Elaine DePrince

Elaine DePrince
DePrince in 2022
Born
Elaine DiGiacomo

(1947-08-06)August 6, 1947
DiedSeptember 11, 2024(2024-09-11) (aged 77)
Notable workTaking Flight: From War Orphan to Star Ballerina
Cry Bloody Murder: A Tale of Tainted Blood
Spouse
Charles DePrince
​
(m. 1971)​
Children11, including Michaela DePrince

Elaine DePrince (née DiGiacomo, August 6, 1947 – September 11, 2024) was an American author, hemophilia activist, teacher, and advocate of adoptive parenting. The mother of 11 children, she is best known as the adoptive mother of ballet star Michaela DePrince and the co-author of her memoir, Taking Flight: From War Orphan to Star Ballerina (2014).[1][2] She was interviewed in the 2011 documentary First Position, discussing the racism they encountered as Michaela pursued training in classical ballet.[3][4] She was also the author of Cry Bloody Murder: A Tale of Tainted Blood (1997), which tells the story of her family's ordeal after their three hemophiliac sons were infected with HIV/AIDS in the 1980s.[5] In the book, DePrince holds pharmaceutical companies, the Food and Drug Administration, and the National Hemophilia Foundation responsible for failing to ensure the safety of blood plasma products.[5][6][7]

  1. ^ Crelin, Joy (May 2018). "Taking Flight: From War Orphan to Star Ballerina". Critical Survey of Young Adult Literature: Nonfiction. Retrieved September 15, 2024 – via Wikipedia Library.
  2. ^ DePrince, Michaela; DePrince, Elaine (2016). Taking Flight: From War Orphan to Star Ballerina. Ember. ISBN 978-0385755146.
  3. ^ "Young Dancers, Aiming For 'First Position'". All Things Considered. NPR. May 1, 2012. ProQuest 1010447041. Retrieved September 15, 2024 – via ProQuest.
  4. ^ Caiola, Rose, et al. 2012. First Position. New York: MPI Media Group.
  5. ^ a b Henig, Robin Marantz (July 13, 1997). "A Mother's Rage: The author's three hemophiliac sons were infected with the AIDS virus in the early 80's". New York Times. ProQuest 109845342. Retrieved September 15, 2024 – via ProQuest.
  6. ^ Harris, Michael (August 4, 1997). "BOOK REVIEW / NONFICTION; A Mother's Rage Against Bad Blood; CRY BLOODY MURDER: A Tale of Tainted Blood, by Elaine DePrince". Los Angeles Times. ProQuest 421334725. Retrieved September 15, 2024 – via ProQuest.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference :12 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).