Zelma Wynn

' Unofficial matriarch ' of Las Vegas ' Golden Nugget; 87

Zelma Wynn, a longtime resident and mother of casino developer Steve Wynn, died June 1 in Las Vegas. She was 87.

Zelma Wynn, a native of Maine, lived in Southern Nevada for more than three decades. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, she often appeared in television commercials for the Golden Nugget.

Steve Wynn said his mother enjoyed a reputation as the " unofficial matriarch " of the Golden Nugget and later The Mirage, Treasure Island and Bellagio because she loved to spend time with workers of his former businesses.

" It started at the Golden Nugget, and whenever we ' d open up a new resort, she and her pals would just move on over, " said Wynn, who described his mother as fun-loving and energetic. " She had a whole following of pals, (Mirage Resorts) employees and other friends, with whom she loved to play slots, eat dinner and just hang out.

Rival operator MGM Grand paid $6.7 billion to buy Mirage Resorts from Steve Wynn in May 2000. He later formed Wynn Resorts, which is developing the $2 billion Le Reve at Las Vegas Boulevard South and Spring Mountain Road.

The former Zelma Kutner married Michael Wynn, an East Coast bingo hall operator, in 1939. She developed her talents as an interior decorator. She had no formal training, but two homes she decorated were featured in House Beautiful magazine.

After her husband ' s death in 1963, Zelma Wynn enjoyed traveling, spending time with friends and family, and working on behalf of charitable organizations such as the American Lung Association, Arthritis Foundation, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International and eye research groups.

With son Steve Wynn, and his wife, Elaine, Zelma Wynn is survived by son Kenneth Wynn and his wife, Dale; six grandchildren, and three great grandchildren.