What do you think I am, a Rockefeller?
A sign of the times, neon-bright, from a wedding announcement in the New York Times, June 8, 2003, page IX-15:
WEDDINGS/CELEBRATIONS; Julia D'Amico, Stuart Rockefeller
Julia Elizabeth D'Amico, the daughter of Dr. Susan Armstrong and Dr. Robert D'Amico, both of Gainesville, Fla., was married last evening to Stuart Alexander Rockefeller, a son of the late Barbara Olsen Rockefeller and the late Rodman Clark Rockefeller, both of New York. ...
Her father is the chairman of the philosophy department at the University of Florida in Gainesville. Her mother is a psychotherapist in Gainesville. ...
He is a grandson of the late Nelson A. Rockefeller, the vice president and New York governor. ...
Ms. D'Amico, 34, is keeping her name.
Two things: first, a girl named D'Amico marries into the Rockefeller family and she "is keeping her name"? Past generations tended to marry Rockefellers and Vanderbilts and Hiltons et al primarily to acquire the luminous surname (and the money), and to retain it after the divorce or predecease. (Just what was Teresa Kerry's first husband's name again?) And second, the disclosure is matter-of-fact: there is no hint of calculation, or reverse snobbery, or political statement--just a bland declarative sentence revealing her intent. But why should Rockefeller inherently be preferable to D'Amico? Well, of course there is wannabe aspiration, but that is ultimately pathetic. Is there anything else?
Perhaps the demure Mr Rockefeller eventually will assume Ms D'Amico's name ...
WEDDINGS/CELEBRATIONS; Julia D'Amico, Stuart Rockefeller
Julia Elizabeth D'Amico, the daughter of Dr. Susan Armstrong and Dr. Robert D'Amico, both of Gainesville, Fla., was married last evening to Stuart Alexander Rockefeller, a son of the late Barbara Olsen Rockefeller and the late Rodman Clark Rockefeller, both of New York. ...
Her father is the chairman of the philosophy department at the University of Florida in Gainesville. Her mother is a psychotherapist in Gainesville. ...
He is a grandson of the late Nelson A. Rockefeller, the vice president and New York governor. ...
Ms. D'Amico, 34, is keeping her name.
Two things: first, a girl named D'Amico marries into the Rockefeller family and she "is keeping her name"? Past generations tended to marry Rockefellers and Vanderbilts and Hiltons et al primarily to acquire the luminous surname (and the money), and to retain it after the divorce or predecease. (Just what was Teresa Kerry's first husband's name again?) And second, the disclosure is matter-of-fact: there is no hint of calculation, or reverse snobbery, or political statement--just a bland declarative sentence revealing her intent. But why should Rockefeller inherently be preferable to D'Amico? Well, of course there is wannabe aspiration, but that is ultimately pathetic. Is there anything else?
Perhaps the demure Mr Rockefeller eventually will assume Ms D'Amico's name ...
posted by S.Y. Silverstein at 8:15 AM
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