Mary Cox, better known as Maureen Starkey Tigrett, was a hairdresser from Liverpool, England, who became the first wife of Ringo Starr, the drummer of the Beatles. She met him at the Cavern Club, where the Beatles were playing, and married him in 1965. They had three children together, but divorced in 1975. She later married Isaac Tigrett, the co-founder of Hard Rock Cafe and House of Blues, and moved to Los Angeles. She died of leukemia on December 30, 1994, at the age of 48.
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A Teenage Fan of the Beatles
Mary Cox was born on August 4, 1946, in Liverpool, Lancashire, England. She was the only child of Florence and Joseph Cox, a ship’s steward. She left convent school at 14, and began her career as a trainee manicurist/hairdresser at Ashley du Pre in Liverpool. She changed her name to Maureen but was known as “Mo” to her friends.
Maureen was a fan of the new Merseybeat sound and often hung out at the Cavern Club, a small club where local bands played. There she met and dated John Brynne from the group “Rory Storm and The Hurricanes”. They broke up in 1962.
During this time, a new group called “The Beatles” regularly played at the Cavern Club. Maureen developed a crush on the band’s drummer, Ringo Starr, and asked him for an autograph. About three weeks later, Ringo asked her for a dance. Soon after they began dating.
A Secret Marriage and a Growing Family
As the Beatles rose in popularity, so did the number of passionate fan-girls. When it was common knowledge that Maureen and Ringo were in a relationship, she was often threatened and sometimes attacked by jealous female fans. Once an angry fan saw her sitting in a car and scratched her. Although fans were jealous of Maureen, it was Maureen who answered the letters they wrote to Ringo.
In September 1963, Ringo invited her to go to Greece with him, Paul McCartney, and his girlfriend Jane Asher. In May 1964, Ringo and Maureen went to the Virgin Islands — without her parents’ knowledge because she was afraid they would not give her permission to go. Of course, her parents found out anyway, when they later read it in the newspapers.
The courtship of Ringo and Maureen ended for a time in 1964, as the Beatles’ popularity skyrocketed. But when Ringo had an operation to remove his tonsils, it was Maureen who was there. Ringo proposed to her in the hospital and she accepted.
In January 1965, 18-year-old Maureen discovered that she was pregnant. At that time, there was a social stigma given an unwed mother and her baby, and the best option was to marry Ringo. On February 11, 1965 at 8:00 am, Ringo and Maureen were married, at Caxton Hall Registry Office. The best man was Brian Epstein, manager of the Beatles and the reception was at Brian’s house.
On September 13, 1965, Maureen gave birth to their first child, Zak Starkey, in the National Maternity Hospital in Queen Charlotte. Two years later, on August 19, 1967, their second child, Jason Starkey, was born at Queen Charlotte’s Hospital in London. Their third and last child, Lee Starkey, was born on November 11, 1970, at Queen Mary’s Hospital in London.
A Troubled Marriage and a Painful Divorce
Maureen and Ringo’s marriage was not a happy one. They had to deal with the pressures of fame, the constant media attention, the Beatles’ break-up, and Ringo’s alcoholism and infidelity. Maureen also felt lonely and isolated, as she had to stay at home and take care of the children, while Ringo was away touring or recording.
In 1973, Maureen had an affair with George Harrison, Ringo’s bandmate and friend, while Ringo was having an affair with Nancy Andrews, a former model. The affair was brief and caused a rift between the two Beatles, but they later reconciled.
In 1974, Maureen and Ringo separated, and in 1975, they divorced. The divorce was amicable, and they remained friends for the sake of their children. Ringo later married Barbara Bach, an actress, in 1981.
A New Life and a New Love
After the divorce, Maureen moved to Los Angeles, California, with her children. She met Isaac Tigrett, the co-founder of Hard Rock Cafe and House of Blues, and married him in 1989. They had a daughter, Augusta King Tigrett, who was born on January 4, 1987.
Maureen enjoyed her new life in Los Angeles, where she was involved in charity work and social events. She also maintained a close relationship with her ex-husband Ringo and his wife Barbara, as well as the other Beatles and their families.
A Tragic Death and a Lasting Legacy
In 1994, Maureen was diagnosed with leukemia, a type of blood cancer. She underwent chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant, but the treatment was unsuccessful. She died on December 30, 1994, at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, Washington. She was 48 years old.
Her funeral was held on January 5, 1995, at St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church in Los Angeles. She was cremated and her ashes were scattered in the Pacific Ocean. Her death was mourned by her family, friends, and fans.
Maureen is remembered as the first wife of Ringo Starr, the mother of his three children, and a loyal friend of the Beatles. She is also remembered as a kind, generous, and fun-loving person, who had a great sense of humor and a zest for life. She was a devoted mother, wife, and humanitarian, who touched many lives with her warmth and compassion.
