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Marina Torlonia di Civitella-Cesi

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Donna Marina Torlonia dei Principi di Civitella-Cesi (22 October 1916 – 15 September 1960) was an Italian-American aristocrat, best known as the paternal grandmother of the actress and model Brooke Shields.

Marina Torlonia
Other namesDonna Torlonia, Marina Torlonia Shields, Marina Torlonia Slater
Born(1916-10-22)22 October 1916
Palazzo Núñez-Torlonia, Rome, Italy
Died15 September 1960(1960-09-15) (aged 43)
Piacenza, Italy
Noble familyHouse of Torlonia
Spouse(s)
​
​
(m. 1940; div. 1950)​
Edward W. Slater
​
​
(m. 1950)​
Issue3, including Francis Alexander Shields
FatherMarino Torlonia, 4th Prince of Civitella-Cesi
MotherMary Elsie Moore

Family

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Coat of arms of the House of Torlonia

Torlonia was born in Rome, at Palazzo Núñez-Torlonia, the youngest daughter of Marino Torlonia, 4th Prince of Civitella-Cesi[1] and his American wife, Mary Elsie Moore, a daughter of Charles Arthur Moore, a hardware merchant from Connecticut.[2][3] The Torlonia family gained its fortune in the administration of Vatican finances.

She had three siblings:

About

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In February 1934, Torlonia had made her New York City debut.[5] Torlonia enjoyed going to nightclubs and charity work, and in 1934 she led many charity fundraising efforts.[6] Some of the charity fundraisers she was involved with include the American Auxiliary Hospital in Mougins, France,[7][8] the Italian Welfare League,[9] New York City Cancer Institute,[10][11] the New York Diet Kitchen Association,[12][13] the Babies Hospital of the City of New York,[14] Soldiers and Sailors Club of New York,[15] New York Exchange for Woman's Work,[16] Woman's Auxiliary of the Osteopathic Clinic of New York,[17] Goddard Neighborhood Centre,[18] Children's Village at Dobbs Ferry, New York,[19] among others.

In 1936, Torlonia was dressed as "wealth" with a tall headdress and two hand maids at one of a nationwide set of birthday celebrations for President Roosevelt.[20] The following year in 1937 at the Roosevelt Birthday Ball Torlonia was one of a hundred women specially dressed to celebrate the event, she was dressed as "The East", representing the Eastern United States fashion, and in attendance was the President's mother Sara Roosevelt.[21][22]

Sculptor Marino Marini created a wax portrait of Marina Torlonia in 1935.[23]

Marriages

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Donna Marina Torlonia dei Principi di Civitella-Cesi was married twice, her husbands being:

Torlonia was the paternal grandmother of American actress Brooke Shields, the daughter of her son Francis Alexander Shields.[28][29]

Death

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Torlonia died on 15 September 1960, in an automobile accident in Piacenza, Italy, shortly after leaving the wedding of her nephew Marco Torlonia, 6th Prince of Civitella-Cesi, to princess Orsetta Caracciolo, niece of film director Luchino Visconti.[30] Duke Raffaele Canevaro di Zoagli and his mother-in-law, Eleanor Terry, were also killed in the accident.[31][32][33]

