she learned about it. “And especially after Vero Beach (where the Dodgers trained at Dodgertown), where I met the players and their wives,” she said. “They are not just numbers to me anymore. They are human beings and it makes a lot of difference.” Mary Lou Loper, Los Angeles Times, “Another O’Malley Who Digs Baseball”, April 7, 1972   

In 1971, the former First Lady of the Dodgers became an early and 50-year member of The Amazing Blue Ribbon 400, an organization founded by Dorothy Buffum Chandler at the Music Center in Los Angeles in 1968. In 1973, Annette served as a vice president for the organization. By invitation only, The Blue Ribbon grew to hundreds of women who champion the performing arts and make substantial financial contributions for community programs, volunteering their time and hosting many events. Through the years, Annette enthusiastically lent a helping hand for countless charities and fund-raisers.

She served as a member of Harvard-Westlake School’s Board of Trustees. In 2010, O’Malley Family Field was dedicated as a state-of-the-art baseball field at Harvard-Westlake in Encino, California through the support of the family. The O’Malley’s enjoyed a connection of more than 20 years with Harvard-Westlake, as their two sons Kevin (who passed on June 30, 2026) and Brian attended the school.

While raising three children, Annette found time to pursue her wide-ranging talents from interior decorating, drawing, painting and sculpturing. Her daughter Katherine pursued art as a hobby like her mother. Annette’s life was focused on family and friends.

On October 30, 1981, when the Dodgers celebrated their first World Championship during Peter O’Malley’s presidency, Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley and his wife Ethel presented a symbolic key to the city to Annette during a parade through downtown and a ceremony at City Hall. UPI, Daily Press (Newport News, VA), October 31, 1981, “Dodgers’ Victory Parade Draws Salute From Fans”

Annette made many trips abroad with her husband Peter in support of international baseball, including to Japan more than 25 times. She also traveled to baseball events in Taiwan, Philippines, People’s Republic of China, South Korea, Mexico, Haiti, the Netherlands, Venezuela, Italy, Canada, the Dominican Republic, Russia, and Ireland. On October 7, 1984 South Korea Baseball Commissioner General Jyong Chul-Suh invited Annette to throw the ceremonial first pitch for Game 7 of the Korea Championship Series in Seoul between the professional Lotte Giants and Samsung Lions. (See top photo)

In February, 1983, Annette was among a select few to welcome Her Royal Highness Princess Benedikte of Denmark to Southern California at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel. Princess Benedikte inaugurated Scandinavia Today, a promotion for cultural and intellectual life. Celebrity – Society, March, 1983 Princess Benedikte is the aunt of current King of Denmark, Frederik X. On July 25, 1993, then Crown Prince Frederik sat next to Annette for a Dodger game in the President’s Box at Dodger Stadium.

Peter and Annette were married for 52 years and have three adult children and eight grandchildren.