Richard Finocchio the famous AKA Rachel S. Harlow Billebault Italian Transgender Heritage
Romanced John Brendan Kelly Jr AKA Jack Jr. [1975-1976]
Younger Brother of HRH PrincesS Grace Formerly
Actress Grace Patricia Kelly
Former wife of Famous Chef Gerard Billebault [1981-1993]
Photo
The Philadelphia Inquirer Apr 18,
1989 Tue Pg. 2 Richard Finocchio AKA Mrs. Rachel Billebault
Source:
Section: E-1
Section: E-5
THE HERITAGE OF
RACHEL S. HARLOW
FINOCCHIO
Richard Finocchi
AKA Rachel S. Harlow Billebault
FATHER
Name: Joseph Anthony
Finocchio
Alias: Joseph
Fennel Curly/ Curley
Born: June 12, 1904 Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Died: October 27, 1968 1620 South Juniper Street Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Residence: 1930-1968
1620 South Juniper Street, Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Spouse: Rose Ann Mignogna
Parents: Innocenzo Finocchio, Maria Vincenza Fidelia’s
Occupation: Butcher Felix Spatula and Sons
Cause of Death: Peripheral Circulatory Collapses
Due to Chronic Cirrhosis of the liver
Age at Death: YRS: YRS: 64 MOS: 7 DYS: 13
Date of Burial: October 30, 1968
Pennsylvania, Death Certificate# 103712-68
Number: 181-10-9875; Issue State: Pennsylvania; Issue
Date: Before 1951
Physical
Description: Weight: 157 Complexion: Light Eye Color: Brown Hair Color: Black
Height: 5 6
Funeral: Annunciation Church
1511 10th
Street
Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Mortuary: Carto Funeral
Home
22145
South Broad Street
Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA 19145
WWII: Serial #965 Order #
10758
Residence: February 14, 1942 1620 Juniper St Philadelphia, Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, USA
Informant: Mrs. Rose Finocchio Deceased Wife
1620
South Juniper Street
Philadelphia,
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Find A Grave Memorial #189721908
Interment: Holy Cross Cemetery Yeadon, Delaware, Pennsylvania,
USA
The Philadelphia
Inquirer October 28, 1968 Mon Page 28 Joseph Fennel Curly Finocchio
Source:
FINOCCHIO Fennel-Curly
JOSEPH, husband of Rose
[Mignogna], father of Kathleen Alberici and Joseph, Jr., brother of Harry, Rose
Tuzio, Katie DiSanto, Lillian DiJohn, & Sidney Marie Lanzilotta, Relatives
and friends invited to funeral Wed., 8:30 A.M., CARTO FUNERAL HOME, 2214 S. Broad St. Solemn Requiem Mass. 10 A.M., Annunciation Church. Int. Holy Cross Cemetery. Viewing Tues., 7-10
P.M.
MOTHER
Name: Rose Anna
Mignogna
Born: February 9, 1905 Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Died: January 14, 1996 Methodist Hospital Philadelphia, Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, USA
Residence 1930-1996
1620 South Juniper Street,
Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Spouse: Joseph Anthony
Finocchio
Parents: Michael Angelo
Mignogna, Catharine Bertolino
Occupation: Housewife
Cause of Death: Heart Failure
Cerebral
Vascular Accident
NIDDM.-- A subclass of DIABETES
MELLITUS
Date of Burial: July 17, 1996
Pennsylvania Death
Certificate# 074618
Age At Death: YRS: 91 MOS: 5
DYS: 5
Social Security #: Number: 167-20-8985; Issue State: Pennsylvania; Issue Date: Before
1951
Funeral: Annunciation Church
1511 10th
Street
Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Mortuary: Carto Funeral
Home
22145 South Broad Street
Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA 19145
Informant: Mrs. Katherine P.