Ancestry

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References

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  1. ^ "MARINO TORLONIA DEAD AT 72 IN ROME; Former Husband of Elsie Moore Torlonia of New York -- Fought Duel 7 Years Ago. OF NOTED PRINCELY HOUSE Was Prince of Civitella Cesi, Duke of Poll, Duke of Guadagnolo, in Cadet Branch". Times Machine, The New York Times. March 7, 1933. p. 18. Retrieved 2020-12-22.
  2. ^ "MISS MOORE WEDS THE DUKE TORLONIA; New York Girl Becomes Duchess of Poli at Quiet Wedding in Greenwich. PALACE GIFT FOR BRIDE Fortune in Torlonia Family Jewels Also to be Presented in Rome -- Bridegroom of Noble Family". Times Machine, The New York Times. August 16, 1907. p. 7. Retrieved 2020-12-22.
  3. ^ a b c "PRINCESS TORLONIA DEAD HERE AT 53; Former Wife of Late Italian Nobleman Succumbs to Long Illness in Her Home". Times Machine, The New York Times. December 22, 1941. p. 17. Retrieved 2020-12-22.
  4. ^ a b "Last Saturday". Newspapers.com. The San Francisco Examiner. 5 January 1935. p. 9. Retrieved 2020-12-22.
  5. ^ "New York". Newspapers.com. Hartford Courant. 30 December 1934. p. 14. Retrieved 2020-12-30.
  6. ^ Roberts, Rob (1938-04-10). "Nobility KO's Cupid So A Princess Picks A Playboy". newspapers.com. The Times of Shreveport, Louisiana. Retrieved 2020-12-29.
  7. ^ Randolph, Nancy (27 December 1939). "Royalty and Socialites out for Charity". Newspapers.com. Daily News of New York City. p. 144. Retrieved 2020-12-30.
  8. ^ "THRONG AT BENEFIT FOR VICTIMS OF WAR; American Auxiliary Hospital in Mougins, France, Aided by 'Day in Cannes' Party GUESTS IN SPORTS ATTIRE Juniors Manikins in Revue-- Dancing and Shipboard Games Are Features". Times Machine, The New York Times. February 22, 1940. p. 29. Retrieved 2020-12-30.
  9. ^ "ITALIANS TO AID WELFARE LEAGUE; Colonists Will Give a Supper and Dance on the Conte di Savoia Saturday Night". Times Machine. The New York Times. December 7, 1932. p. 27. Retrieved 2020-12-30.
  10. ^ "Rural Dress and Milking Contest To Mark Charity Milky Way Ball; Donna Marina Torlonia Heads Younger Group Participating in Plans for Event to Be Held Nov. 28 in Behalf of Cancer Institute Auxiliary". Times Machine. The New York Times. November 11, 1934. p. 88. Retrieved 2020-12-30.
  11. ^ "SPIRITED PROGRAM FOR BENEFIT BALL; Guests at Milky Way Event Tonight Will Ride Park Av. in Wagons Filled With Hay". Times Machine. The New York Times. November 28, 1934. p. 26. Retrieved 2020-12-30.
  12. ^ Mintz, Lucile (28 April 1936). "Society Notes". Newspapers.com. The Brooklyn Citizen. p. 3. Retrieved 2020-12-30.
  13. ^ "Society". Newspapers.com. The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. April 27, 1936. p. 18. Retrieved 2020-12-30.
  14. ^ "Babies Hospital Gains March 14, Debutantes Aiding in Sale of Tickets for Theatre Party Woman's Board Plans". Times Machine. The New York Times. March 3, 1935. p. 81. Retrieved 2020-12-30.
  15. ^ "BENEFIT TUESDAY FOR SERVICE CLUB; Tea and Fashion Show to Be Given in Italian Gardens of Le Coq Rouge". Times Machine. The New York Times. May 12, 1935. p. 92. Retrieved 2020-12-30.
  16. ^ "DEBUTANTES AIDING IDES OF MARCH FETE; Entertainment Friday to Help New York Exchange for Woman's Work". Times Machine. The New York Times. March 10, 1935. p. 88. Retrieved 2020-12-30.
  17. ^ "DEBUTANTES HELP PARTY FOR CLINIC; Jerry Bergh and Pamela Prime Head Committees Working for Fashion Show". Times Machine. The New York Times. January 19, 1936. p. 96. Retrieved 2020-12-30.
  18. ^ "STYLE SHOW TO AID GODDARD CENTRE; Younger Members of Society Assist Board of Governors for Event Dec. 14". The Times Machine. The New York Times. November 11, 1934. p. 88. Retrieved 2020-12-30.
  19. ^ "STYLE SHOW TO HELP CHILDREN'S VILLAGE; Percentage of Sales Today and Tomorrow to Be Donated to Dobbs Ferry Institution". Times Machine. The New York Times. April 8, 1935. p. 24. Retrieved 2020-12-30.
  20. ^ "5,000,000 to Take Part Tonight In Birthday Ball Celebrations; Festivities to Cover a Wide Range From Formal Events in Large Cities to Barn Dances in Rural Communities in Tribute to Nation's Chief Executive". Times Machine. The New York Times. January 30, 1936. p. 16. Retrieved 2020-12-30.
  21. ^ "PAGEANT TO HONOR PRESIDENT AT BALL; Spectacle Planned as Tribute to Him at Celebration of Birthday Saturday WELCOME FOR HIS MOTHER Reception to Be Held for Mrs. James Roosevelt as Opening Ceremony of Event". Times Machine. The New York Times. January 24, 1937. p. 79. Retrieved 2020-12-30.
  22. ^ "NATION WILL HONOR PRESIDENT TONIGHT; Thousands of Communities to Mark His 56th Year With Birthday Balls". Times Machine. The New York Times. January 30, 1937. p. 18. Retrieved 2020-12-30.
  23. ^ Marini, Marino; Waldberg, Patrick (1970). Marino Marini Complete Works. Tudor Publishing Company. p. 326.
  24. ^ "Frank X. Shields Is Dead at 66; Tennis Star Led '51 Davis Team; Player Achieved International Fame as Teen-Ager Was Elected to Hall of Fame". Times Machine, The New York Times. August 20, 1975. p. 40. Retrieved 2020-12-22.
  25. ^ "DONNA TORLONIA WED TO FRANK X. SHIELDS; She Becomes Bride of Tennis Player in North Conway, N.H.". Times Machine, The New York Times. July 14, 1940. p. 30. Retrieved 2020-12-22.
  26. ^ "MRS. SHIELDS BETROTHED; Former Marina Torlonia to Be Bride of Edward W. Slater". Times Machine, The New York Times. December 1, 1950. p. 30. Retrieved 2020-12-22.
  27. ^ "MRS. M.T. SHIELDS IS WED; Former Marina Torlonia Bride Here of Edward W. Slater". Times Machine, The New York Times. December 30, 1950. p. 11. Retrieved 2020-12-22.
  28. ^ "Between The Lines...". Newspapers.com. Pensacola News Journal. 1 August 1983. p. 30. Retrieved 2020-12-22.
  29. ^ Crenson, Matt (2 July 2006). "Turns Out Every Man's A King". Newspapers.com. Albuquerque Journal, Associated Press. p. 10. Retrieved 2020-12-30.
  30. ^ "PRINCESS DIES IN CRASH; Marina Torlonia Slater Killed in Accident in Italy". Times Machine, The New York Times. September 16, 1960. p. 3. Retrieved 2020-12-22.
  31. ^ "3 Bluebloods Are Killed in Italian Crash". Newspapers.com. Asheville Citizen-Times. 16 Sep 1960. p. 23. Retrieved 2020-12-22.
  32. ^ "Women Today". Newspapers.com. The San Francisco Examiner. 24 September 1960. p. 20. Retrieved 2020-12-22.
  33. ^ "Three 'Upper Set' Travelers Are Killed". Newspapers.com. Red Deer Advocate of Canada. 16 September 1960. p. 3. Retrieved 2020-12-22.
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