Teresa Heinz

Date of Birth: October 5, 1938

Zodiac Sign: Libra

Biography

Teresa Heinz, born Maria Teresa Thierstein Simões-Ferreira on October 5, 1938, in Lourenço Marques, Mozambique (now Maputo), is a prominent American businesswoman and philanthropist. She is the widow of former U.S. Senator H. John Heinz III and the wife of U.S. Secretary of State and former Senator John Kerry. Teresa Heinz is best known for her leadership of the Heinz Family Philanthropies and her extensive work in environmental conservation, women’s health, and community development. Raised in Mozambique, she moved to South Africa to attend the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Romance Languages and Literature. She later attended the School of Translation and Interpretation at the University of Geneva. After her education, she worked as an interpreter at the United Nations. In 1966, Teresa married H. John Heinz III, an heir to the Heinz food empire and a U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania. The couple had three sons before H. John Heinz III tragically died in a plane crash in 1991. In 1995, Teresa married John Kerry, who was then a Senator from Massachusetts, and she became actively involved in his political career, including his 2004 presidential campaign. Teresa Heinz has dedicated much of her life to philanthropy. She chairs the Heinz Endowments and the Heinz Family Philanthropies, which fund a wide range of initiatives in health, education, and the environment. She has received numerous awards for her charitable work and continues to be a powerful advocate for social and environmental causes.

5 Interesting Facts about Teresa Heinz

1. Teresa Heinz speaks five languages fluently: English, Portuguese, Spanish, French, and Italian.

2. She co-authored the book “Pensions in Crisis: Why the System is Failing America and How You Can Protect Your Future” with Richard A. Shaffer.

3. Teresa has survived breast cancer, which she was diagnosed with in 2009.

4. She played a significant role in John Kerry’s 2004 presidential campaign, often serving as a surrogate speaker.

5. She is a strong advocate for environmental issues and has supported numerous green initiatives through her philanthropic work.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Teresa Heinz

1. “To be successful, you have to have your heart in your business, and your business in your heart.”

2. “Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.”

3. “Philanthropy is about solving problems, not just giving money.”

4. “We must be the change we wish to see in the world.”

5. “True wealth is not measured by money, but by the legacy we leave behind.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

The highest net worth achieved by Teresa Heinz is estimated to be around $750 million.

Children

Teresa Heinz has three sons from her first marriage to H. John Heinz III: 1. Henry John Heinz IV, born in 1966. 2. André Thierstein Heinz, born in 1969. 3. Christopher Drake Heinz, born in 1973.