The Untold Truth Of Andrew And Chris Cuomo's Mom, Matilda
There's nothing like a good old sibling feud to brighten the day. Anyone who grew up with brothers and sisters knows the rivalry that inevitably grows when siblings try to decide who's the favorite. It's no different for the Cuomo family, especially between CNN anchor Chris Cuomo and his older brother, Andrew, the governor of New York. The two men showed some hardcore sibling sass as they feuded over whom their mother, Matilda Cuomo, likes more.
In a CNN clip, Chris interviewed his big brother about the coronavirus and wrapped it up by saying, "Governor Andrew Cuomo, I appreciate you coming on the show. I love you. I'm proud of what you're doing. I know you're working hard for your state, but no matter how hard you're working, there's always time to call Mom. She wants to hear from you. Just so you know."
An unphased governor responded, "I called Mom. I called Mom just before I came on the show." Chris rolled his eyes like only a brother could and said, "That's not what she said." Andrew jumped back in to add, "By the way, she said I was her favorite. Good news is, she said you were her second favorite. Second favorite son, Christopher."
Chris replied, "We both know neither of us are Mom's first or second favorite in the family."
There are five Cuomo kids to choose from, and they're all insanely impressive people, so how can we expect Matilda to pick? However, you can expect to learn more about the family matriarch if you keep reading.
Matilda Cuomo is matriach of a busy brood
Matilda married Mario Cuomo, a three-term governor of New York from 1983-1994. In 2010, when his son, Andrew, was elected governor, it marked "the first time in New York's history that a father and son had been elected chief executive," per The New York Times. Sadly, Mario died in his Manhattan home at the age of 82 in 2015, but he left behind more than just a personal legacy. He and Matilda instilled an impressive family tradition of service in their children.
Margaret, the oldest, became a physician and radiologist. According to her Twitter, she is the author of A World Without Cancer and has dedicated her career to cancer prevention. Matilda and Mario's second child is Andrew, a governor who's been on the front lines battling the coronavirus in New York. Next in line is Maria, who married fashion designer Kenneth Cole, per The New York Times. The fourth child is Madeline, who reportedly specialized in matrimonial law at Albany Law School and wed her high school sweetheart, Brian O'Donogue — a guy described as "one of the true good-doers in the world," in their marriage announcement in The New York Times. The baby of Mario and Matilda's brood is Chris Cuomo, CNN anchor and alleged "favorite."
Matilda Cuomo works 'tirelessly for children'
It's no wonder the Cuomo kids became headline-making adults. Matilda Cuomo is also a tour de force who mothered not only her own children but also countless kids throughout the state. The former first lady of New York was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame for her work in the New York State Mentoring Program, according to the Times Union. "She's got incredible energy and she never stopped working on mentoring programs," former aide Susan Murante said. "...She has worked tirelessly for children for decades."
Matilda was born Mattia Raffa to Italian immigrants in Brooklyn, N.Y. According to the Chicago Tribune, when her mother registered her for kindergarten, the school was so unforgiving of her family's broken English and Italian accents that Mattia accepted being incorrectly called "Matilda" by her teachers because she was too scared to correct them. She's gone by that name ever since. She studied to become a teacher, according to NY1 News, and has worked in mentorship programs for students and children all of her life.
Matilda & Mario: 'one of the great love stories of all time'
Matilda and Mario Cuomo married in 1954, and over the course of 60 years, they impressed the world with their love and devotion. "This is one of the great love stories of all times, one of the great partnerships of all time," family friend Sandy Frucher told the New York Daily News.
The couple reportedly met at St. John's University in Queens, where she studied teaching and he studied law. Decades later, Mario was just as smitten with his bride. "She's a force," he told a New York Daily News reporter as he watched his wife, then 78 years old, network at a huge event. "I'm a lucky man."
At Mario's funeral in 2015, son Andrew Cuomo said in his eulogy that his parents' marriage was a "60-year love affair" and "not a phony made-for-TV romance ... but a real-life partnership built on respect, love and tolerance." (via The Wall Street Journal)
Andrew recently shared an adorable photo of his mom on Instagram, saying that he is staying home during the COVID-19 pandemic to help protect her. He encouraged followers to share who they are staying home to protect.
With so much admiration for their parents, it's no wonder the Cuomo kids fight about who's the favorite!