Alicia Nash
Alicia Nash | |
|---|---|
| Born | Alicia Esther Lopez-Harrison de Lardé January 1, 1933 |
| Died | May 23, 2015 (aged 82) Monroe Township, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Spouse(s) | John Nash |
Alicia Nash (born Alicia Esther Lopez-Harrison de Lardé (January 1, 1933 – May 23, 2015) was a Latin-American socialite, Mental health-care advocate, and wife of mathematician John Nash. Her life story was chronicled in the 2001 Academy Award-winning film A Beautiful Mind, and in several books. [1]
Personal life and career
She was born in El Salvador, the daughter of Alicia (née Lopez-Harrison) and Carlos de Lardé, a doctor. She had a brother, Rolando de Lardé. Both of her parents came from socially prominent, well traveled families, who spoke several languages. Her aunt was Alice de Lardé (1895-1983), a poet. Her paternal grandfather was Jorge de Lardé, a chemical engineer.[2]
Her father traveled to the United States a few times before deciding to move his family there permanently. Alicia came to the United States when she was a child in 1944. First settling in Mississippi, the family moved to New York City. Alicia was accepted to the Marymount School through a letter of recommendation by the El Salvadoran ambassador to the United States. Alicia was then accepted into the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where she graduated with a degree in Physics in 1955. It was there she met her future husband John Nash. Before Alicia met John, he had been in a relationship with a nurse named Eleanor Stier (1921-2005), and they had a son together. [3]
Alicia had dreams of being the next Marie Curie, however; her relationship with John Nash began to consume her life when he began showing signs of schizophrenia.[4]
Alicia is credited for providing support to John Nash, believing that he could do great things if he could overcome his mental illness. Alicia worked at M.I.T in the computer center for a time. The couple married in 1957, but their relationship was often tumultuous. Alicia decided to enter John into McLean Hospital so he could seek professional treatment. Alicia and John had a son together in 1959, John Nash Jr, who also grew up to suffer from mental illness.[5]
Alicia and John divorced in 1963, but Alicia continued to help take care of him. In 1994 John received the Nobel Prize in Economics. The couple were re-married in 2001. Both were killed in an accident in New Jersey on May 23, 2015.
Portrayal in media
Alicia Nash was portrayed by Jennifer Connelly in the 2001 film A Beautiful Mind, which was directed by Ron Howard. Connelly won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance as Alicia Nash.
Further reading
- A Beautiful Mind by Sylvia Nasar, 1998 ISBN 978-1451628425
References
- ^ Alicia Nash obituary accessed 5/27/2015
- ^ Alicia Nash biography accessed 5/27/2015
- ^ Alicia Nash biography accessed 5/27/2015
- ^ The Lost Years of a Nobel Laureate accessed 5/27/2015
- ^ Mathematician John Nash and family advocate for mental health care accessed 5/27/2015
External links
- Alicia Nash at IMDb