Teresa Heinz facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Teresa Heinz
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Heinz in 2013
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| Born |
Maria Teresa Thierstein Simões-Ferreira
October 5, 1938 |
| Nationality | American Portuguese |
| Other names | Teresa Heinz Kerry |
| Education |
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| Occupation | Businesswoman, philanthropist |
| Political party | Democratic (since 2003) Republican (until 2003) |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | 3, including André and Christopher |
Teresa Heinz (born Maria Teresa Thierstein Simões-Ferreira on October 5, 1938), also known as Teresa Heinz Kerry, is a Portuguese-American businesswoman and a philanthropist. A philanthropist is someone who gives money and time to help others and good causes.
Teresa Heinz is the widow of former U.S. Senator John Heinz. She is also the current wife of John Kerry. John Kerry is a former U.S. Senator and was the U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate. He also ran for president in 2004. Teresa Heinz has led important groups like the Heinz Endowments and the Heinz Family Philanthropies.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Maria Teresa Thierstein Simões-Ferreira was born in Lourenço Marques. This city is now called Maputo and is in Mozambique. At that time, it was a colony called Portuguese Mozambique.
Her father, José Simões-Ferreira Jr., was a doctor from Portugal. He specialized in cancer and tropical diseases. Her mother, Irene Thierstein, had Portuguese and British family roots. Teresa was raised as a Roman Catholic.
In 1960, Teresa earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. She studied Romance Languages and Literature at the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa. In 1963, she graduated from the School of Translation and Interpretation at the University of Geneva. After finishing her studies, she moved to the United States. There, she worked as an interpreter for the United Nations.
Marriages and Family Life
On February 5, 1966, Teresa married John Heinz in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. John Heinz was a U.S. Senator and his family founded the H. J. Heinz Company. They had three sons together, including André and Christopher.
In 1971, Teresa Heinz became a naturalized United States citizen. This means she officially became a citizen of the U.S. John Heinz sadly died in a plane crash on April 4, 1991. Teresa inherited a large amount of money from him.
Teresa Heinz first met Senator John Kerry in 1990 at an Earth Day event. They met again in 1992 at the Earth Summit in Brazil. Teresa was part of a U.S. government group at that time. Heinz and Kerry got married on May 26, 1995, in Nantucket, Massachusetts.
After marrying John Kerry, Teresa chose to keep the name Teresa Heinz. She explained that it was her legal name and the name her sons shared. She also uses Teresa Heinz Kerry, especially for political reasons.
Besides Portuguese, her first language, Teresa Heinz also speaks English, Spanish, French, and Italian. She is Roman Catholic.
Health Journey
In December 2009, Teresa Heinz shared that she was being treated for breast cancer. She had surgery and a special type of radiation therapy.
On July 7, 2013, she was taken to the hospital after showing signs of a seizure. She was in serious but stable condition. Doctors later ruled out a heart attack, brain tumor, or stroke. She recovered at a rehabilitation hospital and then at home.
Helping Others: Philanthropy
Teresa Heinz has been a leader in giving back to the community. She chaired the Heinz Endowments and the Heinz Family Philanthropies. These groups give money to many good causes, especially those helping society and the environment. She has also helped the city of Pittsburgh, where the Heinz family has strong ties.
Because of her generous work, Teresa Heinz has received special honors. Many universities have given her honorary doctoral degrees. These are special degrees given to people who have made important contributions.
Some of the institutions that honored her include:
- Bank Street College of Education
- Carnegie Mellon University
- Drexel University
- University of Massachusetts Boston
- University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg
In 2003, she received the Albert Schweitzer Gold Medal for Humanitarianism. This award recognizes people who work to improve human welfare. She was also chosen as a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Environmental Work
Teresa Heinz has done a lot to support the environment. In 1990, she helped start a group called the Alliance to End Childhood Lead Poisoning. This group worked to make homes healthier.
In 1992, she was a representative at the Earth Summit. This was a big meeting where leaders discussed environmental issues.
In 1993, she helped create Second Nature. This organization helps colleges teach about sustainability. Also in 1993, she started the Heinz Awards. These awards honor people who make great contributions, including in the environment.
In 1995, the Heinz Endowments gave $20 million to start The Heinz Center. This center works to improve environmental policy using science and economics.
Since 1996, Teresa Heinz has hosted yearly conferences on "Women's Health and the Environment." She also created the Teresa Heinz Scholars for Environmental Research. This program gives money to students doing research on environmental concerns. She is also on the board of the Environmental Defense Fund.
Helping Women with Money Matters
Teresa Heinz has also focused on helping women with their financial security. In 1995, a book called Pensions in Crisis was published with her support. This book looked at how the retirement system was not working well for many Americans.
Because of the issues found in the book, Heinz and her foundation started the Women's Retirement Initiative. This group studied why older women often faced poverty.
In 1996, the Heinz Foundations created WISER. This stands for the Women's Institute for a Secure Retirement. It helps women learn about saving for their future.
Wealth and Politics
Teresa Heinz is estimated to be very wealthy. In 2017, she and John Kerry listed a home for sale on Nantucket.
For most of her life, Teresa Heinz was a registered Republican. Even after marrying John Kerry, who is a Democrat, she remained a Republican. However, in January 2003, she changed her registration to the Democratic Party.
In 2003, she was named one of "Pennsylvania's Most Politically Powerful Women."
After her first husband, John Heinz, died, some people thought Teresa might run for his Senate seat. She decided not to. She also spoke out against Republican Rick Santorum, who ran for the seat in 1994.
In 2004, Teresa Heinz shared her thoughts on politics. She criticized the Iraq War policy of President George W. Bush. She said it had turned friends into enemies.
Teresa Heinz is known for being very direct and honest. In a 2004 interview, she was asked about the differences between herself and then-First Lady Laura Bush. Teresa Heinz said that Laura Bush seemed calm and had a sparkle in her eye. She also mentioned that she herself was older and had different life experiences.
Later, Teresa Heinz apologized for her comments. She said she had forgotten that Mrs. Bush had worked as a schoolteacher and librarian. She added that teaching children is a very important job. Laura Bush said she was not offended by the comments.
See also
In Spanish: Teresa Heinz Kerry para niños
