Supercentenarian Profile

Mamie Tei

Born:

1913-11-14

Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

United States

Current Residence:

Prato, Tuscany

Italy

✔ Age Certified by LongeviQuest

Mamie Tei is an American-born Italian supercentenarian whose age has been validated by the European Supercentenarian Organisation (ESO) and recognized by LongeviQuest.

BIOGRAPHY

Tei was born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, United States, on 14 November 1913 to Italian immigrant parents. Her parents had moved to the United States for work reasons, where their first three children —Roberto, Mamie, and Enrico—were born in New York and Pennsylvania. The fourth child, Gloria, was later born in Italy. In 1926, the family returned to Italy, specifically in Montiano (Grosseto). Despite their time abroad, Italy remained the emotional center of the family, as her parents were profoundly homesick.

She was required to resume her schooling, despite having already completed her education in the United States. One particularly distressing incident occurred when her teacher reprimanded her for pronouncing the name “Washington” with an American accent, insisting that she should say “Vasington” instead (Italian accent). Mamie was deeply upset by this, as she could not comprehend the impositions of fascism, which sought to suppress all things associated with the United States during that period.

Mamie later met and married Dante Conti, a man from Cafaggio in Prato. Dante, an agronomist by profession, was responsible for the management of the Vivarelli Colonna estates and also served as an interpreter for the Americans during World War II. From their marriage, two children were born: Giuliano in 1941 and Marcello in 1948. In the 1950s, the family permanently relocated to Prato.

During World War II, Mamie played an important humanitarian and generous role in assisting many people in Maremma, Tuscany, —in her kitchen, she provided food for her relatives and many women and children from neighboring villages, baked bread at night for distribution during the day, and sheltered families of Jews fleeing persecution.

Mamie Tei currently lives in Prato, Tuscany, Italy.