Natty Hollmann
Encyclopedia
Natty Hollmann also known as Natty Petrosino due to her husband's surname, is an Argentine philanthropist and humanitarian known for her advocacy and work for the indigent.
, Argentina to Volga German
parents. She became a successful fashion model in the 1960s, and acted in a number of minor roles in Argentine cinema and television, where one of her closest friends was Susana Giménez
(later a ratings leader on Argentine television). She studied at the University of Buenos Aires
, enrolling at the schools of Medicine and Sociology, and obtaining a degree in the latter discipline, following which she met a prominent local businessman. She became Naty Petrosino and settled into married life, having two children and living as a well-to-do housewife.
At the age of 28, however, an operation resulted in her being declared clinically dead, leading to a mystical experience from which she awakened resolved to devote herself to the poor, leaving her upscale life and donating her estate to assisting the indigent. She became interested, in particular, in the area's marginalized native peoples.
received as a gift.
She established the Saint Francis of Assisi Home for Pilgrims in 1978, extending the reach of her efforts to the mentally handicapped
and homeless AIDS
victims, and growing to serve an average of 7,000 hot meals daily. An encounter with the Argentine Ambassador in Russia
also led to a stay in that country during the early 1990s, helping build housing during the turmoil that followed the collapse of the Soviet Union
. She left the daily operation of the home to the local archdiocese in the mid 1990s, becoming an itinerant charity worker. Her travels took her impoverished communities of Mapuche
s in Patagonia
and Mendoza Province
, Wichí
s in Chaco Province
, and to Tucumán and Formosa Province
s (among the country's poorest), where she spent a decade. Followed by her mobile clinic
, she and her assistants combated trypanosomiasis
and completed numerous clinics, schools, wells, and homes, establishing a number of villages, outright.
Petrosino became known also for her animal rights
advocacy, keeping scores of abandoned dog
s and cat
s.
Her itinerant efforts nearly cost Petrosino her life. She was hospitalized for a life-threatening fever on at least one occasion, and during her travels, her Toyota pickup turned over in an accident. She and her companions survived, though hospitalixation forced Petrosino to suspend her activities for the first time since their outset in 1978. Ultimately, she recovered and her vehicle was replaced by a donation.
Petrosino was elected "International Woman of the Year" by the Autonomous Region of Valle d'Aosta, Italy
, in 2006, and was named an Illustrious Citizen of Bahía Blanca on December 14 of that year.
Natty Hollmann Petrosino was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize
on March 2, 2009.
Early life
She was born on July 1939 in Bahía BlancaBahía Blanca
Bahía Blanca is a city located in the south-west of the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, by the Atlantic Ocean, and seat of government of Bahía Blanca Partido. It has a population of 274,509 inhabitants according to the...
, Argentina to Volga German
Volga German
The Volga Germans were ethnic Germans living along the River Volga in the region of southern European Russia around Saratov and to the south. Recruited as immigrants to Russia in the 18th century, they were allowed to maintain German culture, language, traditions and churches: Lutherans, Reformed,...
parents. She became a successful fashion model in the 1960s, and acted in a number of minor roles in Argentine cinema and television, where one of her closest friends was Susana Giménez
Susana Giménez
Susana Giménez, née María Susana Giménez Aubert is an Argentine actress, ex-vedette and television host....
(later a ratings leader on Argentine television). She studied at the University of Buenos Aires
University of Buenos Aires
The University of Buenos Aires is the largest university in Argentina and the largest university by enrollment in Latin America. Founded on August 12, 1821 in the city of Buenos Aires, it consists of 13 faculties, 6 hospitals, 10 museums and is linked to 4 high schools: Colegio Nacional de Buenos...
, enrolling at the schools of Medicine and Sociology, and obtaining a degree in the latter discipline, following which she met a prominent local businessman. She became Naty Petrosino and settled into married life, having two children and living as a well-to-do housewife.
At the age of 28, however, an operation resulted in her being declared clinically dead, leading to a mystical experience from which she awakened resolved to devote herself to the poor, leaving her upscale life and donating her estate to assisting the indigent. She became interested, in particular, in the area's marginalized native peoples.
Work as a humanitarian
Argentina, a country with a white majority and with a strong European influence, is also home to numerous communities of Aborigines who, for the most part, live in very poor conditions. She began her humanitarian labour among them providing shelter, and nutirtional, Ņmedical, educational and other assistance with her own funds and through donations, living in a small recreational vehicleRecreational vehicle
Recreational vehicle or RV is, in North America, the usual term for a Motor vehicle or trailer equipped with living space and amenities found in a home.-Features:...
received as a gift.
