20th-century Italian socialite
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 .
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 shipping broker and car mechanic from Connecticut .[ 2] [ 3] The Torlonia family gained its fortune in the administration of Vatican finances.
She had three siblings:
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]
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]
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]
Ancestors of Marina Torlonia di Civitella-Cesi
^ "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 .
^ "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 .
^ 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 .
^ a b "Last Saturday" . Newspapers.com . The San Francisco Examiner. 5 January 1935. p. 9. Retrieved 2020-12-22 .
^ "New York" . Newspapers.com . Hartford Courant. 30 December 1934. p. 14. Retrieved 2020-12-30 .
^ 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 .
^ 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 .
^ "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 .
^ "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 .
^ "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 .
^ "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 .
^ Mintz, Lucile (28 April 1936). "Society Notes" . Newspapers.com . The Brooklyn Citizen. p. 3. Retrieved 2020-12-30 .
^ "Society" . Newspapers.com . The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. April 27, 1936. p. 18. Retrieved 2020-12-30 .
^ "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 .
^ "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 .
^ "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 .
^ "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 .
^ "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 .
^ "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 .
^ "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 .
^ "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 .
^ "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 .
^ Marini, Marino; Waldberg, Patrick (1970). Marino Marini Complete Works . Tudor Publishing Company. p. 326.
^ "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 .
^ "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 .
^ "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 .
^ "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 .
^ "Between The Lines..." . Newspapers.com . Pensacola News Journal. 1 August 1983. p. 30. Retrieved 2020-12-22 .
^ Crenson, Matt (2 July 2006). "Turns Out Every Man's A King" . Newspapers.com . Albuquerque Journal, Associated Press. p. 10. Retrieved 2020-12-30 .
^ "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 .
^ "3 Bluebloods Are Killed in Italian Crash" . Newspapers.com . Asheville Citizen-Times. 16 Sep 1960. p. 23. Retrieved 2020-12-22 .
^ "Women Today" . Newspapers.com . The San Francisco Examiner. 24 September 1960. p. 20. Retrieved 2020-12-22 .
^ "Three 'Upper Set' Travelers Are Killed" . Newspapers.com . Red Deer Advocate of Canada. 16 September 1960. p. 3. Retrieved 2020-12-22 .