Teresa Heinz Kerry

Maria Teresa Thierstein Simões-Ferreira Heinz Kerry (born October 5, 1938), is a philanthropist and the wife of U.S. Senator John Kerry.

Early life

Heinz Kerry was born to Portuguese parents in Mozambique, which was a colony of Portugal at the time. Her father was Dr. José Simões-Ferreira, and her mother was Irene Thierstein.

Related Topics:
Portuguese - Mozambique

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Heinz Kerry grew up in Mozambique's capital, Lourenço Marques (now called Maputo). Her father was a medical doctor, and "Teresinha" (the diminutive of Teresa in Portuguese) led a relatively privileged life. Her father would, however, often bring her along on his calls into the African bush, where she witnessed how those of lesser means lived.

Related Topics:
Maputo - Doctor - Diminutive - Portuguese - Africa

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Heinz Kerry earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Romance Languages and literature from the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa. She graduated from the Interpreters School of the University of Geneva (Switzerland) before moving to the United States to work at the United Nations as a translator. She is fluent in five languages: English, Spanish, French, Italian, and her native Portuguese.

Related Topics:
Bachelor of Arts - Romance Language - University of the Witwatersrand - Johannesburg - South Africa - University of Geneva - Switzerland - United States - United Nations - English - Spanish - French - Italian - Portuguese

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