She established the Saint Francis of Assisi Home for Pilgrims in 1978, extending the reach of her efforts to the mentally handicapped
Mental illness
A mental disorder or mental illness is a psychological or behavioral pattern generally associated with subjective distress or disability that occurs in an individual, and which is not a part of normal development or culture. Such a disorder may consist of a combination of affective, behavioural,...
and homeless AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
victims, and growing to serve an average of 7,000 hot meals daily. An encounter with the Argentine Ambassador in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
also led to a stay in that country during the early 1990s, helping build housing during the turmoil that followed the collapse of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. She left the daily operation of the home to the local archdiocese in the mid 1990s, becoming an itinerant charity worker. Her travels took her impoverished communities of Mapuche
Mapuche
The Mapuche are a group of indigenous inhabitants of south-central Chile and southwestern Argentina. They constitute a wide-ranging ethnicity composed of various groups who shared a common social, religious and economic structure, as well as a common linguistic heritage. Their influence extended...
s in Patagonia
Patagonia
Patagonia is a region located in Argentina and Chile, integrating the southernmost section of the Andes mountains to the southwest towards the Pacific ocean and from the east of the cordillera to the valleys it follows south through Colorado River towards Carmen de Patagones in the Atlantic Ocean...
and Mendoza Province
Mendoza Province
The Province of Mendoza is a province of Argentina, located in the western central part of the country in the Cuyo region. It borders to the north with San Juan, the south with La Pampa and Neuquén, the east with San Luis, and to the west with the republic of Chile; the international limit is...
, Wichí
Wichí
The Wichí are an indigenous people of South America. They are a large group of tribes ranging about the headwaters of the Bermejo River and the Pilcomayo River, in Argentina and Bolivia.-Notes on designation:...
s in Chaco Province
Chaco Province
Chaco is an Argentine province located in the north of the country, near the border with Paraguay. Its capital is Resistencia on the Paraná River opposite the city of Corrientes...
, and to Tucumán and Formosa Province
Formosa Province
Formosa Province is in northeastern Argentina, part of the Gran Chaco Region. Its northeast end touches Asunción, Paraguay, and borders the provinces of Chaco and Salta to its south and west, respectively...
s (among the country's poorest), where she spent a decade. Followed by her mobile clinic
Clinic
A clinic is a health care facility that is primarily devoted to the care of outpatients...
, she and her assistants combated trypanosomiasis
Trypanosomiasis
Trypanosomiasis or trypanosomosis is the name of several diseases in vertebrates caused by parasitic protozoan trypanosomes of the genus Trypanosoma. Approximately 500,000 men, women and children in 36 countries of sub-Saharan Africa suffer from human African trypanosomiasis which is caused by...
and completed numerous clinics, schools, wells, and homes, establishing a number of villages, outright.
Petrosino became known also for her animal rights
Animal rights
Animal rights, also known as animal liberation, is the idea that the most basic interests of non-human animals should be afforded the same consideration as the similar interests of human beings...
advocacy, keeping scores of abandoned dog
Dog
The domestic dog is a domesticated form of the gray wolf, a member of the Canidae family of the order Carnivora. The term is used for both feral and pet varieties. The dog may have been the first animal to be domesticated, and has been the most widely kept working, hunting, and companion animal in...
s and cat
Cat
The cat , also known as the domestic cat or housecat to distinguish it from other felids and felines, is a small, usually furry, domesticated, carnivorous mammal that is valued by humans for its companionship and for its ability to hunt vermin and household pests...
s.
Her itinerant efforts nearly cost Petrosino her life. She was hospitalized for a life-threatening fever on at least one occasion, and during her travels, her Toyota pickup turned over in an accident. She and her companions survived, though hospitalixation forced Petrosino to suspend her activities for the first time since their outset in 1978. Ultimately, she recovered and her vehicle was replaced by a donation.
Petrosino was elected "International Woman of the Year" by the Autonomous Region of Valle d'Aosta, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, in 2006, and was named an Illustrious Citizen of Bahía Blanca on December 14 of that year.
Natty Hollmann Petrosino was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize
Nobel Peace Prize
The Nobel Peace Prize is one of the five Nobel Prizes bequeathed by the Swedish industrialist and inventor Alfred Nobel.-Background:According to Nobel's will, the Peace Prize shall be awarded to the person who...
on March 2, 2009.
Links
- Natty Petrosino's web page
- BBC, 14th July 2008
- The Awakening of Natty Petrosino on Youtube (Part 1 of 6, find the rest on YouTube)