Raymond
1620 Juniper Street
Philadelphia, Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, USA
Find A Grave Memorial 189722575
Interment: Holy Cross Cemetery
Yeadon, Delaware, Pennsylvania, USA
The Philadelphia
Inquirer Pennsylvania PA July 16, 1996
Pg 16 Tue Rose Mingnogna Finocchio
Source:
Finocchio—[Nee’ Mignogna]
Rose, July 14, 1996, age 91,
beloved wife of the late Joseph “Curley”; dearest Mother of Kathy Raymond,
Rachel Billebault and the late Joseph “Toddy”; grandmother of Debbie Finocchio
and Christopher Giordano; aunt of Francis, Junior and Sonny Cozzi. Relatives
and friend invited to Funeral Wed. 8 A.M.
Carto Funeral Home, INC., 2212-14 S. Broad St. Mass of Christian Burial
9:30 A.M. Annunciation Church. Int. Holy Cross Cemetery Viewing Tues. 7-9:30 P.M.
Pennsylvania Death Certificate# 074618
Married: 1932 Philadelphia,
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
License Number# 613708
Issues: Joseph Jr. Kathleen, & Richard [AKA Rachel]
Source:
Web Source Image:
Richard Finocchi AKA Rachel S. Harlow Billebault
March 9, 1988
Picture
https://www.newspapers.com/image/186219979/?terms=Rachel%2BS.%2BHarlow%2BBillebault
As Man
1967 The Queen
Source:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkjbLdbFFeY
As Man
Source:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkjbLdbFFeY
Richard Finocchio
Born: May 15, 1948 Southside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Rachel S. Harlow
Reborn: Transited to Female Full operation 1971-1972
Partner: John “Jack Kelly Jr. [1975-1976]
Spouse: Gerard Billebault
Married: April 18, 1981 Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Divorced: 1993
Occupation: Actress, Hostess, Business Woman.
Acknowledged as a woman by Judge Ned Hirsh September 19,
1973 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Special Notes: Richard Chose his name as a dedicate to the Late Jean Harlow. On June 30, 1981 She won a Costume Contest Dressed and Inspired by the late Actress.
Rachel, has two siblings. Kathleen and a deceased brother Joseph Anthony Finocchio Jr. AKA Toddy. who is deceased. He in 1995. A Year before their Mother Rose who was 91 when she passed away from a Stroke.
Rachel is of Italian Heritage. He is Second Generation.
About Zagria BlogSpot.com
Richard Finocchio was raised in South Philadelphia and
bullied at school for being too pretty. A friend of the family was a gay man
who introduced young Finocchio to the gay subculture, where acceptance was
found.
Finocchio started winning drag contests. The Hotel Philadelphia (now demolished) at Broad and Vine Streets was the site of the annual Miss Philadelphia contest. The contest was organized by Sabrina (Jack Doroshow). The big winner in 1967 was Finocchio using the name Harlow (in homage to Jean Harlow, the 1930s movie star). Harlow did a few times visit The Stonewall Inn when in New York but preferred the straight uptown scene.
Harlow won the Miss All-American Camp Beauty Pageant held in New York in 1967 (again organized by Sabrina). This was filmed, and released as The Queen, 1968. The contestants are shown chatting in their hotel rooms, discussing how they were not called in the draft, their boyfriends, why they would never have a sex change. Harlow throws a fit because he does not have a suitable wig (although her own hair is quite feminine enough). The other standout among the contestants is Miss Manhattan (Crystal LaBeija, who later founded the House of LaBeija) who stages a tantrum when Harlow wins. The film includes shots of only Harlow arriving and departing, and on stage she gets longer and better-lit close-ups than the other contestants.
She went to Cannes International Film Festival with the film and was a center of attention. David Bowie, in his androgynous phase, cited her influence. A few other minor film roles followed, and, especially in Philadelphia, she became a night-life personality. Bar owner Stanley Rosenbleeth opened Harlow's in the Old City area in 1970, with Rachel as hostess. The place was an immediate sensation. A short time later, a second Harlow's was opened in Atlantic City. There were also interviews, endorsements, modeling jobs and television appearances.
