Monica von Neumann

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Monica von Neumann
BornMonica Ann Ford
(1964-06-15)15 June 1964
Detroit, Michigan, United States
DiedMarch 5, 2019(2019-03-05) (aged 54)
Los Angeles, California, United States
Buried Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery
Noble family von Neumann
Spouse(s)John Neumann Ritter von Héthárs (1985-2003; his death)
IssueDorian Neumann von Héthárs
Occupationbusinesswoman, socialite, dancer, model

Monica Ann Neumann von Héthárs, also known as Baroness Monica von Neumann, [1] (née Ford; June 15, 1964 – March 5, 2019), was an American socialite and businesswoman. She worked as a fashion model and dancer before marrying John Neumann Ritter von Héthárs in 1985.

Contents

Early life

Monica von Neumann was born into an African-American working-class family in Detroit, Michigan. [2] As a child, she moved with her mother to Los Angeles. She studied dance at the Roland Dupree Dance Academy. [3] She attended Fairfax High School in Fairfax District, Los Angeles.

Career and philanthropy

Von Neumann danced professionally before getting married, going on tour with Nina Simone and Devo. [4] She also worked as a model for Yves Saint Laurent and Dior, walking in runway shows and standing in for fittings at ateliers in Paris. [5] [6]

In 2010, she launched the luxury home-goods retailer Baroness von Neumann Candles, which sold high-end scented candles. [7] [8] [4] [9] [10] The candle logo was the Von Neumann family crest. [3] In December 2010, she was a guest on BET's The Mo'Nique Show . [2]

In 2013, she was considered for a spot as a cast member of the American reality television series Real Housewives of Beverly Hills . [11] [12] [13] She reportedly met with producers but ended up not joining the cast. [10] [14] [15]

In February 2013, von Neumann, along with Daphne Guinness and Lynn Ban, donated a collection of her shoes to the Museum at Fashion Institute of Technology's Shoe Obsession exhibit. [16] Von Neumann was featured in the documentary God Save My Shoes, which followed extreme shoe collectors. [6]

She was a patron of Inner-City Arts and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. [3] [6] She was also involved with Hollyrod Foundation, an organization that offers support to families with children that have autism. As a patron of the organizations March To The Top and AINA, von Neumann traveled to Kenya and assisted in establishing an orphanage. [17]

Personal life

When she was eighteen years old she was introduced to John Neumann Ritter von Héthárs, the son of Heinrich Neumann Ritter von Héthárs, by Sonny Bono at a dinner party in Palm Springs. [18] She began a relationship with Ritter von Neumann, who was the first importer of Volkswagens to the United States. [12] [10] After they got engaged, she attended a finishing school in Switzerland. [2] She and Ritter von Neumann married in 1985. They had one daughter, Dorian. [9] Her husband's family, the von Neumanns, are a Hungarian Jewish family that was elevated into the nobility by the Austrian emperor. While a branch of her husband's family held the rank of Freiherr (baron), her husband did not. He held the hereditary title Ritter, which is the German equivalent to a baronet or hereditary knight. Her husband died from cancer in 2003. [19] [4] [20]

Prior to his death, Von Neumann's husband allegedly had a son from an extramarital affair with Charlotte Vega. In 2010, she was involved in a legal battle against Charlotte's son, John Vega, regarding his paternity. [21]

Death

Monica von Neumann died on March 5, 2019, due to health complications. She reportedly was in financial trouble at the time of her death. [22] She is buried at Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery.

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References

  1. ↑ Monica von Neumann is often incorrectly referred to in the press as a baroness. While she was a member of the Austrian nobility through her marriage, her husband held the rank of Ritter (similar to a baronet or hereditary knight) and not the rank of Freiherr (baron).
  2. 1 2 3 "Baroness From Detroit". BET. Viacom. December 6, 2010. Archived from the original on April 26, 2011. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
  3. 1 2 3 "Holding Court with Baroness Monica von Neumann". Upscale Living Magazine. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
  4. 1 2 3 Brown, Ann (September 19, 2012). "From Detroit to Austria: Baroness Monica von Neumann Puts a Regal Spin on the Candle Business". MADAMENOIRE. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
  5. ↑ "Spotlight on Baroness Von Neumann–The Life of Another Black Woman who Married European Royalty & More Okey-Dokes". Black Female Interracial Marriage. August 11, 2013. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
  6. 1 2 3 "Ex-Model & Dancer: Baroness Monica Von Neumann". Sola Rey. November 2, 2017. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
  7. ↑ Delatorre, Kim (February 3, 2011). "BARONESS MONICA VON NEUMANN'S SIGNATURE LINE OF SCENTED CANDLES". Shop With Me Mamma. Retrieved February 9, 2019.
  8. ↑ "Candles by Baroness Monica von Neumann". The Life of Luxury. October 19, 2010. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
  9. 1 2 Gray, Christine (April 22, 2010). "Interview with Baroness Monica von Neumann". Luxury Travel Magazine. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
  10. 1 2 3 Woulfe, Niel (March 28, 2013). "A Real 'Royal' Housewife? Hollywood's Baroness Monica Von Neumann In Talks To Join RHOBH". Radar Online. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
  11. ↑ "Baroness Monica Von Neumann In Talks To Join RHOBH". Reality Wives. March 28, 2013. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
  12. 1 2 "Baroness Monica Von Neumann On 'Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills'?". HuffPost. Verizon Media. March 28, 2013. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
  13. ↑ Malec, Brett (March 28, 2013). "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills in Talks With Baroness Monica Van Neumann to Join Cast". E!. NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment Group. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
  14. ↑ Dodrill, Tara (March 28, 2013). "Baroness Monica Von Neumann May Join 'RHOBH' [Rumor]". Inquisitr. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
  15. ↑ Breslaw, Anna (March 30, 2013). "Black Baroness May Join Whitewashed Real Housewives of Beverly Hills". Jezebel. Univision Communications. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
  16. ↑ Rabinovitch, Simona (February 20, 2013). "MFIT EXHIBITS 150 EXTREME DESIGNER SHOES". Gotham Magazine. Niche Media. Retrieved February 9, 2019.
  17. ↑ "Interview with Baroness Monica Von Neumann". A Distinctive Style. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
  18. ↑ Heyman, Marshall (March 26, 2012). "Small Luxuries Light Up Los Angeles". The Wall Street Journal. Dow Jones & Company. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
  19. ↑ "John Von Neumann passes away". Autoweek . January 6, 2004. Retrieved August 5, 2021.
  20. ↑ Nsenduluka, Benge (March 30, 2013). "'Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' Producers Want Lisa Rinna, Monica Von Neumann?". The Christian Post.
  21. ↑ "NEUMANN v. VEGA". Leagle. November 4, 2010. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
  22. ↑ "Baronness Monica Von Neumann has passed, was homeless for at least a year". Lipstick Alley. March 7, 2019. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
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