Rich passed away on 13 August (15) after suffering a cardiac arrest in Los Angeles.

She began her career as a publicist in New York, and was one of the driving forces behind the introduction of Brazilian Bossa Nova music to America.

She later moved to Los Angeles with her actor husband Allan Rich, and joined PR firm John Crosby & Associates. Her first client was actress Jennifer Jason Leigh and she went on to represent Bosom Buddies star Donna Dixon and late actress Sylvia Kristel, but she formed a strong bond with comedienne Fran Drescher and her writer/producer ex-husband Peter Marc Jacobson.

Rich represented the couple during the actress' long-running U.S. sitcom The Nanny, and also collaborated with the former couple on their latest TV series, Happily Divorced.

Her family has asked for donations be made to Drescher's Cancer Schmancer organisation as a tribute.