Rachel Harlow completed gender correction in 1972.
The Philadelphia disco-nightclub was a place that attracted celebrities, and one person who came was John B. Kelly Jr., brother of Grace Kelly, film star and Monaco princess. In his own right Kelly was an accomplished rower, a four-time Olympian, and an Olympic medal winner. He was also a businessman and was 12 years on Philadelphia council. He separated from his first wife in 1969. In 1975 he began a well-publicized affair with Rachel. He ran to be the Democratic candidate but his mother publicly and financially supported his opponent. This combined with the publicity over his affair led to his dropping out. He claimed that he intended to marry Rachel, but a year later, after his mother threatened to disinherit him, he ended the relationship.
Rachel was having problems finding her identity. She dropped out of the night-life business and the gay subculture. She did continue to work as a model in New York but avoided publicity.
Finocchio started winning drag contests. The Hotel Philadelphia (now demolished) at Broad and Vine Streets was the site of the annual Miss Philadelphia contest. The contest was organized by Sabrina (Jack Doroshow). The big winner in 1967 was Finocchio using the name Harlow (in homage to Jean Harlow, the 1930s movie star). Harlow did a few times visit The Stonewall Inn when in New York but preferred the straight uptown scene.
Harlow won the Miss All-American Camp Beauty Pageant held in New York in 1967 (again organized by Sabrina). This was filmed, and released as The Queen, 1968. The contestants are shown chatting in their hotel rooms, discussing how they were not called in the draft, their boyfriends, why they would never have a sex change. Harlow throws a fit because he does not have a suitable wig (although her own hair is quite feminine enough). The other standout among the contestants is Miss Manhattan (Crystal LaBeija, who later founded the House of LaBeija) who stages a tantrum when Harlow wins. The film includes shots of only Harlow arriving and departing, and on stage she gets longer and better-lit close-ups than the other contestants.
She went to Cannes International Film Festival with the film and was a center of attention. David Bowie, in his androgynous phase, cited her influence. A few other minor film roles followed, and, especially in Philadelphia, she became a night-life personality. Bar owner Stanley Rosenbleeth opened Harlow's in the Old City area in 1970, with Rachel as hostess. The place was an immediate sensation. A short time later, a second Harlow's was opened in Atlantic City. There were also interviews, endorsements, modeling jobs and television appearances.
Rachel Harlow completed gender correction in 1972.
The Philadelphia disco-nightclub was a place that attracted celebrities, and one person who came was John B. Kelly Jr., brother of Grace Kelly, film star and Monaco princess. In his own right Kelly was an accomplished rower, a four-time Olympian, and an Olympic medal winner. He was also a businessman and was 12 years on Philadelphia council. He separated from his first wife in 1969. In 1975 he began a well-publicized affair with Rachel. He ran to be the Democratic candidate but his mother publicly and financially supported his opponent. This combined with the publicity over his affair led to his dropping out. He claimed that he intended to marry Rachel, but a year later, after his mother threatened to disinherit him, he ended the relationship.
Rachel was having problems finding her identity. She dropped out of the night-life business and the gay subculture. She did continue to work as a model in New York but avoided publicity.
"I was burned out. I was tired of being on all the
time. I began to dread meeting new people, having to talk about my life.
Even now, the only way I can talk about my life is to think of it as just a
story. It's as if it all happened to somebody else, and I'm just telling about
it."
One night in 1979, she and a woman friend stopped for a
drink in a small bistro, got into conversation with two men, and a year later
Rachel and Gerard Billebault were married. On the wedding day:
“I came out of my mother's South Philadelphia house and
there were 500 to 600 people waiting in the street for me to leave the house.
It wasn't the neighbors, it was the neighborhood. I turned to my mother and
said `Look mom, it's all the neighbors - I guess they have forgotten, too' ''.
Billebault
was a chef and had founded a bakery. After a trip to Paris Mr. & Mrs.
