Sandra Ravel was an Italian film actress who rose to fame in the 1930s. She was also the wife of Rodolfo Gucci, one of the sons of Guccio Gucci, the founder of the Gucci fashion empire. She died in 1954 at the age of 44 from uterine cancer, leaving behind her only child, Maurizio Gucci, who later became the head of the Gucci company and was murdered by his ex-wife in 1995. This article will explore the life and death of Sandra Ravel, and how her legacy influenced the Gucci family and the fashion world.
Early Life and Career
Sandra Ravel was born as Alessandra Winkelhauser Ratti in Milan, Italy, on January 16, 1910. Her father was a German chemical plant worker, and her mother was a Swiss woman from the Ratti family of Lugano. She had a passion for acting since she was a child, and adopted the stage name Sandra Ravel when she started her film career. She made her debut in 1930, appearing in several movies, such as Mysterious Mr. Parkes, Those Three French Girls, War Nurse, and The Single Sin. She was known for her beauty and charm, and often played glamorous and sophisticated roles. She also spoke fluent English, French, and German, which helped her to work in different markets.
Marriage to Rodolfo Gucci
In 1933, Sandra Ravel met Rodolfo Gucci, the youngest son of Guccio Gucci, who was also an actor and used the pseudonym Maurizio D’Ancora. They fell in love and married in 1944 in Venice, after Rodolfo divorced his first wife, Olwen Price, with whom he had a daughter, Patricia Gucci. Sandra and Rodolfo had a son, Maurizio Gucci, who was born in 1948. Sandra Ravel was a supportive wife and mother, and helped Rodolfo with his work in the Gucci company, which he joined in 1938 along with his brothers, Aldo and Vasco. Rodolfo was in charge of the Gucci shops in Italy, and was also a creative force behind some of the iconic designs of the brand, such as the bamboo handle bag and the horsebit loafer.
Death and Legacy
Sandra Ravel died on August 13, 1954, in her native Lombardy, from uterine cancer. She was only 44 years old, and left behind her husband and son, who were devastated by her loss. Rodolfo never remarried, and devoted himself to his son and his business. He inherited 50% of the Gucci company after his father’s death in 1953, and the other 50% was shared by his brothers. He also became the president of the company in 1974, after Aldo and Vasco retired. He groomed Maurizio to be his successor, and gave him full control of the company in 1983. However, Maurizio faced many challenges and conflicts, both within the family and in the market, and eventually sold his shares to an investment group in 1993. He was also involved in a bitter divorce from his wife, Patrizia Reggiani, who hired a hitman to kill him in 1995. He was shot outside his office in Milan, and died at the age of 46.
Sandra Ravel’s life and death had a profound impact on the Gucci family and the fashion world. She was a talented actress and a loving wife and mother, who supported her husband’s vision and contributed to the success of the Gucci brand. She was also the mother of Maurizio Gucci, who was the last of the Gucci heirs to run the company, and whose murder marked the end of an era. Her story is one of glamour and tragedy, and is part of the rich and complex history of the Gucci dynasty.
