A grainy film photograph of a dignified woman with short dark hair in a soft blazer, standing before a muted crowd, warm amber and cream tones.

Teresa Heinz Kerry

Teresa Heinz Kerry was born in Mozambique, Africa in 1938. Her father was a Portuguese doctor who took her to see patients in the bush. She went to university in South Africa and marched against apartheid. She later studied further in Switzerland, where she met her first husband, H. John Heinz III of the Heinz food company. Her husband became a Senator from Pennsylvania until he died in a plane crash in 1991.

She was a stay-at-home mom to her three sons — John, Chris, and Andre. She now runs one of the largest philanthropic foundations in the country. She describes herself as shy and feels that she came from a more romantic time.

The Top Dozen Reasons Why Kids for Kerry Believes Teresa Heinz Kerry Will Make a GREAT First Lady

  1. Teresa Heinz Kerry is deeply committed to children's issues.
  2. She stood up for and fought to end apartheid in South Africa.
  3. She is an avid environmentalist. She helped start an internationally acclaimed public service campaign promoting environmental action in countries around the globe. She also sponsored The Environminute and The World ECO Minute, a daily radio campaign reaching citizens in more than 100 countries, and HealthWeek, a weekly PBS-produced program with a strong focus on women's health and the environment.
  4. She speaks five languages — English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and Italian.
  5. In 1972 she attended the first meeting of the Women's Political Caucus in Pennsylvania.
  6. In 1996 she established the Women's Institute for a Secure Retirement to educate women about pensions, savings, and retirement security.
  7. She runs one of the largest philanthropic foundations in the country, directing resources toward education, the environment, and children's well-being.
  8. She was presented with the Albert Schweitzer Gold Medal for Humanitarianism in September 2003, recognizing her lifelong dedication to humanitarian causes.
  9. She has firsthand experience with the challenges facing American families, having raised three sons and navigated profound personal loss while remaining active in public life.
  10. She brings a global perspective to public service, having lived on three continents and worked across cultures to advance health and environmental initiatives.
  11. She is a passionate advocate for women's health and retirement security, working to ensure that women have the information and resources they need for a secure future.
  12. She believes kids can make a difference, and her own life story — from marching against apartheid as a university student to leading a major foundation — proves that one person's commitment can change the world.

Learn more about Teresa Heinz Kerry at JohnKerry.com.

← Back to Home  |  Learn about John Kerry →