Donna Marina Torlonia di Civitella-Cesi

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

Family

She was born in Rome at Palazzo Torlonia, the youngest daughter of "Don" Marino Torlonia, 4th prince of Civitella-Cesi ["Marino Torlonia Dead at 77", The New York Times, 7 March 1933] and his wife, Mary Elsie Moore, a daughter of Charles Arthur Moore, a shipping broker and hardware manufacturer from Connecticut. ["Miss Moore Weds the Duke Torlonia: New York Girl Becomes Duchess of Poli at Quiet Wedding in Greenwich", The New York Times, 16 August 1907] ["Princess Torlonia Dead Here at 53; Former Wife of Late Italian Nobleman Succumbs to Long Illness", The New York Times, 22 December 1941] Her brother was Don Alessandro Torlonia, 5th Prince di Civitella-Cesi, the husband of Infanta Beatriz of Spain (an aunt of King Juan Carlos I of Spain). ["Princess Torlonia Dead Here at 53; Former Wife of Late Italian Nobleman Succumbs to Long Illness", The New York Times, 22 December 1941]

The Torlonias were one of the richest Italian families of the 19th century, gaining their fortune in the administration of Vatican finances.

Marriages

"Donna" Marina Torlonia's first husband was Francis Xavier Shields (1909 - 1975), the American amateur tennis player, whom she met in Rome at a tennis championship. ["Frank X. Shields Is Dead at 66", The New York Times, 20 August 1975] They married in 1940 in North Conway, New Hampshire, ["Donna Torlonia Wed to Frank X. Shields", The New York Times, 14 July 1940] . The Shieldses had two children: Francis Alexander Shields (the father of the actress and model Brooke Shields) and a daughter, Marina Shields. They later divorced.

Her second husband, whom she married on 29 December 1950, was Edward W. Slater, an architect, ["Mrs. M. T. Shields Is Wed; Former Marina Torlonia Bride Here of Edward W. Slater", The New York Times, 30 December 1950] by whom she had a son, Edward (born 1955).

Death

Princess Marina Torlonia-Slater died on September 15, 1960, in an automobile accident in Piacenza, Italy, shortly after leaving a friend's wedding. ["Princess Dies in Crash; Marina Torlonia Slater Killed in Accident in Italy", The New York Times, 16 September 1960]

References