Formative years and personal life
Formative Years
Born into a politically active family in Detroit, Michigan, with roots in the Mormon Church, it was only natural that Willard Mitt Romney would pursue a political career. His father, George W. Romney, was a 1968 presidential candidate and his mother, Lenore
After one year at Stanford University, Romney spent 30 months in France working as a Mormon missionary. He went on to graduate with a B.A. from Brigham Young University, and then earned an M.B.A. and a J.D. from Harvard Business and Law schools.
Personal Life
Romney is married to Ann Romney, whom he met during his senior year of high school. The two informally agreed to marry around the time of his graduation, although they weren't officially wed until Romney returned from his missionary work in France. Together they have five sons — Ben, Craig, Josh, Matt, and Tagg.
Ann Romney graduated in 1975 from the Harvard University Extension School with a bachelor of arts degree in liberal arts with a concentration in French. She is actively involved with several charities, including the New England Chapter of the MS Society, Partners for Youth with Disabilities, United Way, Right to Play, Best Friends, and the Perkins School for the Blind.
In 1988, Ann was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, and credits alternative therapy in helping her battle the disease into remission. In 2008, she was also found to have breast cancer and underwent a lumpectomy.
