Molly Wolveck, the mother of “The Young and the Restless” star Kate Linder, has passed away. She was 98 years old. She died at her home in Arcadia, CA on Thursday, June 1, 2023, a family spokesperson confirms.
Born November 20, 1924 in Los Angeles, California, Wolveck was the only child of Henry and Esther Mandelbaum who owned a local dry cleaning store. Growing up in Pasadena, Molly met the man who would become her future husband, Ralph Wolveck, while on a trip to Lake Gregory when she was just 16 years old. The two were wed three years later on March 21, 1943. The two worked together at the local Market Basket grocery store, but when Ralph got a job as an usher at a local theater, Molly spent her free time watching movies as a way to spend time with him. Later, she was instrumental in helping her husband start his CPA firm and which she helped run. Eventually settling in Arcadia, the two spent the next 70 wonderful years together until Ralph passed away in 2013. Known for their incredible work ethic, Molly continued to run the family business until she herself passed away earlier this month.
Photo by Sonja Flemming/CBS
An avid fan of “The Young and the Restless” since the show’s very first episode in 1973, Wolveck was delighted when her daughter joined the show’s cast nine years later – in 1982, playing Esther Valentine. She was even more thrilled when she and her late husband had an opportunity to appear on the daytime drama series together as restaurant patrons. Molly made a second guest appearance on the show in 2017.
Enjoying an active social life, Wolveck spent many nights at dinner or the theatre and was a familiar and welcome face at many Hollywood and arts events in Los Angeles and Pasadena over the decades. She could also be found cheering on her favorite baseball team, the Los Angeles Dodgers, for which she continuously purchased family season tickets year after year which she bonded over with her son, Randy. Even in her 90s, Molly played tennis as well as golf. For her 70th birthday, she went skydiving.
Wolveck is survived by her daughter Kate and her son Randy, and his wife Gina, and her 7 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and scores of nieces and nephews.
There will be a private memorial and donations can be made to the Molly Wolveck Memorial Fund at the Lupus Foundation of America.