Geraldine Ferraro

Date of Birth: August 26, 1935

Zodiac Sign: Virgo

Date of Death: March 26, 2011

Biography

Geraldine Anne Ferraro was an American attorney, Democratic Party politician, and a member of the United States House of Representatives. Born in Newburgh, New York, Ferraro was the first woman to be nominated for Vice President by a major American political party. She was the running mate of Walter Mondale in the 1984 presidential election. Ferraro graduated from Marymount Manhattan College in 1956 and earned her J.D. from Fordham University School of Law in 1960, one of only two women in her class. She began her career in public service as an assistant district attorney in Queens, New York, where she founded the Special Victims Bureau to handle cases of domestic violence, child abuse, and sexual offenses. Elected to Congress in 1978, Ferraro was a strong advocate for women’s rights, education, and health care. Though the Mondale-Ferraro ticket lost in a landslide to Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, Ferraro remained an influential figure in American politics and continued to work for gender equality and social justice until her death.

5 Interesting Facts about Geraldine Ferraro

1. Geraldine Ferraro was the first female vice-presidential candidate representing a major American political party.

2. She served as the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights from 1993 to 1996.

3. Ferraro authored three books: “Ferraro: My Story,” “Geraldine Ferraro: Changing History,” and “Framing a Life: A Family Memoir.”

4. She was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer, in 1998 and became an advocate for medical research and patient rights.

5. Ferraro was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for three terms, from 1979 to 1985, representing New York’s 9th Congressional District.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Geraldine Ferraro

1. “Some leaders are born women.”

2. “Vice president—it has such a nice ring to it!”

3. “If you take advantage of everything America has to offer, there’s nothing you can’t accomplish.”

4. “We’ve chosen the path to equality, don’t let them turn us around.”

5. “We fought hard. We gave it our best. We did what was right and we made a difference.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

At the peak of her career, Geraldine Ferraro’s net worth was estimated to be around $4 million.

Children

Geraldine Ferraro had three children with her husband, John Zaccaro: Donna, John Jr., and Laura. Donna Zaccaro is a documentary filmmaker and has directed films including “Geraldine Ferraro: Paving the Way,” which chronicles her mother’s groundbreaking career.