Birth Name: Vittoria Marisa Schiaparelli Berenson
Place of Birth: New York City, New York, U.S.
Date of Birth: February 15, 1947
Ethnicity:
*Ashkenazi Jewish (father)
*Swiss-French, Breton, Polish (maternal grandfather)
*Italian (maternal grandmother)
Marisa Berenson is an American actress and model. Marisa’s sister was photographer Berinthia “Berry” Berenson, who died in the September 11 attacks. Berinthia was married to actor Anthony Perkins.
Marisa is the daughter of socialite Gogo Schiaparelli (born Maria-Luisa Yvonne Radha de Wendt de Kerlor) and diplomat Robert Lawrence/Laurence Berenson.
Marisa’s father was Jewish, from a Jewish family from Lithuania, Russia, France, and Hungary. His family’s surname was originally spelt “Valvrojenski”. Marisa’s mother had Italian, Swiss-French, Breton, and Polish roots.
Marisa’s paternal grandfather was Bernard Berenson (the son of Leyb/Louis/Lewis Berenson and Sarah Bernstein). Bernard was born in Massachusetts, to Russian Jewish parents. Leyb was the son of Wolf Berenson and Baylee. Sarah was the daughter of Isaac Bernstein and Slova. Through this side, Marisa is a second cousin, once removed, of art historian Bernard Berenson and athlete and educator Senda Berenson, who is one of the first two women elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Marisa’s paternal grandmother was Corinne Francesca Levy (the daughter of Anatole/Anatol Levy and Elizabeth/Eliza Nathan). Anatole was born in France, the son of Nathan Levy and Rachel/Rachiel Klein. Elizabeth was born in Hungary, the daughter of Emanuel Nathan and Fanny.
Marisa’s maternal grandfather was Wilhelm Frederick Radha de Wendt de Kerlor. Wilhelm was born in Switzerland, of French, Breton, and Polish descent.
Marisa’s maternal grandmother was Elsa Luisa Maria Schiaparelli (the daughter of Celestino Schiaparelli and Maria-Luisa Domenitis). Elsa was a prominent fashion designer, from Rome, Italy. Celestino was a prominent scholar, from Piedmont, and was the son of Luigi Schiaparelli. Maria-Luisa was from a Neapolitan family, of aristocratic background. Elsa’s uncle, Giovanni Schiaparelli, was a prominent astronomer.
Sources: Genealogy of Marisa Berenson – http://www.geni.com
Marisa’s father on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Marriage record of Marisa’s paternal grandparents, Bernard Berenson and Corinne Francesca Levy – https://familysearch.org
Marriage record of Marisa’s paternal great-grandparents, Leyb/Louis/Lewis Berenson and Sarah Bernstein – https://familysearch.org
Genealogy of Marisa’s paternal grandmother, Corinne Francesca Levy (focusing on her own father’s side) – https://www.geni.com
Marriage record of Marisa’s paternal great-grandparents, Anatole Levy and Elizabeth/Eliza Nathan – https://familysearch.org
http://www.theguardian.com
http://www.telegraph.co.uk
Frocking Life: Searching For Elsa Schiaparelli (2016), by Jean Druesedow – https://books.google.com.br
Photo by Denis Makarenko/www.bigstockphoto.com