Friday, September 16, 2011

Death of Alexander de Torre Tasso

Prince Alexander Torre "Sasha" Tasso

"Prince Alexander Torre Tasso AWENDAW, SC - Alexander Torre Tasso, also known as Sasha, died Monday, August 29, 2011 at home, after a long illness at the age of 71. He was predeceased by his father, Prince Louis Torre Tasso; his mother, Fannie Goodyear Streeter; his maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Bradley Goodyear; his paternal grandparents, Princess Marie de Ligne and Prince Alexander Torre Tasso. Sasha was born in the wartime Czech Republic on February 26, 1940. He later escaped to the United States with his mother and father through Switzerland, and subsequently sailed to New York on the S.S. Gripsholm, arriving days before his fifth birthday. He grew up in Buffalo and Cooperstown, New York and spent the summers with his father in Europe visiting his large family there. He attended the Nichols School in Buffalo, the Hill School in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, Princeton University and Syracuse University. He was a man of immense natural charm, spontaneous cordiality, impeccable manners, saying thank you effusively when more often than not it was the other party who should have been thanking him. Sasha will always be known for his ability to tell imaginative and entertaining stories and anecdotes. He laughed readily at himself, was a fiercely loyal friend, and was passionate about sports, old western movies, all while enjoying a nice glass of red wine. He adored his family, and was always doing for others. Sasha was survived by his wife, Connie; his son, Alex (Kim); two daughters, Louise Hoare (James) and Helen. He is also survived by his brothers, Daniel Streeter (Nancy) and Bradley Streeter. His grandchildren are Teddy and Nathan. His stepchildren are Jep Cobb (Cammie); Wade Cobb (Kim), and; Aimee Coker (Clark, Jr.). His step grandchildren are Helen Cobb; James Cobb, and; Nathan Cobb; Clark Coker, III and Blacksher Coker. He is also survived by numerous cousins and close friends. He will be greatly missed by all. The family will be receiving guests on Thursday, September 1, 2011 from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at their home located at 4317 Caledonia Lane, Awendaw, South Carolina 29429, and there will be a brief service at 6:30 p.m. Arrangements by J. HENRY STUHR MOUNT PLEASANT CHAPEL. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Rein And Shine, www.reinandshine.org, a therapeutic riding program, at 5282 Bedaw Farm Drive, Awendaw, SC 29429 or Odyssey Hospice, 5965 Core Road, Suite 603, North Charleston, SC 29406. "

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/charleston/obituary.aspx?n=alexander-torre-tasso-sasha&pid=153376550&fhid=6307

Sasha's mother, Fannie, spoke about how she and her young son were repatriated to the United States in 1945 by the Red Cross.  Her "stirring account" before a "record crowd which nearly filled the auditorium" at East Springfield High School in Cooperstown, New York.  Her talk was part of a fundraising effort by the Red Cross.

Mrs. Tasso and her son Alexander were living in Czechoslavakia, and found themselves as refugees as the Soviets moved into the country.   She kept her audience "spellbound" as she spoke in detail about what "the Red Cross did for her and her family" on the long journey home.  The Red Cross provided food, clothes and toiletries for her family.   

She also mentioned the "fine work done by the Red Cross workers" who treated the wounded American soldiers aboard the Gripsholm.   The Red Cross' work continued after the ship docked in New York.  In her case, the Red Cross brought her and her young son by car to the hotel where her parents were waiting for them.    She had "only high praise" for the Red Cross in helping her "so much on her way back from war torn Europe."

Fannie Goodyear married Prince Louis Della Torre e Tasso at St. Joseph's Church in Buffalo, New York, on June 10, 1939.     Only immediate family and "a few friends"were present, reported the New York Times. 

The newlyweds "sailed shortly after the ceremony to spend the Summer in travel on the Continent."   Fanny gave birth to Alexander Frederick Bradley on February 26, 1940 at Schloss Mzell, not even nine months after the wedding.  The marriage was dissolved by divorce in 1948.

 Alexander married Martha Singer at Camillus, New York, on September 6, 1966.  The couple had three children: Louise Jeannette (Mrs. James Hoare), Alexander and Helen, a Special Olympian.
Prince Ludwig Almerich Lamoral Alexander Konstantin Maximilian  Lucian was born on October 5, 1908, a son of the Prince Alexander of Thurn und Taxis, Duke of Castel di Duino and his first wife, Princess Marie de Ligne.  They were divorced in 1919. [ Prince Alexander married the former Miss Helen Holbrook-Walker of Detroit, Michigan, who was the second wife of James Hazen Hyde, the former president of the Equitable Life Assurance Society. }

  Prince Ludwig died on on March 25, 1985 at Camillus, New York. He had been a resident of Gardiner, Maine.  His older brother, Prince Raimund, succeeded to the ducal title in 1937.   He married Princess Eugenie of Greece and Denmark in 1949.   Their son, Carlo, the current Duke of Castel Duino, is Sasha Torre e Tasso's first cousin.  Ludwig's younger sister, Margarete, married Prince Gaetan of Bourbon-Parma in 1931.  They were divorced in 1959.

Fanny died on January 24, 1975 in Belleair, Florida, after a "brief illness."  She was survived by her husband, Daniel B. Streeter, and the mother of Alexandre Torre Tasso, Daniel W. Streeter and Bradley G. Streeter.  Her mother, Jeannette Goodyear (nee Bissell) died on November 18, 1983 at her home "Cary Mede" in Springfield Center, New York.

The Goodyears were a prominent Buffalo family.

Bradley Goodyear was the son of Charles Waterhourse Goodyear and Ella Portia Conger.  The family fortune was made in lumber and railroads.

http://www.buffaloah.com/a/del

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