Ilona DeVito di Porriasa
Ilona DeVito di Porriasa | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Cluj-Napoca, Romania |
| Died | April 15, 2013 (aged 73) |
| Occupation | Banker |
| Known for | Career in finance in the United States |
Ilona DeVito di Porriasa (April 23, 1939 – April 15, 2013), originally named Ilona Mária Teleki von Szék and born in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, was a countess of Hungarian origin who established a prominent career in finance within the United States after escaping Communist Romania. She pursued banking in New York City while maintaining discretion about her aristocratic lineage until after her passing.
Early life
Ilona was born in 1939 in a castle located in Transylvania. Her father held the title of count and served as a regional representative to Hungary, while her mother was a baroness. During the Soviet occupation, the family endured persecution; her father was incarcerated for twenty years. Their estate was seized and repurposed into a clinic and botanical garden. The family survived under difficult circumstances, with Ilona employed in a shoe manufacturing plant and her mother engaged in laundry and sewing work. Their education was hampered by anti-Hungarian hostility, and their communications were strictly monitored. Eventually, her father fled to the United States, obtained asylum, and in 1964 orchestrated the family's release from Romania through bribery, enabling their reunion on American soil.
Life in exile
Upon arrival in the U.S., Ilona had no proficiency in English and took on multiple jobs, beginning with work at a hosiery factory in the Bronx and later serving as a teletypist at a financial company. Without formal higher education, she launched her Wall Street career at Merrill Lynch, advancing to market analyst by applying keen analytical skills to examine financial patterns and provide investment guidance. She became part of Merrill Lynch’s securities research team during the early 1970s and remained there until her retirement in 2005.
In 1975, Ilona wed Lino DeVito di Porriasa, a member of an Italian noble family; he passed away in 2008.
Death
DeVito di Porriasa died in April 2013. Her aristocratic roots and family history were revealed to friends and colleagues only following her death.