Theresia Anna Lilian Maria (Schmon) Shields (1933 - 2012)

Born 1 Aug 1933 in Newark, Essex, New Jersey, United States

Ancestors

Wife of Francis Alexander Shields — married 1965 in New York City, New York, United States

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Biography

Teri (Schmon) Shields is Notable.

Teri Shields was the mother of the actress Brook Shields.^[1]

Theresia Anna Lilian Maria Schmon was born on 11 August 1933, in Newark Township, Essex, New Jersey, United States. Her parents were Theresa Dollinger, a house cleaner, and John Schmon, a chemist. When Theresia was born her father was 29 and her mother was 25.

Teri married Francis Alexander Shields in 1964, in New York City, New York, United States. ^[2]

She died on 31 October 2012, in Manhattan, New York County, New York, United States, at the age of 79.^[3]

Obituary by Sadie Gennis:^[4]

Teri Shields, Brooke Shields' mother and former manager, died last Wednesday at the age of 79, The New York Times reports. She passed away from a long illness related to dementia in Manhattan.

Born Theresa Anna Lillian Schmon, Teri was a cosmetics saleswoman and model until she met Frank Shields, a former tennis player. The pair conceived Brooke five months before they married and quickly split. After Brooke was born, Teri pushed her daughter into show business.

At 11 months old, Brooke landed an Ivory soap commercial. Teri went on to get her daughter a role as a teen prostitute in Pretty Baby, as well as the infamous Calvin Klein jeans campaign.

Throughout her position as Brooke's manager, Teri faced accusations of exploiting her child, though she always defended her actions as attempts to do what was best for her daughter.

Sources

1. ↑ Wikipedia article about Teri Shields
2. ↑ Teresa Schmon in the New York, New York, U.S., Marriage License Indexes, 1907-2018. Name Teresa Schmon Gender Female Marriage License Date 1965 Marriage License Place Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA Spouse Francis Shields License Number 6253.
3. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/224432187/theresia-anna_lilian_maria-shields: accessed 28 December 2023), memorial page for Theresia Anna Lilian Maria “Teri” Schmon Shields (1 Aug 1933–31 Oct 2012), Find a Grave Memorial ID 224432187; Cremated, Private disposition of cremated remains.; Maintained by CMWJR (contributor 50059520).
4. ↑ State Journal, The (Charleston, West Virginia) 06 November 2012, obit for Teri Shields, Brooke Shields' mother, dies at 79, GenealogyBank.com (https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/obituaries/obit/14269B2BD3D8F690 : accessed 28 December 2023).

Acknowledgments

Thank you to Kitty Smith for contributions to this profile.