missing Venetian contessa?

[aghadowey]

I've been trying to solve this mystery for years but big roadblock is not having an exact name.

In the summer of 1929 (July-Sept.) my father's aunts travelled in Europe and they met a Venetian woman called Thea from a well-to-do family. A year or so later (possibly summer 1930 or 1931) Thea visited them in America and fell madly in love with my father.

So, I’m looking for a wealthy unmarried, childless Venetian woman born possibly 1892 +/- 5 or so years. She travelled to America probably at least 3 times-
1)   Summer 1930 or 1931?
One aunt visited her in Europe in summer of 1933.
2)   Summer 1935?
3)   Summer 1937
Port of arrival would have been New York and address she was going to could be Bronx, N.Y, or East Port Chester, N.Y. or Greenwich/Byram, Connecticut. Contact was probably given as Miss Annie Gardner.
We knew her as Thea but that might not have been her name. Closest I’ve come to a surname is cousin’s guess of Bergamini but may be incorrect.

During the 1937 visit she was interested in purchasing a house, well an estate really, in Greenwich, Connecticut to establish a place to visit every summer but was persuaded not to. This was probably her last visit before war broke out in Europe.

The clues from various family members aren't that helpful- she had no sense of smell so couldn't use the gas cooker, had very black hair and spoke excellent English, family had a gondola & gondolier and their house (palazzo) was on the water (canal?). I think she had a brother & possibly nephews - family tradition was that boys in family sent to Switzerland to be educated (think family left to heat of Venice to spend summer in Switzerland). I think she she survived the war but died a little while after.

My father has told me bits and pieces but can't remember her name. He was only a toddler when she came on first visit and she wanted to adopt him but his parents refused.

[Ruskie]

That sounds like an intriguing puzzle aghadowey. What an interesting lady she must have been.

I’m sure I won’t be able to suggest anything that you haven’t already tried.

This is likely to be an impossible task, but have you been through lists of all arrivals in these years to see if the same name repeats? Presumably you would be looking for an Italian female travelling alone - as you say, Thea may be a nickname.

I’m sure others will be able to give you some constructive ideas.

I love the fact that she wanted to adopt your father. That’s so sweet, though I’m not surprised his parents refused. 

Good luck.

[Erato]

Thea:  Cute kid.  Can I have him?

[mckha489]

Is there anything in the social columns of the newspapers in association with the  aunts names?

[louisa maud]

Given you know the dates what about shipping records?

Louisa Maud

[Erato]

Maybe you could find a copy of the "Libro d'Oro della Nobiltà Italiana" or the "Elenchi Ufficiali Nobiliari" [1921 and 1933 editions] to identify possible surnames in Venice.

https://en.linkfang.org/wiki/Libro_d%27Oro#Early_20th_century

[ThrelfallYorky]

Didn't the Italian rulers actually abolish nobility titles? Could make it a lot more difficult.

[aghadowey]

Many thanks for the replies and ideas.
I have trolled over pages of passenger manifests searching for clues but difficult without a name.
I have searched previously in local newspapers (well indexed) as well as the N.Y. Times (also indexed). From newspaper stories I was able to confirm that Thea visiting in the summer of 1937 as that holiday coinsided with visit of my father's future uncle.

[Erato]

Here's a 1926 city map of Venice.  It seems to have the names of some property owners.

https://www.discusmedia.com/maps/venice_city_maps/4746/