The Baroness

An Enlightened Take on Life for the Modern Age

On moving with her mother to Los Angeles from Detroit at the tender age of five, Monica Ford surely carried a piece of Motown with her. After all, she had mingled with the likes of Barry Gordy, Little Richard, Smokey Robinson, and even placed her little feet atop Stevie Wonder’s in preparation to share a dance. A natural in her new city lit by sunshine and lined with palm trees, Monica embraced the City of Angels with a keen sense of observation, rhythm and grace. Soaking up its finer features—from the temperate weather and the thrill of living in the entertainment capital to newfound friends and her love of dance, Monica flourished.

In her late teens, she studied dance with Roland Dupree and toured with the likes of Nina Simone and the pop rock band Devo—a dream come true, but one that her mother diminished, reminding her that “while you may find solace in dancing, you won’t make a living from it.” Never lacking ingenuity, Monica shared yet another dream with her mother: to become a CEO. And there you have it—a budding model of physical grace and agility combined with a savvy business sensibility. Yet destiny had something else in store for this beautiful, smart, quizzical young woman. While attending an annual event in Palm Springs, Monica unknowingly met the man who would become her betrothed. While magical and fairy tale-like in many ways—from the courtship to the proposal and marriage to the Baron, the commitment would come with a new set of expectations. As a future Baroness, Monica embraced her responsibilities with sincerity and a heightened sense of adventure. Stepping into the formalities of royal tradition, she attended a Swiss finishing school, studied with private tutors, mastering the language of her new husband’s country and becoming well-versed on a range of subjects that spanned the history of Austria, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, as well as the lineage and achievements of the von Neumann family.

Soon after returning from a glorious honeymoon, the Baroness began to oversee an international staff of more than twenty people who helped to maintain the couple’s residences in Geneva, London, Monaco, St. Tropez, Palm Springs, Bel Air, as well as their 100-foot yacht. This alone proved a full time commitment. A discerning hostess from the get go, Monica, together with her smart, sophisticated husband, successfully entertained the likes of European aristocracy and countless notables from the entertainment industry and business communities. She became celebrated for her impeccable taste and lavish parties.

Monica traveled the globe, including two round-the-world journeys, each time embracing the rich, fascinating and highly personal traditions and customs from dozens of highly differentiated cultures. Having stayed in the finest hotels and destinations, and dined in the best restaurants the globe over, Monica sensed a missing in a couple of areas in her life: the desire to have a child, and her need for tikun olam, or repairing the world.

In the late eighties, her dream of motherhood came true. She gave birth to her and the Baron’s beautiful daughter, Dorian. To this day, Dorian and her mother share a most special bond, and are often reminded of the von Neumann name and legacy they continue. Over time, Monica and the family resumed their travels. They visited South Africa, Thailand, Saudi Arabia and Vietnam, experiencing places and people that affected them deeply.

After 26 years of marriage, Monica sadly lost her husband to cancer. To this day, she remains steadfast in her and John’s dedication to improving the lives and conditions of those much less fortunate. Long devoted to her good will ambassadorship, Monica continues to work with numerous charities in the United States and abroad. Domestically, she is avidly involved with children-centric organizations such as Inner-City Arts and Boys and Girls Clubs of America. In addition, she supports Cedars-Sinai’s The Brain Trust, a nonprofit that raises funds and awareness for the work of her late husband’s esteemed neurosurgeon, Dr. Keith Black. On the international front, she travels to such countries as Kenya where she is instrumental in opening schools and orphanages for children with HIV.

In addition to her travels for social good, Baroness von Neumann spends time in the places she calls home—Los Angeles, New York City and Geneva. Bringing her passion and depth of knowledge to the luxury experience ideally places her as an expert in everything luxury.

From design and aesthetics to artful living and entertaining, Monica brings her spectrum of tastes and talents to Baroness von Neumann, a home décor brand that seeks to afford everyone the experience of luxury. With her vision of developing inspired suites of products for the home, The Baroness is designing textile, flatware, linen and accessories pieces, as well as collections specifically created for areas of the home that will surely include her favorite space—the boudoir.

When it comes to Baroness Monica von Neumann, some things prove crystal clear: She has never had a lull in her life. Perhaps it’s destiny. A genetic stamp, a divine alignment of the stars or both, we know our favorite Baroness honors her late husband’s legacy with unabashed grace and unwavering aplomb—as one would only expect.