Billebault opened Harlow's, a restaurant, in 1988, with Mrs. Billebault as the
hostess.
However later both the marriage and the restaurant failed.
However later both the marriage and the restaurant failed.
Source:
The Philadelphia
Inquirer September 20, 1973 Page 13,
Richard Finocchio AKA Rachel Legal Harlow
Source:
Harlow Another Switch
He Changed Sex; Now She Changes Name
Harlow, once Richard is now Rachel.
Richard Finocchio became
Harlow after a sex change operation in 1972.
She has operated a popular nightclub.
By the name at 32 S. Bank St.
Wednesday, September 19,
1973had her name changed to Rachel.
Common Pleas Judge New Hirsh approved the Petition, which asked for the
change for “personal and business
reason.”
John Brendan Kelly Jr.
JOHN BRENDAN KELLY JR
During the course of the marriage, Kelly had a number of affairs and the couple separated in 1969. In 1975, Kelly began a well-publicized relationship with a 28-year old transsexual named Rachel Harlow after meeting her at the Philadelphia nightclub she owned. Harlow, born Richard Finocchio, had sex reassignment surgery in 1972 and was well known in Philadelphia. Shortly after beginning the relationship, Kelly decided to run as the Democratic candidate in the 1975 Philadelphia mayoral election. The publicity over the relationship coupled with Kelly's mother's decision to publicly and financially support Kelly's opponent were factors in his decision to drop out of the election before he was nominated. Kelly reportedly wanted to marry Harlow but ended the relationship after a year when his mother threatened to disinherit him.[11][12] Kelly and Freeman finally divorced in 1980.[10]
Source:
Genealogy
The Philadelphia Inquirer Apr 18,
1989 Tue Pg. 2 Richard Finocchio AKA Mrs. Rachel Billebault
Source:
Section: E-1
Section: E-5
FAMOUS CHEF GERARD BILLEBAULD
April 1, 1990
June 30, 1981
Picture:
Is this the Harlow that had a club in center City. What a fabulous place. I use to go all the time!
ReplyDeleteWas reminiscing about the dancing days. Hope u r well and safe in this horrible situation in the world today!
Yes she is
ReplyDeleteWish people would refer to Rachel as Rachel instead of Richard or he.
ReplyDeleteHi Jeanette... I first met Rachel when I was 16 after the Philadelphia magazine article came out. Wish I had that edition. I was walking through a small town near Bucks County and ran into her waiting for a cab. She was so beautiful I said hi and how I knew who she was. Then I ended up tending bar at DCA where the contests were until it burned down.
We waited at Rachel's wedding reception at LaCamargue 1119 Walnut Street. I still have the thank you note she wrote me.
Interesting article. I never knew Sonny and Rachel were cousins. Last time I saw Rachel she was with Sonny about 1995?
I think about her often and hope she's well. I miss Philly. ��
If you know Rachel please say hello and ❤️ for me? Jason ��
I am genealogist I post as much information on the person. It took a lot to find about her family. A lot people have thanked me for the work and most of all I made no judgement.
ReplyDeleteIt's just pure Genealogy and that is all it is.
My work stands.
Jeannette K. Rook
PS it took a lot of Doing to find about her family. I have 30 Binders on her family alone and her. Genealogy is a different audience I share what I have.
Thank you for sharing your story. I found researching her as fun. She is amazing person.
ReplyDeleteOn Quora.com I have 3.9 million people who read and answer Transgender Questions about Jesus and God. Will GOD accept me.
I answer yes Jesus will take a Transgender to Heaven Why?
John 6:37, NIV: "All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away." ...
John 6:37, KJV: "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out."
Comes down to John 3:16 Believe
Jesus shuts no one out because we are all sinners and the day Jesus died he paid for our sins.
God Loves all. So I learned allot and most of all her mother accepted her right up until her mother passed she was mentioned In the mother's ob however not in the fathers.