Teresa Heinz Kerry

Heinz Kerry in 2007, photo by s_bukley/Bigstock.com

Birth Name: Maria Teresa Thierstein Simões-Ferreira

Place of Birth: Lourenço Marques, Portuguese East Africa (now Maputo, Mozambique)

Date of Birth: October 5, 1938

Ethnicity:
*father – Portuguese
*mother – Swiss-German, Italian, Maltese, possibly French

Teresa Heinz Kerry is a Mozambican–born American businessperson and philanthropist.

Teresa was born in Mozambique, Africa, to Irene (Thierstein) and José Simões Ferreira. Her father was Portuguese, born in Albergaria-a-Velha Municipality, Aveiro, Portugal. Her mother was of Swiss-German, Italian, Maltese, and French descent.

Teresa is the wife of U.S. Senator, Secretary of State, and presidential candidate John Kerry. She was previously married to Republican politician H. John Heinz III, until his death. Teresa and John Heinz have three children together.

Teresa’s paternal grandfather was José Simões Ferreira (the son of Manuel Simões Ferreira and Rosa Simões Dias). José was born in Sobreiro, Mafra, Lisboa, Portugal.

Teresa’s paternal grandmother was Margarida Augusta Mourisca (the daughter of José de Matos Pinheiro Mourisca and Maria Augusta Claro). Margarida was Portuguese. José was the son of Cristóvão de Matos Mourisca and Luísa Maria da Silva Almeida.

Teresa’s maternal grandfather was Alberto Roberto Thierstein (the son of Eduard Christian Thierstein and Maria Antonia Pisani). Alberto was born in Valletta, Malta. Eduard was Swiss-German, from Hasle bei Burgdorf, Canton of Bern. Maria was Maltese.

Teresa’s maternal grandmother was Maria Burló (the daughter of Giuseppe/Joseph Burló and Elisa Astarita). Maria was born in Alexandria, Egypt. Elisa was born in Naples, Campania, Italy.

Source: Genealogy of Teresa Heinz Kerry – http://www.geni.com